An Easy Side of Moderate 4.5 Mi in the Biodeverse Little Bennett Regional Park!
- December 2, 2012 · 11:00 AM
-
This location is shown only to members
Come on Out and Join Us for an Easy Side of Moderate 4.5 Miles in the Southern Section of Little Bennett Regional Park with Post Hike Meal!
This Very Biodeverse Hike is Only 20 Miles from D.C. and Only About a 50 Minute Drive from Baltimore
Come see the large anthills made by Allegheny moundbuilder ants, which are found along a portion of this hike! This is an easy side of moderate loop through several forest types that includes a pleasant hike along Stoney Brook and Sopers Branch. This splendid little hike offers Washington, D.C., and Montgomery County urbanites an almost instant retreat from the city. Located about 20 miles northwest of Washington, Little Bennett Regional Park is a superlative hiking venue. It’s Montgomery County’s largest park, covering almost 3,650 acres (a small piece also juts into Frederick County). A park since 1975, it has the county’s largest expanse of continuous woodland, splendid scenery, much wildlife, a trail network, and even better, few human users. © Copyright Hiking Maryland and Delaware Published by Falcon Publishing. All Rights Reserved.
Transition Hike
This is an awesome transition hike for those interested in moving from easy to moderate hiking!! It is not too long and has some gentle rolling hills to help develop your hiking legs.
Trail Information
Activity Type: Hiking
Nearby City: Big Oak
Length: 4.5 total miles
Hike Time: 2-2.5 hours to enjoy the solitude--this is a walk in the woods hike and not to be rushed but we will still have various paces for those of you who get some of those ants in your pants and want to get to moving fast-grin
Scenery: Wooded hills, meadow vistas, stream valleys and Large Allegheny moundbuilder ant mounds!
Trail surface: Mostly dirt, plus some gravel, grass, pine needles; rocky, rooty, muddy in places.
Elevation Gain: Minimal
Trail Type: Modified Loop
Skill Level: Easy side of moderate
Season: Year-round
Local Contacts: Little Bennett Regional Park
Local Maps: USGS Urbana, Maryland
Topo Map: Little Bennett Loop, Little Bennett Loop Regional Park Topographic Map
Facilities: None at trailhead; phone at Hawks Reach Activity Center (used to be nature center), roadside toilets, water, phone near camping area's loop C, and toilets on the Purdum Trail
Note to Hike Leaders: Please use the hike guide "Hiking Maryland and Delaware", hike number 27 for this hike. Paper maps are available at the trailhead or Kellie will e-mail one to you as there are no published maps for purchase for this park. If Kellie has not already supplied you with the hike guide, please contact her and she will have one shipped to you for this hike. This should have been included in your hike guide/map package when you became part of our leadership team.
Gear Suggestions
Click here for suggestions for what to wear and what not to wear for our hikes.
Pace Options
We break down into groups no larger than 15 hikers per leader/sweep team for a more enjoyable experience for all of us and is better for the environment. Large groups really take away from the hiking experience. This also allows us to offer a variety of hike paces and for this particular hike you have 2 to choose from which allows us to be put together with those of a similar pace. Paces should be not only based on your preference but also ability needs to be taken into consideration.
Pace Option 1: A "walk in the woods" or "social" pace which is great for those who want to soak up the nature and/or transitioning to longer hikes and will be about 2.0mph.
Pace Option 2: A moderate pace of about 2.5-3.0mph (most common pace).
PLEASE put your pace preference in your RSVP so we can plan accordingly
Weather Information
We hike rain or shine. Click here to see an up to the minute forecast for where we will be hiking.
Park Fee
None, yay it is free!
Carpool Information
There are 3 carpools for this hike!
Baltimore Area Carpool
To carpool or caravan from the Baltimore metro area, you can arrange to meet at Savage Station. Click here for directions to Savage Station. Use the comment section to discuss carpooling with other members.
VA Area Carpool
To carpool or caravan from the metro DC area, you can arrange to meet at the Vienna/Fairfax Metro Station. Click here for directions to where to meet and how to get to Vienna Metro station. Use the comment section to discuss carpooling with other members.
Annapolis Area Carpool
To carpool or caravan from the Annapolis area , you can arrange to meet at the Harbour Center Mall Starbucks. Click here for Annapolis carpool directions for getting to the carpool location. Use the comment section to discuss carpooling with other members.
If you can drive or want to carpool from additional locations, please post your location in the comment section below. For those who need a ride, reach out to the drivers. Make friends, and support the environment - by just offering a ride!
Directions to the Trailhea
Click here for directions to where we meet for this hike.
Hike Meetup Time is at 11:00 a.m.
Savage carpool meetup time is 10:00 a.m.
Vienna Metro carpool time is 9:45 a.m.
Annapolis carpool time is 9:30 a.m.
Fido is Welcome on This Hike!
Please remember we are a social hiking group that values fellowship and camaraderie and practice good hike etiquette . We take breaks as necessary and have at least one guide in the front in addition to a "sweeper" in the back which ensures that no hiker is left behind. If you get upset because someone has to rest at the top of a hill etc. then find another group! We are very supportive, encouraging, and focus on safety while getting or staying fit on the trail and practicing Leave No Trace outdoor ethics.
Please take the hike leader number with you just in case!
Kellie: [masked] Justin: [masked]
-
Kellie Carlisle
Just clarifying that Kellie will be leading the social pace and Justin a moderate, not "THE Justin Pace" for this particular hike. Please put your pace preference in your RSVP as we sometimes need to switch h out leaders based on your needs. Thanks and I look forward to seeing you there. The forecast for the area looks fantastic so far too!
November 27
-
-
Lori
Kellie - can you tell me what the difference is supposed to be between a "moderate" pace and "THE Justin Pace" so I know for future hikes? I've only done two so far (yesterday's Little Bennett and September's Moonlight Monument) and consider myself a fit walker but on both the pace was VERY brisk. There was no count taken of how many hikers there were, no sweeper, and on the monument hike, the hike leader got so far out in front of half the group that we completely lost him before the end of the walk. Fortunately, I know downtown DC very well so wasn't worried about getting lost on that one but am wondering what the protocol is on the more woodsy hikes.
December 3
-
-
Rici
Justin did a great job leading the moderate paced group. Nice bunch of people to on this hike.
December 2
-
-
Stacie
I am going to be late what trail will u guys be on? I will try to catch up got stuck in traffico
December 2
-
Jisel
I see there is a VA carpool. Will anyone else be coming from the VA side? If so, I'm willing to drive and/or carpool if anyone wants to split gas.
November 28
-
-
Jisel
Hi ladies, just wanted to let you know that I have a silver honda civic so you can find me! I will be parked at the kiss and ride section of the fairfax side of the vienna metro. (south side). Just text me if you have trouble finding me.
December 2
-
-
-
-
Mari
Vee, can't find your email. Can you confirm where you will be and send me your cell number? Thanks.
December 1
-
-
-
-
22 attended
Your organizer's refund policy for An Easy Side of Moderate 4.5 Mi in the Biodeverse Little Bennett Regional Park!
Refunds offered if:
- the Meetup is cancelled
- the Meetup is rescheduled
- you can cancel at least 2 day(s) before the Meetup
Additional notes: If you update your RSVP prior to 48 hours of hike time you receive a refund.
Payments you make go to the organizer, not to Meetup. You must make refund requests to the organizer.
Join The MAHG Leadership Team!
Click Above for Reasons Why You Should Join the MAHG Leadership Team!
-
$5 off new 1-yr reg. membership, includes free Backpacker subscription
from American Hiking Society
-
$18 off Wilderness First Aid Classes
from The Center for Wilderness Safety
-
10% off Any Vacation Package to South America
from Viventura South America Tours
People in this
Meetup are also in:
-
DC Metro 20's & 30's New In Town & New Friends Meetup
4,471 New Friends
Next Meetup:
Saturday, Jun 22 -
-
-
Arlington, DC Hiking Group
1,799 Hikers
-
-
fax Social Club
Join or login to comment.