Blockhouse Point Conservation Park & Trails

"The Blockhouse Point Loop Trail, a 7.0-mile loop trail near North Potomac, Maryland. I must say, I genuinely enjoy this trail. It offers a nice, lengthy hike without being overly strenuous, and there's always something interesting to see. The stretch along the Potomac River is especially breathtaking, with plenty of shade and lovely views of the river, making it a delightful woodland walk. And we were delighted that we didn’t forget the bug spray on this section. You know, it's like hiking's secret weapon – it keeps those pesky critters from having a bite of you! Along this portion, we had some memorable wildlife encounters, including turkeys, a group of deer, and even a snake. The park provides blazes to guide you along the way, although I must admit they can be a tad confusing since they're all the same color, even when the paths diverge. After the shaded portion, we continued our journey along the C and O canal. I've had the pleasure of hiking on sections of the C and O canal in the past, and it's always a treat. I simply love this route. During this stretch, we spotted turtles and fish in the canal, and we were fortunate to catch sight of at least four majestic blue herons. One thing worth noting is that the final section on the Canyon Trail lacks shade, so for our next adventure, we plan to stick to the shaded sections of the park."

"Absolutely spectacular and stunning. Easily one of my favorite places to visit along the C&O to recharge and restore. A treasured spot for all to enjoy. A bit of a hidden gem and nestled off of River Road. It is easy to miss the entrance and parking lot small. However, making this as part of your visit to the C&O visit well worth the effort. Especially in the Spring and near sundown. The mosaic of colors mesmerizing."

"Wonderful park. I spent 2 hours hiking around and I was quite nice. One of trails is just the clearing made for pipeline access, which is meh, but there r plenty of pretty wildflowers growing in that open space. The trails are narrow and somewhat overgrown in many spots. I enjoy that, but It does make them less accessible. There are some unofficial footpaths along the canal if you wanna make it experience more rigorous. My pup and I found some nice rocks to climb which was challenging and fun."

"It was a very nice trail, nothing too strenuous. Saw a couple of horses, which I absolutely love! It was a beautiful Thanksgiving day for a hike!"

"Beautiful trails through forests to some stunning views of the Potomac River. The Canyon trail is an out and back down a hill then back up. The Blockhouse Trail will take you to the overlook (and is used by a good number of horses). It also started getting pretty full of hikers around noon."