Lake Needwood and Lake Frank a Moderate 5.5 0r 9 Mile Hike

Lake Frank and Lake Needwood, a Moderate 6 0r 9 Mile Hike

Nestled in the heart of Montgomery County, Maryland, Rock Creek Regional Park offers natural tranquility and outdoor recreation. Covering 1,800 acres, this park is a sanctuary for nature enthusiasts, hikers, and families. With its woodlands, lakes, and a bounty of activities, the park offers an escape in every season.

At the core of Rock Creek Regional Park’s appeal is its rich and varied landscape. The park’s expanse is punctuated by two bodies of water: the 75-acre Lake Needwood and the 55-acre Lake Frank. These lakes, with their calm surfaces and lush surroundings, provide both scenic vistas and a hub for aquatic activities.

The park’s dense woodlands are crisscrossed by miles of trails—winding routes that meander along lake shores, through forests, and across open meadows. The diversity of the landscape ensures that every visit feels fresh,.

The trail for our hike begins at the Lake Frank parking lot and goes first to Lake Needwood. The path leading to Lake Needwood on the hiker biker path is mostly paved and traverses through the woods between the lakes. The path around Lake Needwood is unpaved, natural surface. We are returning on the same path to Lake Frank. Those doing 6 miles will leave at that point. Those that continue around Lake Frank will find a mostly unpaved, natural surface.

At the approximate half-way point around Lake Frank, there is a small creek to cross using a group of rocks that form a bridge-like path across. After heavy rains or icy conditions, we may prefer an extra mile bypassing this crossing.

Bring a lunch or snack to enjoy along the way.

A leashed, friendly Fido is welcome on this hike.

Time to Meet: Please meet at 9:45 for introductions and sign in. We will start hiking promptly at 10:00

Directions to Trailhead: The address is "Lake Bernard Frank, Avery Rd Parking Lot." The GPS Coordinates are 39.10477, -77.12071 .

Contact Information: Please use the comments feature for routine comments and questions. The hike Leader is Christa; 410.610.6254. Call or text as needed.

Details
Rating: Moderate
Distance: 6 or 9 miles
Elevation Gain: 250 feet (5.2 mile) or 500 (9 mile)
Pace: 2.0 to 2.5 miles per hour

Facilities: There are portable toilets near Lake Needwood, about 2 miles into the hike

Fees: No entrance fees

Cancellation: In the unlikely event that the hike needs to be cancelled, it may be cancelled up to the evening before the hike. Hikers will be notified through comments on this posting.

Weather: The weather for this location can be found here.

Notes:
-Please note, you must sign up at by 9:00 PM the day before the hike.
-Please do not show up unregistered.
-Please keep this a fragrance free event.
-To find out more about PATC, click here.
-Consider becoming a member of PATC. To join, click here.