AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Rock Creek Regional Park

Lake Bernard Frank–Sunfish Pond, 3 lakes

15.4 mi · ▲ 356 ft · 5 hr 19 min

Lake Bernard Frank–Sunfish Pond, 3 lakes is a 15.4-mile out-and-back in Rock Creek Regional Park near Garrett Park, MD. The route passes Sunfish Pond before reaching Lake Bernard Frank at the turnaround, 7.7 miles in. It climbs 356 ft. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi226 – 440 ft17.1 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Rock Creek Trail 39.04181, -77.08803
Nearest town Garrett Park, MD
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Lake Bernard Frank–Sunfish Pond, 3 lakes

15.4 mi · ▲ 356 ft · 5 hr 19 min

Elevation 228–439 ft

Out & Back · Rock Creek Regional Park

Trailhead: Rock Creek Trail · 39.04181, -77.08803

Weather Sep 22: sunrise 6:56 AM · sunset 7:09 PM

Transit-accessible: stop 80 m from the trailhead · Toilets at the trailhead · Drinking water at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading N.
  2. 0.2 miTurn left, heading NW.
  3. 300 ftTurn left onto Rock Creek Trail, heading NW.
  4. 50 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  5. 350 ftBear right, heading NW.
  6. 2.2 miSharp left, heading NW.
  7. 50 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  8. 0.2 miBear left, heading NW.
  9. 0.8 miTurn right onto Rock Creek Trail Connector, heading N.
  10. 2.9 miTurn left, heading NE.
  11. 0.5 miPass Sunfish Pond.
  12. 0.3 miBear left, heading NW.
  13. 350 ftContinue straight onto Sunfish Trail, heading NW.
  14. 0.2 miTurn right onto Lakeside Trail, heading NW.
  15. 400 ftTurn left, heading W.
  16. 50 ftTurn left onto Muncaster Mill Trail, heading W.
  17. 0.2 miPass Lake Bernard Frank.
  18. 0.1 miSharp left onto Lakeside Trail, heading N.
  19. 0.1 miReach Lake Bernard Frank, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  20. 0.1 miSharp right onto Muncaster Mill Trail, heading S.
  21. 0.3 miTurn right, heading NW.
  22. 50 ftTurn right onto Lakeside Trail, heading NW.
  23. 350 ftTurn left onto Sunfish Trail, heading S.
  24. 0.3 miBear right, heading SE.
  25. 0.8 miTurn right, heading NE.
  26. 2.9 miTurn left onto Rock Creek Trail, heading S.
  27. 0.8 miBear right, heading SW.
  28. 0.2 miBear left, heading SE.
  29. 250 ftTurn left, heading S.
  30. 50 ftSharp right, heading S.
  31. 0.4 miBear right, heading S.
  32. 0.3 miTurn left, heading SW.
  33. 0.9 miTurn right, heading S.
  34. 0.6 miBear left, heading S.
  35. 350 ftTurn right, heading S.
  36. 300 ftTurn right, heading E.
  37. 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 map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/lake-bernard-frank-sunfish-pond-out-back-4-lakes-25-km-26f0

Trail surface

34% dirt30% paved1% grass1% gravel34% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:56 AMSunset 7:09 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 5.9 mi in (~149 min). Leave by 4:20 PM for the 7:09 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:49 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: stop 80 m from the trailhead
  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Drinking water at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from Rock Creek Trail Trailhead

Hikes near Garrett Park, Maryland