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This page will show the link to the Seneca Creek Greenway/Magruder Branch Trails Distance Calculator, the date that each section was hiked as well as where the best spots are to park a vehicle, camping possibilities and available food along these trails.
Seneca Creek Greenway/Magruder Branch Trails Distance Calculator
Section 1, 01/30/2024, Northern Terminus, Between Damascus H.S. and Loghouse RD, MD, 2.8 miles, hiked by Chris Isham, Charlie Johnson and Mike Calabrese.
Section 2, 12/30/2023, From Loghouse RD to Watkins Mill RD, MD, 7.7 miles, hiked by Ron Calabrese and Mike Calabrese.
Section 3, 04/23/2024, From Watkins Mill RD to S end of Great Seneca Trail, MD, 6.5 miles, hiked by Charlie Johnson, Tim Schmitt, Chris Isham, Ron Calabrese and Mike Calabrese.
Section 4, 08/02/2023, From N end of Long Drought Trail to Riffleford, RD, MD, 1.2 miles, hiked by Mike Calabrese.
Section 5, 08/30/2023, From Riffleford RD to MD28, MD, 5.4 miles, hiked by Ron Calabrese and Mike Calabrese.
Section 6, 10/31/2023, Between MD28 and Potomac River, MD, Southern Terminus, 6.6 miles, hiked by Chris Isham, Charlie Johnson and Mike Calabrese
As far as parking goes, with the exception of where the SCGT crosses Brink & Wightman RDS, there is room for at least 1 vehicle at other road crossings for this trail. The best parking areas to leave a vehicle are listed from north to south:
0.0 Mile Point, North Terminus, Bethesda Church RD– If school is not in session you can park on Bethesda Church RD next to the high school. I actually got permission from the school administrator to park in the school parking lot when school was not in session. Since school was in session when we hiked this stretch, we parked across the street from the high school within the parking lot of the Ridge Shopping Center. There is a Weis market there.
0.5 Mile Point, Valley Park DR Parking Area– There is room for 6 or 7 vehicles to park here.
2.8 Mile Point, Loghouse RD Parking Lot– There is a nice parking area on a short side trail at Loghouse RD that holds 15-20 vehicles.
10.5 Mile Point, Watkins Mill RD– There is parallel parking along Watkins Mill RD for 12-15 vehicles as well as a small gravel lot on the north side of Watkins Mill and just east of the SCGT that will hold a few vehicles.
16.8 Mile Point, Kingfisher RD Cul de Sac– There is room for 12-15 vehicles here. This one does fill up quickly with park visitors. There is a short trail that leads from the Cul de Sac down to a three way intersection. The trail crosses at this intersection. The SCGT is the Great Seneca Trail northbound and the Long Drought Trail southbound.
18.1 Mile Point, Riffle Ford RD– There is parallel parking along Riffleford RD for about 8-10 vehicles.
21.9 Mile Point, Blackrock RD & Mill– There is room for maybe 3 or 4 vehicles along Blackrock RD and around the mill ruins.
23.3 Mile Point, MD28 Parking Lot– There is room for 12-15 vehicles in this lot. There may be occasional buses there from a local outfitter as well.
25.5 Mile Point, Side Trail to Berryville RD– I did not check this area so I’m not sure if there is parking at the trailhead or not. I will research this one.
27.7 Mile Point, Berryville RD– There is room for maybe 3-4 vehicles to parallel park along Berryville RD for the short distance that the SCGT parallels that road.
29.9 Mile Point, South Terminus, TSchiffely RD- This is a pretty isolated area. There is an old dwelling here that may be related to the name of the road. You could probably leave a vehicle here. What we did when we sectioned this area was leave a few vehicles at the large parking lot on Riley’s Lock RD. You will have to hike an additional half mile from the southern terminus (there is a 0.0 mile post there) along a dirt/gravel road that goes out to the C&O Canal Towpath. Take a left onto the towpath, walk about .2 miles, turn left at the Riley’s Lock house, then walk the road about .2 miles back to the large parking lot, which holds 20-25 vehicles. Again, there may be buses here from a local outfitter.
As far as camping goes on this trail the only campground is within Seneca Creek State Park proper. I don’t know for sure but I don’t believe that camping is permitted along this trail. As far as food goes the only food available near the trail that I remember was at the Weis Market northern terminus at mile 0.0.
Mike C
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