AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Rock Creek & water feature 1 via Rock Creek Trail

5.4 mi · ▲ 218 ft · 1 hr 55 min

Rock Creek & water feature 1 via Rock Creek Trail is a 5.4-mile out-and-back near Alta Vista, MD. The route passes water feature 1, Rock Creek and Rock Creek. It is mostly level, with 218 ft of elevation gain, and mostly paved. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi200 – 374 ft6.2 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Bethesda Trolley Trail 39.00921, -77.11206
Nearest town Alta Vista, MD
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Rock Creek & water feature 1 via Rock Creek Trail

5.4 mi · ▲ 218 ft · 1 hr 55 min

Elevation 201–375 ft

Out & Back

Trailhead: Bethesda Trolley Trail · 39.00921, -77.11206

Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:55 AM · sunset 7:11 PM

Transit-accessible: stop 209 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Bethesda Trolley Trail, heading S.
  2. 0.3 miPass water feature 1.
  3. 0.5 miBear left, heading E.
  4. 0.1 miTurn left, heading E.
  5. 50 ftTurn right, heading E.
  6. 0.1 miBear right, heading NE.
  7. 50 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  8. 100 ftBear right, heading NE.
  9. 0.3 miPass Rock Creek.
  10. 0.1 miSharp left onto Rock Creek Trail, heading N.
  11. 0.8 miBear left, heading NW.
  12. 350 ftPass Rock Creek.
  13. 0.4 miBear left, heading N.
  14. 450 ftReach Rock Creek, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  15. 50 ftBear right, heading SE.
  16. 0.5 miTurn left, heading S.
  17. 0.8 miSharp right, heading E.
  18. 0.4 miBear left, heading W.
  19. 100 ftTurn right, heading W.
  20. 50 ftBear left, heading W.
  21. 0.1 miTurn left, heading SW.
  22. 50 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  23. 0.1 miBear right, heading SW.
  24. 0.5 miContinue straight onto Bethesda Trolley Trail, heading W.
  25. 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/rock-creek-rock-creek-out-back-3-lakes-9-km-df55

Trail surface

97% paved3% dirt

Weather

Sunrise 6:55 AMSunset 7:11 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.4 mi in (~10 min). Leave by 6:40 PM for the 7:11 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:35 PM — 2 min before dark.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: stop 209 m from the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Hikes near Alta Vista, Maryland