Indian Head Rail Trail, MD (ODH Training Hike #5)

This is a 12-mile out-and-back, go-at-your-own pace, hike on a paved trail through mostly forest and wetlands along scenic Mattawoman Creek.
The hike will start in the town of Indian Head (trailhead-27 Mattingly Avenue). Hike east on the trail to Milepost 6, just beyond Bumpy Oak Road, turn around and come back. We may modify the hike or cancel if trail conditions are treacherous; we'll check conditions several days before the event.
Directions to meeting location: From the Beltway, go south on Rt. 210 19 miles to Indian Head. Turn right on Lackey Drive, left on Doctor Mitchell Lane, and park in gravel parking lot on right (Charlie Wright Park).
Porta-john is in the parking lot and there are two along the trail.

Dress appropriately for the weather (in layers) and bring water, lunch/snack. Head and hand coverings are recommended.

Execution of a Sierra Club liability waiver is required at the start.
A $2/person voluntary donation is requested. Your donation funds SCPRO leader training and related costs for our all-volunteer program.

Well-mannered dogs on leash are permitted, but please notify a leader in advance.

You need not be a Sierra Club member to participate, but if you'd like to join, go to: http://www.sierraclub.org/virginia .

Leaders: Gary Kosciusko, (703) 946-8111, and Vicky Hsu.

Trail information: https://www.charlescountyparks.com/parks/trails.

Although open to all, this hike is part of a series of Saturday training hikes leading up to the One Day Hike (ODH)—a 100 or 50 km hike along the C&O Canal—on May. 2, 2026. See SCPRO’s Meetup page for other training hikes as they are posted. If you would like to support the ODH, see volunteering opportunities and/or contact Mike Darzi (mike.darzi@gmail.com). For official updates regarding training hikes, registration, and other information, join the ODH discussion group by sending a blank email to onedayhike+subscribe@groups.io.