Study Pond & Sunfish Pond via Wildflower Trail
3.9 mi · ▲ 231 ft · 1 hr 25 min
Study Pond & Sunfish Pond via Wildflower Trail is a 3.9-mile out-and-back in Rock Creek Regional Park near Sycamore Acres, MD. The route passes Sunfish Pond and Study Pond. It is mostly level, with 231 ft of elevation gain, and mostly dirt. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Study Pond & Sunfish Pond via Wildflower Trail
3.9 mi · ▲ 231 ft · 1 hr 25 min
Elevation 311–435 ft
Out & Back · Rock Creek Regional Park
Trailhead: 39.10543, -77.09217
Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:55 AM · sunset 7:10 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading NE.
- 0.4 miTurn left, heading S.
- 0.7 miPass Sunfish Pond.
- 150 ftBear left, heading SW.
- 350 ftContinue straight onto Sunfish Trail, heading W.
- 0.2 miTurn right onto Lakeside Trail, heading N.
- 350 ftTurn left, heading NW.
- 50 ftTurn right onto Muncaster Mill Trail, heading NW.
- 150 ftPass Study Pond.
- 150 ftTurn left onto Trail connector, heading N.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Rocky Ridge Trail, heading NW.
- 250 ftBear right, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
- 250 ftTurn right, heading N.
- 0.1 miTurn right, heading N.
- 150 ftTurn left, heading N.
- 50 ftBear right onto Pioneer Trail, heading N.
- 500 ftTurn right onto Wildflower Trail, heading W.
- 100 ftReach Study Pond, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 150 ftTurn left onto Pioneer Trail, heading W.
- 450 ftBear left, heading NW.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading NW.
- 150 ftTurn left, heading NW.
- 0.1 miTurn left, heading E.
- 250 ftTurn right, heading S.
- 50 ftBear left onto Rocky Ridge Trail, heading S.
- 250 ftContinue straight onto Trail connector, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn right onto Muncaster Mill Trail, heading S.
- 300 ftTurn left, heading SE.
- 50 ftTurn right onto Lakeside Trail, heading SE.
- 350 ftTurn left onto Sunfish Trail, heading S.
- 0.3 miBear right, heading E.
- 0.8 miTurn right, heading SE.
- 0.3 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 0.2 mi in (~4 min). Leave by 6:46 PM for the 7:10 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:31 PM — 6 min before dark.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from this trailhead
- Rock Creek Trail 11.7 mi · ▲ 287 ft
- Sunfish Pond & ICC Trail via Kengla Trail 8.1 mi · ▲ 165 ft
- Sunfish Pond & Muncaster Mill Trail 4.6 mi · ▲ 84 ft
- Rock Creek Trail 4.7 mi · ▲ 216 ft
- Lake Frank Overlook–Lake Bernard Frank, 4 lakes 5.5 mi · ▲ 220 ft
- Lake Bernard Frank & Sunfish Pond via Muncaster Mill Trail 3.9 mi · ▲ 137 ft
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Hikes near Sycamore Acres, Maryland