Blue Heron Trail
3.8 mi · ▲ 83 ft · 1 hr 18 min
Blue Heron Trail is a 3.8-mile out-and-back in Needwood Golf Course near Derwood, MD. It is mostly level, with 83 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
3.8 mi · ▲ 83 ft · 1 hr 18 min
Elevation 411–474 ft
Out & Back · Needwood Golf Course
Trailhead: 39.12323, -77.15712
Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:55 AM · sunset 7:11 PM
Transit-accessible: Shady Grove Metro stop 560 m from the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading NW.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading NW.
- 0.2 miTurn left onto Shady Grove Access Path, heading S.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading SE.
- 1.2 miTurn left, heading E.
- 0.2 miTurn left onto Blue Heron Trail, heading NE.
- 50 ftReach Blue Heron Trail, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading NE.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading SW.
- 1.2 miTurn right, heading SW.
- 0.1 miContinue straight onto Shady Grove Access Path, heading SW.
- 250 ftTurn right, heading SW.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading NW.
- 0.1 miArrive 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 1.6 mi in (~41 min). Leave by 6:09 PM for the 7:11 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:08 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Transit-accessible: Shady Grove Metro stop 560 m from the trailhead
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