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Malcolm King Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 95 Google reviews · Running trail in Gaithersburg, Maryland · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Mixed
Distance
Not reported
Shape
Not reported
Shade
Tree cover
Access
Posted hours

Confirmed from Malcolm King Park'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.

MixedShaded

Well-maintained green space with trees, basketball courts and paved trails.

What runners say about Malcolm King Park

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.

🌳 shaded & cool 3 mentions

“Good shade with tall trees, used to walk, bike and, run here when temps goes to 90s, just be watchful of your surroundings.”

An oasis in our midst. At this entrance, there is a nice bridge going over the Muddy Branch stream. This is a well run park, with basketball, soccer, and tennis courts. The park is heavily with trees and wildlife. It has a nice paved looping path, with multiple entrances.

★★★★★ — Karl , Dec 2020

It's a quiet, peaceful place, perfect for an evening stroll or a bike ride. There are multiple entrances to this park, and the trails are short (couple of miles at best) and easy. There's a small stream running down and you could even see a bit of wildlife (deers etc).

★★★★★ — Thaveesha , Feb 2023

This park has got nice and clean Trail used by many nearby residents. We can see lot of people in the evening and some in the noon. Never heard any safety issues so far. Its a pleasant walking watching all those Trees and squirrels.

★★★★☆ — Gnanakumar , Oct 2022

Good shade with tall trees, used to walk, bike and, run here when temps goes to 90s, just be watchful of your surroundings.

★★★★☆ — Oscar , Jun 2022

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.

🛣️ Paved surface 6 mentions

“It has a nice paved looping path, with multiple entrances.”

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🌳 Shaded / tree cover 3 mentions

“Good shade with tall trees, used to walk, bike and, run here when temps goes to 90s, just be watchful of your surroundings.”

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🌲 Natural surface / singletrack 2 mentions

“At this entrance, there is a nice bridge going over the Muddy Branch stream.”

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Plan your run at Malcolm King Park

The practical stuff

  • AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
  • SurfaceMixed — more than one surface along the route, so check the segment you plan to run
  • 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.
  • ShadeRunners describe real tree cover here — it makes a summer afternoon workable

Hours

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

1200 West Side Dr, Gaithersburg, MD 20878

Get directions

Running trails near Gaithersburg

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

Trailhead Washingtonian Woods

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under a mile away

Bohrer Park

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The city's oldest building sits in this city park popular for picnics, walking & mini-golf.

1.4 miles away

Inspiration Lake Hiking Trail

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PavedScenic

Quiet area offering trails around lakes and a pond, plus birding.

1.6 miles away

Muddy Branch Greenway Trail trailhead

4.5 ★★★★★ 119 reviews

North Potomac, MD

MixedScenicDog-friendly

Natural-surface trail that's 9 miles long, allows dogs, and has sightings of wildlife.

1.6 miles away

Diamond Farm Park Trails

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Dog-friendly

1.8 miles away

Mattie J.T. Stepanek Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 664 reviews

Rockville, MD

MixedShadedLitDog-friendly

Local park with basketball courts, grills, outdoor fitness equipment, soccer field & tennis courts.

1.8 miles away

All running trails in Gaithersburg, 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.