College Park/Riverdale

College Park/Riverdale

College Park was not originally named for the University of Maryland. It was named for the airport where the Wright Brothers came to perfect their sciences after their historic first flights in North Carolina. Riverdale is College Park’s nearby neighbor and as its name describes, sits close to the Northeast Branch of the Anacostia River. There are stark contrasts in the wealth of the two neighborhoods but both have good parks and places to get outside. The starting point is on the Northeast Branch Trail, about 2 miles south of Lake Artemesia. Open flat and grassy flood plain characterizes the nearby terrain. Hills can be found by going nearer the university. The Northeast Branch Trail is good for running, cycling, and in-line skating.

Getting There

From the Capital Beltway (I-95), take Kenilworth Avenue (Rte. 201) south and inside the Capital Beltway for 2.75 miles. Turn right on River Road following it only 0.25 miles. Turn left on Haig Drive into the park. The road curves left, then right. Park 0.4 miles from River Road near the restroom and water fountain.

Area Routes

Northeast by Northwest (9.6 miles, VIII)

This generally flat route, along the two major Anacostia River tributaries on paved trails, will show you the great variation of the area. Going downstream, the flood plain widens gradually. Long stretches of the trail are on top of a dyke. It can be very sunny and sometimes windy in winter. You may also want to avoid this route on hot days or if thunderstorms threaten. The beginning of the Northwest Branch Trail at an intersection on the right is unannounced. One would little expect that from there by trail, can be reached Sligo Creek, Long Branch, or Wheaton Regional Park. The neighborhoods at lower portion of the Northwest Branch appear less well-to-do economically. Going upstream, the open areas eventually give-in to quiet woods. The seclusion of a few spots will warrant traveling in groups for some. Leaving the stream valley in a steep climb (the only major climb of the route), you will become part of the hustle and bustle of students traveling to-and-fro at the University of Maryland. The famed and stately Quad is the heart of the campus. It could hardly be more different from both of the earlier trails. Crossing the Chapel Intermural Fields and Baltimore Ave. (Rte. 1), College Avenue offers a different look at university life, with many fraternal or sorority houses on both sides of the street. Cross under the train and metro tracks at the College Park - University of Maryland station. The final leg is along River Rd. a relatively new corporate office park road.

Double Northeast (4.65, 2.5, or 5.85 miles, III, II, IV)

There are two sides to practically everything. On this route you get a chance to see both. Heading south on the Northeast Branch Trail, cross to the east side of the widening river at Riverdale Rd. Taking a park road, you’ll pass some picnic spots and ball fields. Though there are large trees nearby, they are too far from the road to offer shade or protection from wind. A small rise in the road is the crossing of a dyke. Take the dirt trail on top of it to the right, staying in view of the water. The crossings of some roads and a railroad track interrupt the rhythm on the dyke but also offer alternatives for a shorter route. Bladensburg Rd. is the last best way to loop back on the west side of the river. When hitting the paved trail, you have yet another option, to turn right for an out and back trip to Colmar Manor Community Park, or to turn left and return more directly. The end of the Northeast Branch Trail at Colmar Manor, is at an open ballfield area on top of a hill. It’s high enough to let you see most of the way back to the start. The return along the Northeast Branch Trail is paved, and mostly open. You are likely to see people fishing the stream and if you are lucky, you may as I was, be surprised to spy a deer.

Mansion Hills, 7.95 miles, VII

See the hidden side of College Park on this route through its quiet neighborhoods. The route returns through the University of Maryland. Begin by heading to the College Park - University of Maryland metro station, using the underpass there to get to the other side of the tracks. The Calvert Hills neighborhood on the other side has large houses mature trees and little traffic. The flatness abruptly gives way to a steep climb on Amherst Rd. Crossing Baltimore Ave., Rte. 1, you will be in University Park. The trees and auto traffic there are similarly light but the houses are even larger. The grounds show the well manicured efforts of university professors and local politicians who live there. Loop back on Adelphi Rd., Campus Drive, through the Quad, and back to the metro station. Finish on a quiet segment of the Northeast Branch Trail south of the Paint Branch Parkway to the parking area.

Nearby and Connecting Zones

Lake Artemesia

Greenbelt Park

Sligo Creek/Wheaton/Northwest Branch

What to do Afterward

Food and Drink

Santa Fe Café - 301 779-1345

Pho Ninety Nine - Vietnamese - 301 445-1431

Seven Seas Restaurant - 301 345-8500

Food Factory - Indian fast food - 301 345-8888

Entertainment and Edification

College Park Airport Museum - 10AM-5PM daily; 301 864-6029; TTY 301 864-4765

Riversdale Mansion - plantation life in the early 1800's - 301 864-0420, TTY 301 699-2407

Herbert W. Wells Ice Rink - 301 227-3717

Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens - 202 426-6905

Calvert Rd Community Park Disc Golf

0.0 Northeast Branch Trail south and down stream from the parking lot (water/restrooms)

0.2 underpass; East-West Hwy, Rte 450

0.3 Riverdale Rd

1.2 Decatur St

1.4 RR underpass

1.65 Baltimore Ave underpass

R/L 1.7 Northwest Branch Trail; (unmarked) up small hill; along Armentrout Dr

1.95 Rhode Island Ave, Rte 1

2.6 38^th Ave and park

R 2.95 after bridge at T to stay on trail (unmarked)

R 3.25 trail X; over bridge to stay on trail (unmarked)

3.35 Queens Chapel Rd (!)

BR 3.85 toward small wooden bridge at TR X; L crosses Northwest Branch (unmarked)

4.0 Sligo Creek Trail head; bridge on L

4.35 Ager Rd underpass

4.7 East - West Hwy underpass

R 5.75 Lane Manor Park Rd (unmarked); before basketball courts (detour off-route 0.2 miles further S for water); becomes a trail in 0.15 miles

R/L 6.05 at University Hills Park parking; R to leave parking & L onto Stanford St and up the hill

L 6.35 Adelphi Rd

R 6.45 Campus Drive;

University of Maryland (!)

6.85 Mowatt Ln

L/R 6.95 at T; cross bearing L around Queen Annes Hall & R before Anne Arundel Hall; downhill on the walkway through The Quad

CR 7.35 at T; Regents Dr; cross and BR in front of Lee Hall

BL 7.35 downhill diagonally across Chapel Intramural Fields on the walkway toward College Ave

S 7.55 cross Baltimore Ave, Rte 1 (!); onto College Ave

R 8.1 at T; Columbia Ave

L 8.25 Calvert Rd; cross RR at end of road and continue under metro tracks (!)

R 8.4 at T; River Rd

CR 9.2 Haig Dr

R 9.4 Northeast Branch Trail and parking area

9.6 parking; (water/restrooms)

0.0 Northeast Branch Trail south and down stream from the parking lot (water/restrooms)

0.2 underpass; East-West Hwy, Rte 410

L 0.3 Riverdale Rd

R 0.35 Tanglewood Dr; Anacostia River Prk

R 0.95 after rise; onto dirt trail on dyke

1.25 Decatur St (unmarked)

1.55 cross RR (!); stay on dyke

L 1.75 Balt Ave; Rte 1 Alt (unmarked)

XS 1.85 at Upshur St (unmarked) (!)

R 1.95 Old Port of Bladensburg Comm Prk; cross wooden bridge & up to dyke

L 2.0 on dyke

R 2.3 Bladensburg Rd, Rte 450

R 2.35 gravel ramp to trail

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L 2.4 Northeast Branch Trail

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2.8 wooden bridge over Northwest Br

2.95 Northwest Branch Trail on L

3.0 Baltimore Ave underpass

3.25 RR underpass

3.45 Decatur St

4.35 Riverdale Rd

4.45 East - West Hwy, Rte 410, underpass

4.65 parking (water/restroom)

0.0 North on Northeast Branch Trail through the parking area

L 0.2 Haig Dr on the footpath (umarked)

L 0.4 River Rd

L 1.2 College Park - U of MD station; through the pedestrian tunnel and across the RR tracks

S 1.25 Calvert Rd

L 1.35 Dartmouth Av

BR 1.8 Amherst Rd

BL 2.0 Queens Chapel Rd; after crossing Baltimore Ave, Rte 1

R 2.1 Clagett Rd at X w/44^th Ave; becomes Wells Pkwy

R 3.1 Adelphi Rd

R 3.55 Campus Rd; University of Maryland

3.9 Mowatt Ln

L/R 4.0 at T; cross bearing L around Queen Annes Hall & R before Anne Arundel Hall; downhill on walkway through The Quad

CR 4.4 at T; Regents Dr; cross and BR in front of Lee Hall

BL 4.4 downhill diagonally across Chapel Intramural Fields on the walkway toward College Ave

S 4.6 cross Baltimore Ave, Rte 1 (!); onto College Ave

R 5.15 at T; Columbia Ave

L 5.3 Calvert Rd; cross RR at end of road and continue under metro tracks (!)

L 5.45 at T; River Rd

R 5.5 Paint Branch Pkwy

R 5.8 ramp to Northeast Branch Trail; after ice rink

BR 5.9 on wooden bridge after Denis Wolf Rest stop

6.45 River Rd underpass

6.55 merge w/Haig Dr

6.75 parking (water/restrooms)