Blue Heron Trail
3.4 mi · ▲ 60 ft · 1 hr 10 min
Blue Heron Trail is a 3.4-mile out-and-back in Rock Creek Regional Park near Candlewood Park, MD. It is mostly level, with 60 ft of elevation gain, and mostly paved. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Blue Heron Trail
3.4 mi · ▲ 60 ft · 1 hr 10 min
Elevation 372–474 ft
Out & Back · Rock Creek Regional Park
Trailhead: Parking and Lake Needwood Trails Connector · 39.12244, -77.13394
Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:55 AM · sunset 7:11 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Parking and Lake Needwood Trails Connector, heading NE.
- 200 ftTurn left onto Blue Heron Trail, heading NW.
- 0.1 miSharp left, heading SW.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading SW.
- 1.4 miBear left, heading NW.
- 50 ftTurn left onto Shady Grove Access Path, heading NW.
- 50 ftReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading NW.
- 1.4 miTurn left, heading E.
- 0.2 miSharp right onto Blue Heron Trail, heading E.
- 0.1 miTurn right onto Parking and Lake Needwood Trails Connector, heading NE.
- 50 ftArrive back at the trailhead.
Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.
Trail surface
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.4 mi in (~10 min). Leave by 6:41 PM for the 7:11 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:36 PM — 2 min before dark.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from Parking and Lake Needwood Trails Connector Trailhead
- Lake Needwood–Westside Viewpoint, 7 sights 16.1 mi · ▲ 553 ft
- Blue Heron Trail 3.3 mi · ▲ 60 ft
- Blue Heron Trail 3.3 mi · ▲ 60 ft
- Shady Grove Access Path 2.7 mi · ▲ 26 ft
- Blue Heron Trail 3.4 mi · ▲ 60 ft
- Blue Heron Trail 3.1 mi · ▲ 60 ft
Get outside more
A wild hike near Candlewood Park, emailed to you once a week.
Hikes near Candlewood Park, Maryland