The Breezy Loop Trail on Mike Rubin land is well marked and maintained by EPIC.
unteer coordinator for the Peace Park, says,“ We want people to enjoy this as a place of refuge, a place to connect with the natural world and be moved by it.”
Other private landowners, especially farmers of large tracts, make trails on their property available to the public for organized hikes or equestrian rides with advance permission, which in several cases links users of the trails around the edge of their farm fields and wooded areas to parkland trails. Mike Rubin, a lifelong horseman who owns more than 3000 acres in the County and has put much of it under permanent conservation easements, has generously made hundreds of acres available to equestrian trails. Equestrian Partners in Conservation( EPIC) is a volunteer group that has developed 13 miles of trails in Boyds, known as the Breezy Loop
Complex, on Rubin’ s land. Allan Noble, President of EPIC says“ You don’ t have to be a member to ride with us; we welcome anyone, and our trails attract people from all over the area to join our rides.” At a recent gathering the club hosted in July, more than 40 riders from as far away as Columbia in Howard County and Middletown in Frederick County enjoyed a 2-hour ride.
Similarly, Trail Riders of Today( TROT), was formed in 1980 by a group of volunteers to save a trail under threat of development in the Paint Branch Stream Valley on the eastern edge of the County’ s Ag Reserve. Today TROT organizes trail rides, provides a website with links to equestrian trails throughout the state, and advocates for trails with state and local governments.
Potomac Bridle & Hiking Trails Association( PBHTA), like TROT, was formed to protect trails by working with the County to employ permanent easements for existing trails, as real estate development began to devour large parcels of land in the 1960s. Trails that PBHTA fought to save include a connection from Pennyfield Lock, a Montgomery County Parks Conservation Area on the C & O Canal popular with birders, northward to Quince Orchard Road in Gaithersburg.
Heritage Montgomery, a nonprofit organization, promotes and connects people to all County parks and trails, especially those related to Montgomery County history and heritage. Their website offers interactive maps.
Sugarloaf Regional Trails provides 15 themed history tours, either on foot or bike. For example, their“ Old Farm Trail” travels by stone ruins of old homesteads and timber barns. Their Hyattstown Trail highlights a former stagecoach stop and connects to an optional biking loop through Little Bennett Regional Park, which is adjacent to Hyattstown. Their interactive website narrates each trail, and a printable map identifies trails throughout the County.
The Mountain Club of Maryland offers many group hikes on County trails and beyond. The club organizes volunteer days to help park managers maintain trails.
Seneca Valley Sugarloafers Volksmarch Club is open to all and encourages walking as a fitness activity. Sugarloafers’ walks are hosted on a regular schedule throughout the County, using many parks trails, connecting from developed parts of the County to the rural areas.
Something for Everyone, And a Shared Duty for All
With this huge variety of trail options available to all, somewhere in the County there is surely a trail that each of us can enjoy. The Ag Reserve, due to the preservation of open space for farming, offers a great abundance of trails. With this great privilege comes responsibility, and it is up to trail users to help keep trails safe and clear. The County posts signs,“ Got Mud?” that request people stay off trails if their footprints( or bike treads or hoofprints) can be seen in the surface. Ruts and divots can create safety hazards when they harden, as well as contribute to run-off and soil erosion.
Some trail websites tell users how to report downed trees or
36 plenty I autumn harvest 2025