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Little Paint Branch Trail

4.8 ★★★★★ 95 Google reviews · Running trail in College Park, Maryland · Dawn to dusk

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Paved
Distance
Not reported
Shape
Not reported
Shade
Not reported
Access
Dawn to dusk

Confirmed from Little Paint Branch Trail's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.

PavedScenicQuiet

Popular area with woods and a creek offering walking, hiking and cycling trails plus tennis courts.

What runners say about Little Paint Branch Trail

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (95 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

🏞️ beautiful scenery 5 mentions

“Beautiful, nature paths, streaming between and around Paint Branch Golf Course and UMd.”

🌾 quiet & peaceful 4 mentions

“It's a nice place very peaceful I could spend hours here”

This trail is so serene. It has a perfect little road for hikers and bikers along with a picturesque stream.

★★★★★ — Landon , Oct 2019

This is a nice, flat and woodsy trail that is easy to walk. An excellent new addition was recently added near the Paint Branch Golf Course that will lead you to the College Park Woods neighborhood. This is a very popular trail so the best times for some seclusion is weekdays in the AM hours. Happy hiking/biking!

★★★★★ — Tom , Nov 2020

Walked for a bit and enjoyed the solace and serene view. If there is anything on your mind. Go for a walk and think it through here.

★★★★★ — Bernard , Jun 2019

Nice place to walk but the trails doesn't connect. You will end up at dead end or at a golf course.

★★★★★ — Raphael , Jun 2021

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 95 reviews →

Trail conditions & character

What this trail is actually like underfoot and overhead, taken from its own listing and from reviews. Each one links to every other trail with the same character. Busy or quiet is reported as a plain fact, not a plus or a minus — a runner heading out alone at dawn often wants company on the path, and someone running intervals wants an empty one.

🏞️ Scenic views 7 mentions

“Beautiful, nature paths, streaming between and around Paint Branch Golf Course and UMd.”

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🤫 Quiet / uncrowded 4 mentions

“It's a nice place very peaceful I could spend hours here”

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🛣️ Paved surface 2 mentions

“Paved, follows a creek with some sandy parts and mostly rocks along edge.”

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Plan your run at Little Paint Branch Trail

The practical stuff

  • AccessDawn to dusk — the gates close, so do not plan a run that finishes after dark
  • SurfacePaved — asphalt or concrete. Fast and predictable, runnable year-round, and fine with a stroller
  • DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
  • ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
  • Websitepgparks.com
  • Social Instagram · Facebook

Hours

Monday 6 am–8 pm
Tuesday 6 am–8 pm
Wednesday 6 am–8 pm
Thursday 6 am–8 pm
Friday 6 am–8 pm
Saturday 6 am–8 pm
Sunday 6 am–8 pm

Posted hours for the park or trailhead. Gates and parking lots often close earlier than the trail itself, and seasonal hours change — worth a check before a pre-dawn or after-dark run.

Where to find Little Paint Branch Trail

4618-4620 Cherry Hill Rd, College Park, MD 20740

Get directions

Running trails near College Park

Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.

Acredale Community Park

4.4 ★★★★☆ 155 reviews

College Park, MD

Natural surface

Neighborhood baseball park with a playground, fields, and picnic tables.

1.2 miles away

Greenbelt Station Central Park

4.4 ★★★★☆ 15 reviews

Greenbelt, MD

1.4 miles away

Indian Creek Trail

4.7 ★★★★★ 9 reviews

Greenbelt, MD

Boardwalk

1.5 miles away

Indian Creek Trail

4.7 ★★★★★ 186 reviews

Berwyn Heights, MD

PavedScenic

Relaxed nature park with playground, trails and lake, plus fishing.

1.8 miles away

College Park Trolley Trail

College Park, MD

3.5 mi

1.9 miles away

Lake Artemesia Natural Area

4.8 ★★★★★ 1,157 reviews

College Park, MD

LoopPavedScenic

Picturesque park featuring a paved path running around a lake as well as fishing piers.

1.9 miles away

All running trails in College Park, MD →

Nearby towns

Listing verified July 2026 from public records, the trail's own website and runner reviews. Trail conditions change — paths flood, gates close at dusk, and shaded woods stay muddy for days after rain. Something out of date? Report a correction. Manage this trail? Send us the details — it is free.