For the good of our trail running community, I did some important reconnaissance work at Wheaton Regional Park yesterday morning and have a report for you. The entire trail system has been overhauled; existing trails are re-graded, new trails built and some old ones closed, and all the trails have been renamed. There are trail markers and maps at every trail intersection. It was a really pleasant run and I didn’t get lost once! Here’s a link to the new map of Wheaton Regional if you want to check it out. https://montgomeryparks.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/WheatonRegionalPark-Updated_Trails_Letter-Aug31-2023.pdf
Soooooooo… we are going to start tomorrow at Wheaton Regional to tour the brand new trails there and continue on to the Northwest Branch/Rachel Carson loop. Most of you know the route but you’ll find turn-by-turn directions including the new trail names below. Depending on how much you want to explore in the park, the run is about 12-13 miles long. Here are the details:
When: Saturday, 9/16/23 @ 7:30am
Where: Wheaton Regional Park (carousel area) 2000 Shorefield Rd., Silver Spring 20902
Route map (with old trail names): https://caltopo.com/m/FT0H
Turn-by-turn with new trail names (in the park only)
- Take the usual route down the paved/gravel path around the lake
- Take the first left into the woods at Raven’s Run trail
- Turn left at Timberdoodle trail (hey, I didn’t pick the name!)
- Quick right onto Wheaton Way trail
- Right turn out of the park to cross Kemp Mill Rd and pick up the Northwest Branch trail
When you come back into the park
- Right turn on Wheaton Way trail
- Follow signs to stay on Wheaton Way
- Straight onto Timberdoodle
- Quick right onto Raven’s Run
Once you hit the lake , you know your way back. Feel free to take a spin on the inner loop trail called Little Bit Loop or any of the other trails you see on the many maps you will find in the park.
See you Saturday!
Audrey