AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Muddy Branch Stream Valley Park

Lake Halcyon–Lake Varuna, 4 sights

8.2 mi · ▲ 334 ft · 2 hr 54 min

Lake Halcyon–Lake Varuna, 4 sights is an 8.2-mile out-and-back in Muddy Branch Stream Valley Park near Mills Farm East, MD. The route passes Lake Varuna before reaching Lake Halcyon at the turnaround, 4 miles in. It climbs 334 ft and is mostly dirt. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi272 – 404 ft9.2 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Horse Center Connector 39.08957, -77.24838
Nearest town Mills Farm East, MD
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Lake Halcyon–Lake Varuna, 4 sights

8.2 mi · ▲ 334 ft · 2 hr 54 min

Elevation 271–405 ft

Out & Back · Muddy Branch Stream Valley Park

Trailhead: Horse Center Connector · 39.08957, -77.24838

Weather Sep 22: sunrise 6:57 AM · sunset 7:08 PM

No dogs on part of this route · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Horse Center Connector, heading NE.
  2. 400 ftSharp right onto Muddy Branch Greenway Trail, heading E.
  3. 0.3 miBear left onto Backbreaker, heading NW.
  4. 450 ftBear left onto Lowline, heading NW.
  5. 100 ftTurn right onto Creekside Hill, heading N.
  6. 350 ftTurn right onto Creekside Connector, heading NE.
  7. 350 ftTurn left onto Muddy Branch Greenway Trail, heading NE.
  8. 0.8 miTurn left, heading N.
  9. 50 ftContinue straight onto Lowline, heading N.
  10. 0.2 miBear left onto Muddy Branch Greenway Trail, heading NE.
  11. 0.7 miBear right, heading NE.
  12. 300 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  13. 1.2 miPass Lake Varuna.
  14. 450 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  15. 150 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  16. 100 ftBear right, heading NE.
  17. 200 ftTurn left, heading N.
  18. 50 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  19. 0.2 miSharp right, heading N.
  20. 0.3 miSharp right, heading E.
  21. 150 ftReach Lake Halcyon, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  22. 150 ftSharp left onto Conservation Lane, heading NE.
  23. 0.3 miSharp left, heading SE.
  24. 0.2 miTurn left, heading N.
  25. 50 ftTurn right, heading N.
  26. 150 ftBear left, heading N.
  27. 150 ftTurn left, heading N.
  28. 150 ftTurn right onto Muddy Branch Greenway Trail, heading N.
  29. 1.3 miTurn left, heading SW.
  30. 0.7 miBear right onto Lowline, heading E.
  31. 0.2 miTurn right onto Muddy Branch Greenway Trail, heading N.
  32. 0.8 miTurn right onto Creekside Connector, heading S.
  33. 350 ftTurn left onto Creekside Hill, heading SW.
  34. 350 ftTurn left onto Lowline, heading SW.
  35. 100 ftBear right onto Backbreaker, heading SW.
  36. 450 ftBear right onto Muddy Branch Greenway Trail, heading SE.
  37. 0.3 miSharp left onto Horse Center Connector, heading S.
  38. 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-halcyon-lake-varuna-out-back-5-sights-13-km

Trail surface

87% dirt11% paved2% gravel

Weather

Sunrise 6:57 AMSunset 7:08 PM

Good to know

  • No dogs on part of this route
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from Horse Center Connector Trailhead

Hikes near Mills Farm East, Maryland