Little Bennett Regional Park

Little Bennett Regional Park

Those who like visiting the Manassas National Battlefield Park in Virginia for its open space and unpaved trails will enjoy visiting Little Bennett Regional Park in Montgomery County. Both parks have nice trails for hikers and horses. Neither allow cyclists on the trails. Neither has the usual attractions found in other regional parks such as man-made lakes or ball fields. Both preserve much history. The history of Little Bennett Regional Park is not like that of the Civil War nor of that war’s wrenching significance. Instead, the historical sites in Little Bennett Regional Park preserve the memories of the early rural lifestyles in Montgomery County dating back to the late 1700's when and where mills, chapels, agriculture and one-room school houses were the predominant structures that people gathered around. The park is under management of the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (MNCPPC).

Getting There

From the Capital Beltway (I-495), take I-270 headed west and go 17.5 miles. Take Exit 18, Clarksburg Rd., Rte. 121, headed east. After 2.6 miles, at the bottom of the hill, turn right at Hyattstown Mill Rd. and park.

Area Routes

Hyattstown Mill Road (6.4 or 5.4 miles, VI or IV)

The many trails of Little Bennett Regional Park are well marked. This looping collection of unpaved trails, gives you a good sampling of the park. It passes several historical areas including the Kingsley School House built in 1893. The one-room school, now kept behind fences that close it off from the public, has been left unchanged since it closed in 1935. Further on, as the name implies, an old Tobacco Barn is in a field near the Tobacco Barn Trail. The route passes Zeigler’s Saw and Bone Mill site where instead of milling flour, water power was used to crush bones and the resulting bone meal was used for fertilizer. Not much however is left visible of this mill.

The route is largely tree covered as is most of the park. Occasionally hills can be short and steep, however most on this route, are gradual. The short route uses more of the gravel Hyattstown Mill Road than does the regular loop. A natural feature to be seen on the Bennett Ridge and Moundbuilder Trails are the 1-2 ft. high ant hills.

Froggy Hollow School House Trail (2.65 miles, II)

Froggy Hollow is another name for the location of the Kingsley School House. This route goes a short way out the Hyattstown Mill Road, then loops back counter-clockwise on the Stoney Brook Trail. There’s only one major hill to be encountered which is located just before reaching Clarksburg Road. After steeply ascending it, crossing the road, then descending it, the trail passes right next to the schoolhouse and returns to parking on the flat Hyattstown Mill Road. Most of this route is shady.

Nearby and Connecting Zones

Black Hill Regional Park, Little Seneca Lake

Black Hill Regional Park, Ten Mile Creek

Historic Frederick Maryland

What to do Afterward

Food and Drink

picnic

Clarksburg Restaurant

Campanaro's Deli - (301) 607‑4596

Entertainment and Edification

Sugarloaf Mountain

Montgomery County Fairgrounds - 301 963-3247

0.0 Kingsley Trail through the gate past the parking lot on the gravel road

0.4 Hard Cider Trail on L

0.7 Froggy Hollow School House Trail on R; road becomes Purdham Trail

S 0.75 Purdham Trail on L (begin steep hill)

0.9 Purdham Trail joins on L

1.1 LB group camping sign (portable outhouse)

1.2 gravel road ends; continue on trail

1.3 Loggers Trail on L

L 1.4 Browning Run Trail

1.55 trail leaves pipeline

BR 2.15 at Pine Knob Trail on L in field to stay on Browning Run Trail

BL 2.35 at trail X to stay on Browning Run Trail

2.4 cross Clarksburg Rd

R 2.8 Tobacco Barn Trail on R

L 3.15 Timber Ridge Trail on L

L 3.25 to stay on Timber Ridge Trail; downhill and up again

L 3.75 Pine Grove Trail at T

R 4.3 Hyattstown Mill Rd (unmarked and gravel)

4.45 cross Little Bennett Creek on stones

BL 4.65 barricade at Rd X

L/R 4.7 Bennett Ridge Trail (unmarked); bear R at Owl Ridge Trail on L to stay on Bennett Ridge Trail

5.35 Woodcock Hollow Trail on R in open field

L 5.65 Moundbuilder Trail on L

L 6.05 Beaver Valley Trail

R 6.2 Hyattstown Mill Rd (unmarked)

6.35 cross Clarksburg Rd

6.4 gate at Kingsley Trail head

Froggy Hollow School House Trail

Distance: 2.65 miles

Rating: II; dirt trails in woods, flat gravel road; one steep hill

2.65 Mile Route

0.0 Kingsley Trail toward Clarksburg Road

0.05 Clarksburg Road

L 0.2 Beaver Valley Trail

0.3 wooden bridge over Little Bennett Creek

L 0.35 Stoney Creek Trail on L just past Mound Builder Trail on R

0.75 Acorn Hollow Trail on R

L 0.95 Froggy Hollow School House Trail on L

1.0 wooden bridge over stream, then uphill

1.3 cross Clarksburg Road, then steep downhill

BL 1.85 at Kingsley Schoolhouse, then over the suspension bridge for Little Bennett Creek

L 1.9 Kingsley Trail (gravel road)

2.25 Hard Cider Trail on R

2.65 gate at parking

Froggy Hollow School House Trail