AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Rock Creek Regional Park

Study Pond–Sunfish Pond, 3 lakes

13.7 mi · ▲ 340 ft · 4 hr 44 min

Study Pond–Sunfish Pond, 3 lakes is a 13.7-mile out-and-back in Rock Creek Regional Park near Holiday Park, MD. The route passes Sunfish Pond before reaching Study Pond at the turnaround, 6.9 miles in. It climbs 340 ft. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi236 – 440 ft15.5 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Rock Creek Trail 39.04581, -77.08773
Nearest town Holiday Park, MD
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Study Pond–Sunfish Pond, 3 lakes

13.7 mi · ▲ 340 ft · 4 hr 44 min

Elevation 235–439 ft

Out & Back · Rock Creek Regional Park

Trailhead: Rock Creek Trail · 39.04581, -77.08773

Weather Sep 22: Heavy rain, high 64°F / low 58° · precip 75% · wind 11 mph · sunrise 6:57 AM · sunset 7:07 PM

Transit-accessible: Dewey Rd & Fernhill Rd stop 34 m from the trailhead · Toilets at the trailhead · Drinking water at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Rock Creek Trail, heading NW.
  2. 2.1 miSharp left, heading SW.
  3. 0.2 miBear left, heading N.
  4. 0.8 miTurn right onto Rock Creek Trail Connector, heading NW.
  5. 2.9 miTurn left, heading NE.
  6. 0.5 miPass Sunfish Pond.
  7. 0.2 miBear left, heading NW.
  8. 350 ftContinue straight onto Sunfish Trail, heading NW.
  9. 0.1 miPass Study Pond.
  10. 0.1 miTurn right onto Lakeside Trail, heading SW.
  11. 350 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  12. 50 ftTurn right onto Muncaster Mill Trail, heading NW.
  13. 300 ftTurn left onto Trail connector, heading W.
  14. 50 ftReach Study Pond, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  15. 50 ftTurn right onto Muncaster Mill Trail, heading W.
  16. 300 ftTurn left, heading W.
  17. 50 ftTurn right onto Lakeside Trail, heading SW.
  18. 350 ftTurn left onto Sunfish Trail, heading SW.
  19. 0.3 miBear right, heading NW.
  20. 0.8 miTurn right, heading NE.
  21. 2.9 miTurn left onto Rock Creek Trail, heading SE.
  22. 0.8 miBear right, heading SW.
  23. 0.2 miBear left, heading S.
  24. 250 ftTurn left, heading S.
  25. 50 ftSharp right, heading S.
  26. 0.4 miBear right, heading S.
  27. 0.3 miTurn left, heading SW.
  28. 0.8 miArrive 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/study-pond-sunfish-pond-out-back-4-lakes-22-km

Trail surface

39% paved23% dirt1% gravel37% unspecified

Weather

Heavy rainTemperature 64°F58°
Precip75%Wind11 mphUV1Humidity92%
Rained 0.3″ yesterday · trails may be muddy
Hourly temperatureRain chance
70°55° 12 AM: 20% rain1 AM: 22% rain2 AM: 23% rain3 AM: 44% rain4 AM: 52% rain5 AM: 54% rain6 AM: 54% rain7 AM: 74% rain8 AM: 75% rain9 AM: 59% rain10 AM: 50% rain11 AM: 45% rain12 PM: 36% rain1 PM: 38% rain2 PM: 41% rain3 PM: 48% rain4 PM: 43% rain5 PM: 45% rain6 PM: 51% rain7 PM: 74% rain8 PM: 67% rain9 PM: 52% rain10 PM: 50% rain11 PM: 47% rain
Sunrise 6:57 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM9 PMSunset 7:07 PM
Wed 64°55° 34%
Thu 68°54°
Fri 73°48°
Sat 74°49°
Sun 76°53°
Mon 77°55°

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 5.5 mi in (~140 min). Leave by 4:27 PM for the 7:07 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:38 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: Dewey Rd & Fernhill Rd stop 34 m from the trailhead
  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Drinking water at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from Rock Creek Trail Trailhead

Hikes near Holiday Park, Maryland