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Matthew Henson State Park
4.4 ★★★★☆ 262 Google reviews · Running trail in Aspen Hill, Maryland · Dawn to dusk
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Mixed
- Distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Not reported
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Dawn to dusk
Confirmed from Matthew Henson State 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.
Wooded greenway along a stream offering a 4.5-mile paved trail for hiking, biking & rollerblading.
What runners say about Matthew Henson State Park
“clean place and very quiet to walk but the part along turkey branch road is not very beautiful”
“The park is beautiful, beautiful trees and this tranquil brook running side by side with the trail Many, oh so many deers, I was really close to them.”
“Great trail for running and walking its mainly riverside and super cooled by vegetation.”
A nice suburban trail good for kids to bike, strollers and roller blade, also dogs on a leash.. The GPS does not take you to the park designated parking but to a Connecticut Avenue entrance which is not convenient with kids since you need to park 10 mins away in the neighborhood and then make your way to the entrance.
Paved as well as raised walkways. An amazing trail to walk, run or bike. There are a ton of deer! It has great cloud coverage and a creek that runs alongside.
I visited this trail for an evening walk. It was amazing. The park is beautiful, beautiful trees and this tranquil brook running side by side with the trail Many, oh so many deers, I was really close to them. The trail was very clean and well maintained. It was like being in a forest right but in the city.
I adore this local trail. Perfect for strolls with the family, small kids in strollers, bikers & walking your dog. It stretches for miles into dc region if your running or biking for marathons. Lots of benches for breaks between miles. A picnic gazebo area and soccer field towards Georgia Ave side (unit 3).
Trail conditions & character
“The park is beautiful, beautiful trees and this tranquil brook running side by side with the trail Many, oh so many deers, I was really close to them.”
“A nice suburban trail good for kids to bike, strollers and roller blade, also dogs on a leash.”
“Beautiful and verdant parkland that follows a single, paved trail into southern Silver Spring.”
“Picnic area, plenty of parking, large field for sports or dogs to run.”
“A nice suburban trail good for kids to bike, strollers and roller blade, also dogs on a leash.”
Plan your run at Matthew Henson State Park
The practical stuff
- AccessDawn to dusk — the gates close, so do not plan a run that finishes after dark
- 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.
- 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.
- Websitemontgomeryparks.org
- Phone(301) 495-2595
- Social Instagram · Facebook
Hours
| Monday | 6 AM–5 PM |
| Tuesday | 6 AM–5 PM |
| Wednesday | 6 AM–5 PM |
| Thursday | 6 AM–5 PM |
| Friday | 6 AM–5 PM |
| Saturday | 6 AM–5 PM |
| Sunday | 6 AM–5 PM |
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Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.
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