AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes
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Blockhouse Point Conservation Park

Potomac River–Paw Paw Viewpoint, 8 lakes

4 mi · ▲ 389 ft · 1 hr 32 min

Potomac River–Paw Paw Viewpoint, 8 lakes is a 4-mile out-and-back in Blockhouse Point Conservation Park near Riverwood, MD. The route passes Paw Paw Viewpoint, Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, Lock 23: Violettes Lock and Inlet Lock before reaching Potomac River at the turnaround, 2 miles in. It climbs 389 ft, with sections as steep as 27% grade. It scores 13/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi177 – 394 ft · steepest grade: 27%4.2 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Montgomery County Parks 39.06603, -77.30436
Nearest town Riverwood, MD
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Potomac River–Paw Paw Viewpoint, 8 lakes

4 mi · ▲ 389 ft · 1 hr 32 min

Elevation 178–392 ft

Out & Back · Blockhouse Point Conservation Park

Trailhead: Montgomery County Parks · 39.06603, -77.30436

Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:56 AM · sunset 7:11 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading SW.
  2. 100 ftBear left onto Muddy Branch Greenway Trail, heading SW.
  3. 50 ftSharp right onto Old South River Road Trail, heading NW.
  4. 0.3 miSharp left onto Upland Woods Trail, heading SW.
  5. 0.1 miTurn right onto Turkey Fan Trail, heading W.
  6. 0.1 miBear left onto Blockhouse Trail, heading W.
  7. 0.3 miSharp right onto Calithea Trail, heading SW.
  8. 150 ftTurn left onto Paw Paw Trail, heading S.
  9. 0.3 miPass Paw Paw Viewpoint.
  10. 50 ftPass Chesapeake and Ohio Canal.
  11. 50 ftTurn right onto Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Towpath, heading W.
  12. 0.8 miPass Lock 23: Violettes Lock.
  13. 50 ftPass Inlet Lock.
  14. 50 ftTurn right, heading W.
  15. 50 ftReach Potomac River, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  16. 0.8 miTurn left onto Paw Paw Trail, heading SE.
  17. 0.3 miTurn right onto Calithea Trail, heading E.
  18. 150 ftSharp left onto Blockhouse Trail, heading NE.
  19. 0.3 miBear right onto Turkey Fan Trail, heading NE.
  20. 0.1 miTurn left onto Upland Woods Trail, heading NE.
  21. 0.1 miSharp right onto Old South River Road Trail, heading N.
  22. 0.3 miSharp left onto Muddy Branch Greenway Trail, heading SE.
  23. 50 ftBear right, heading S.
  24. 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/potomac-river-paw-paw-viewpoint-out-back-11-lakes-6-km-67ce

Trail surface

42% dirt1% gravel57% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:56 AMSunset 7:11 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.4 mi in (~38 min). Leave by 6:13 PM for the 7:11 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:09 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from Montgomery County Parks Trailhead

Hikes near Riverwood, Maryland