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Little Patuxent River Trail

4.2 ★★★★☆ 19 Google reviews · Running trail in Laurel, Maryland · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

Surface: Paved
Loop distance: 20 mi
Shape: Loop
Shade: Not reported
Access: Posted hours

Confirmed from Little Patuxent River 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.

Little Patuxent River Trail — running trail in Laurel, MD, photo 1

Little Patuxent River Trail — running trail in Laurel, MD, photo 2

Little Patuxent River Trail — running trail in Laurel, MD, photo 3

Little Patuxent River Trail — running trail in Laurel, MD, photo 4

Little Patuxent River Trail — running trail in Laurel, MD, photo 5

Paved20 miLoopScenicDog-friendlyStroller / ADATrailhead parking

What runners say about Little Patuxent River Trail

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (19 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

It's a great hiking experience for the purpose of hiking only... there's not much to see as far as anything too scenic, but there are many trails that stretch for quite some distance. You are required to check in and will need to provide some personal information. Whether you're hunting or simply hiking.

★★★★☆ — Aw , Feb 2018

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 19 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 4 mentions 
“there's not much to see as far as anything too scenic, but there are many trails that stretch for quite some distance.”
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 🔁 Loop trail 2 mentions 
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 🛣️ Paved surface  
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 🅿️ Trailhead parking  
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 🐕 Dog-friendly  
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 ♿ Stroller / ADA accessible  
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 🏃 Long-run distance (5mi+)  
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Plan your run at Little Patuxent River Trail

The practical stuff

AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
SurfacePaved — asphalt or concrete. Fast and predictable, runnable year-round, and fine with a stroller
Loop distance20 mi back to where you parked. Long enough for a real long run.
ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
At the trailheadparking — reported by runners
DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
Stroller / wheelchairReported as smooth and step-free enough for a running stroller or a chair.
Websitefws.gov
Social Instagram · Facebook

Hours

Monday	9 AM–3 PM
Tuesday	9 AM–3 PM
Wednesday	9 AM–3 PM
Thursday	9 AM–3 PM
Friday	9 AM–3 PM
Saturday	Closed
Sunday	Closed

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 Patuxent River Trail

Little Patuxent River Trl, Laurel, MD 20724

Get directions

Running trails near Laurel

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

Forest Trail

4.6 ★★★★★ 7 reviews

Laurel, MD

20 miLoopMixedDog-friendly

under a mile away

Merganser Pond Trail

4.7 ★★★★★ 3 reviews

Laurel, MD

20 miLoopPavedDog-friendly

under a mile away

South Road

5 ★★★★★ 3 reviews

Laurel, MD

20 miLoopPavedDog-friendly

1.1 miles away

Oxbow Nature Preserve Lake Trail

4 ★★★★☆ 69 reviews

Russett, MD

PavedScenic

3.1 miles away

Pheasant Run Community Park

4.1 ★★★★☆ 36 reviews

Laurel, MD

3.5 miles away

WB&A Trail

4.7 ★★★★★ 151 reviews

Odenton, MD

Paved

Shaded paved trail, used by hikers and cyclists, for exercise and running.

3.5 miles away

All running trails in Laurel, MD →

Nearby towns

Running trails in Russett, MD (1 trail)
Running trails in Savage, MD (2 trails)
Running trails in Jessup, MD (1 trail)
Running trails in Burtonsville, MD (2 trails)
Running trails in Columbia, MD (1 trail)
Running trails in Odenton, MD (2 trails)
Running trails in Greenbelt, MD (9 trails)
Running trails in Berwyn Heights, MD (1 trail)

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.