The Underground Railroad Experience Trail

The Underground Railroad Experience Trail is a historical and educational institution located at 16501 Norwood Road in Ashton-Sandy Spring, Maryland. Established in the 1998 Ashton/Sandy Spring Master Plan, this simulated trail was created by Montgomery Parks to provide more pedestrian trails in the community, preserve the rural landscape, and commemorate a part of Sandy Spring and Montgomery County’s history.

Although there is no documented evidence that Woodlawn Manor’s owners or buildings were involved in the Underground Railroad, the trail is owned and operated by Montgomery Parks/Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission. It is part of the Rachel Carson Greenway and the National Park Service National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom program.

The Underground Railroad was a 19th-century network of people and places that helped enslaved individuals seek freedom in northern free states, Canada, and elsewhere. The trail is a scenic route primarily through the woods, with a portion that goes around a corn field. It is an important part of American and Montgomery County’s history, highlighting the dangers and bravery involved in the civil disobedience movement.

The trail offers guided hikes and events to educate visitors about this significant part of history. Advance permits are required for any media photography/filming on the grounds. The Underground Railroad Experience Trail is part of the National Park Service National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Program and the Rachel Carson Greenway Trail Corridor, connecting Patuxent River State Park to Prince George’s County.