K9 Trailblazers Dog Hiking Club 
Saturday, November 16, 2002 Hike Information 
Little Bennett Regional Park

Where:
When:
Participation Limit:
Hike Description:
Trail Map
What to Bring:
Rules:
Cancellation Policy:
Directions:
Contacts:

Where: 

Our November hike will be held at Little Bennett Regional Park. It's located northwest of Gaithersburg, MD. Directions are listed below. We will be meeting at the trailhead parking lot off of the intersection of Clarksburg Rd and Hyattstown Mill Rd.

When:

For the exact time to meet at the trailhead, contact one of the hike organizers.

Participation Limit:

This hike will be limited to 12 people plus dogs.

The Hike:

This hike will be divided into two loops, each about 4 miles long.  The first loop is rated "B" on our scale, and both together will be a "D".  For more information on the rating system, click here.

First loop: About 4 miles on rocky trails and old forest roads, mostly unpaved, with a few short but fairly steep climbs and a few stream crossings on wooden bridges as we pass through woodlands and meadows. We will see large earth mounds built by Allegheny mound builder ants and enjoy a signed "Nature Trail" before pausing for a break on benches near the Nature Center. Note that the Nature Center and the bathrooms are closed for the winter. There will be no restroom facilities on this hike, and water from the streams must be treated before drinking. After lunch, our return to the parking area will complete this loop.

  Second loop: A bit more strenuous than the first loop, we will cover about 4 miles on shared horse trails with several short but fairly steep climbs and descents on rocky trails and old forest roads, mostly unpaved. After leaving the parking area, we will hike about 3/4 of a mile along an unpaved level road to cross a swinging bridge and visit the historic Kingsley schoolhouse. We will then continue our hike, pausing at an overlook to view rolling farmland with picturesque buildings, before we return to the parking area.

Trail Map

What to Bring:

As usual, come prepared to hike. This means appropriate footwear, a hat, and sufficient water for you and your dog (a quart for each of you). There isn't much water along the trails, so keep that in mind as you pack water for your dog. Since much of this trail is rocky in parts and mostly leaf covered, good hiking shoes are a must. Be prepared for changeable weather.  It's probably best to dress in layers, so you can stay comfortable as you and the day warm up.

Bring snacks for you and your dogs and pack a lunch if you want to take advantage of our rest stop at the Nature Center, or if you'd like to have lunch at the picnic tables by the parking lot.

Rules:

Basically the main rules we have are that dogs need to stay on leash and under control, and that you scoop your poop. Please bring a 6-8' standard leash for your dog. With a large group, flexible leads can allow people and dogs to trip or tangle, resulting in rope burns or injuries.

Cancellation Policy:

We'll be hiking rain, snow or sunshine unless there is severe or dangerous weather. If the weather is too hot, too cold or too wet for you on the day of the hike, don't be afraid to sit this one out. We want you to have fun! We have planned other hikes, so if you don't think you'll enjoy yourself this time, just wait for the next hike.

Directions:

From the DC area, take the Washington Beltway to I-270 North. Take Exit 18, MD. Rt.121 (Clarksburg Rd.) and go North on Clarksburg Rd (toward Clarksburg). Cross MD. Rt. 355 at the light, and continue on Clarksburg Rd. 2 miles to the parking lot. It will be on your right, across from Hyattstown Mill Rd, just after you cross the bridge over Little Bennett Creek.

For those traveling from Baltimore, the shortest route would be to take I-95 to the Washington Beltway outer loop west to I-270 and then follow the directions above. You could also take I-70 from Baltimore toward Frederick and head south-east on I-270 to the exit for Md. 121.

A map is provided below:

Click Image for interactive map

Contacts

To register for the hike and to get the details on meeting location and time, or for anything else about this hike or the hiking club in general, please contact Pat Fuhrer or Jeff Bolognese.