Lake Varuna–Great Seneca Highway Sidepath, 4 sights
8.3 mi · ▲ 298 ft · 2 hr 55 min
Lake Varuna–Great Seneca Highway Sidepath, 4 sights is an 8.3-mile out-and-back in Muddy Branch Park near Fernshire Farms, MD. The route reaches Lake Varuna. It climbs 298 ft and is mostly paved. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Lake Varuna–Great Seneca Highway Sidepath, 4 sights
8.3 mi · ▲ 298 ft · 2 hr 55 min
Elevation 310–465 ft
Out & Back · Muddy Branch Park
Trailhead: 39.12478, -77.23253
Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:55 AM · sunset 7:11 PM
No dogs on part of this route · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading SE.
- 450 ftBear left onto Orchard Ridge Drive Sidepath, heading SE.
- 50 ftBear right, heading SE.
- 0.3 miPass Lake Varuna.
- 250 ftBear right, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading SE.
- 150 ftTurn right onto Muddy Branch Greenway Trail, heading SE.
- 1.3 miTurn left, heading W.
- 300 ftBear right, heading W.
- 0.5 miTurn right, heading E.
- 1.9 miReach Lake Varuna, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 1.9 miTurn left, heading W.
- 0.5 miBear right, heading NW.
- 300 ftTurn right, heading NW.
- 1.3 miTurn left, heading NE.
- 150 ftTurn right, heading NE.
- 50 ftBear left, heading NE.
- 0.4 miBear left onto Orchard Ridge Drive Sidepath, heading NW.
- 50 ftBear right, heading NW.
- 450 ftTurn right, heading NW.
- 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 3.2 mi in (~80 min). Leave by 5:31 PM for the 7:11 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:45 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- No dogs on part of this route
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from this trailhead
- Lake Varuna–Muddy Branch Greenway Trail, 3 sights 3.7 mi · ▲ 87 ft
- Lake Varuna–Lake Nirvana, 6 lakes 3.2 mi · ▲ 57 ft
- Lake Placid–Lake Varuna, 5 lakes 4.2 mi · ▲ 83 ft
- Lake Halcyon–Lake Varuna, 3 lakes 2.7 mi · ▲ 82 ft
- Inspiration Lake–Lake Varuna Loop, 7 lakes 5.2 mi · ▲ 140 ft
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