Traverse Lake Frank and Meadow Side Trails

Moderately paced hike (~7 miles and 300 ft elevation) mainly circles clock-wise around Lake Frank, with side trips to visit Prather Family Cemetery, Valieant Covered Bridge, Pioneer Homestead, Study Pond, and Sunfish Pond. The first half of the trail is mostly on natural surface and can be hilly at times. At the end of the Muncaster Mill Trail, where it reaches Muncaster Mill Road (Rt 115), we will see what remains of the Muncaster Mill. For the second half of the hike, a good portion of the Lakeside trail on the east side is wide open, shared with hikers, with a portion of it paved.

Lake Frank is a 54-acre reservoir in Derwood, MD, on the North Branch of Rock Creek created in 1966 as Lake Norbeck to protect watershed, aid flood and sediment control, as well as to provide recreation. Swimming, boating, and ice skating are prohibited. It has an earthen dam on its southern side. Meadowside Nature Center and its trail system covers almost 500 acres within the larger (1,800 acre) Rock Creek Regional Park, managed by Montgomery County Parks. Meadowside Nature Center and nearby Lake Frank present the lush streamside habitats typical of the Maryland Piedmont. Much like the kidneys in our own bodies, wetlands filter impurities in our watersheds. They also act as natural flooding and storm water pollution control and represent some of the most prolific wildlife habitats, connecting terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Plantings near the Nature Center were designed to attract birds and other wildlife, and there are native plant gardens for bees, birds, and other pollinators.

Level: Moderate

Cost: No cost for the hike itself; $2 recommended donation

Bring: Water, snacks, lunch, weather appropriate clothing, hiking shoes, hiking poles optional.

Cancellation Policy: Activity is held rain or shine, but may be altered due to inclement weather.

Leaders: Vicky Hsu, hhueichi@gmail.com, (240) 370-7011; Angela Calle, acalle41@gmail.com