{{short description|Hiking trail in Maryland}} {{Use American English|date = August 2020}} {{Use mdy dates|date=August 2020}} {{Infobox hiking trail | name = Rachel Carson Greenway | photo = File:Rachel CarsonGW locator.gif | caption = Rachel Carson Greenway Map | designation = | location = Montgomery and Prince George's County, Maryland | length = About {{convert|25|mi|km}} | map = | trailheads = | use = Hiking | website = | highest_name= | highest_ft= | lowest_name= | lowest_ft= | difficulty = | season = }} {{coord|39|7|42|N|77|1|33|W|region:US-MD_type:landmark|display=title}} The '''Rachel Carson Greenway''' is a planned 25-mile stretch of trails, spanning from the historic Adelphi Mill in Prince George's County north through eastern Montgomery County, Maryland to Patuxent River State Park, and incorporating existing Northwest Branch trails. The greenway was proposed as part of a 1998 Countywide Park Trails Plan.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.montgomeryplanningboard.org/meetings_archive/04_meeting_archive/agenda_071504/item5_071504.pdf |title=Rachel Carson Greenway Trail Corridor Plan: Plan Objectives, Outreach Strategy Recommendations and Plan Schedule |date=2004-07-07 |last=Coleman |first=Lyn |publisher=Montgomery County Department of Park & Planning |access-date=2011-09-04 }}</ref> A plan for the greenway was approved by the Montgomery County Planning Board on June 15, 2005.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://montgomeryplanningboard.org/blog-news/2005/06/16/montgomery-coun-16/ |title=Montgomery County Planning Board Decision to Create Longest Continuous Trail in County |last=Kossoy |first=Anita |publisher=Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission |date=2005-06-16 |access-date=2011-09-04 |archive-date=March 25, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120325080736/http://montgomeryplanningboard.org/blog-news/2005/06/16/montgomery-coun-16/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
The Rachel Carson Greenway would include a set of three existing trails, including the Northwest Branch trail in Silver Spring, Woodlawn Manor trails in Sandy Spring and Rachel Carson Conservation Park trails near Laytonsville.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.montgomeryplanningboard.org/meetings_archive/05_meeting_archive/agenda_033105/RCG_PBmemo_31mar05.pdf |title=Staff Draft Rachel Carson Greenway Trail Corridor Plan |last=Coleman |first=Lyn |date=2005-03-23 |access-date=2011-09-04 |publisher=Montgomery County Department of Park & Planning |format=PDF}}</ref> The Northwest Branch Trail Corridor was officially renamed as the Rachel Carson Greenway on March 20, 2004.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://ww2.gazette.net/gazette_archive/2004/200409/silverspring/news/203485-1.html |title=Trail honors environmentalist's memory |last=Boyd |first=Matt |date=2004-02-25 |newspaper=Montgomery Gazette |access-date=2011-09-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120404180515/http://ww2.gazette.net/gazette_archive/2004/200409/silverspring/news/203485-1.html |archive-date=2012-04-04}}</ref> The largest section of the greenway consists of a network of unimproved hiking trails through the Northwest Branch stream valley gorge in Burnt Mills, Maryland. A Sandy Spring Heritage Trail is being considered as part of the greenway trail system.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.montgomeryplanningboard.org/meetings_archive/05_meeting_archive/agenda_061605/item1_061605_opt.pdf |title=Work Session #1: Public Hearing Draft Rachel Carson Greenway Trail Corridor Plan |last=Coleman |first=Lyn |date=2006-06-09 |access-date=2011-09-04 |publisher=Montgomery County Department of Park & Planning |format=PDF}}</ref> In 2008, Montgomery County approved plans to extend the Rock Creek Park trail system north to Rachel Carson Conservation Park and connect with the Rachel Carson Greenway.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://ww2.gazette.net/stories/10012008/olnenew223311_32478.shtml |title=Planning Board gives approval to trail plan |last=Branchfeld |first=Melissa J. |newspaper=Montgomery Gazette |date=2008-10-01 |access-date=2011-09-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304023905/http://ww2.gazette.net/stories/10012008/olnenew223311_32478.shtml |archive-date=2016-03-04}}</ref>
==Existing trails== As of 2011, the Greenway included three trail systems:
===Rachel Carson Conservation Park=== The Rachel Carson Conservation Park is a 650-acres park located near Laytonsville, in Montgomery County, Maryland. The park contains over six miles of existing hiking and equestrian trails, and Hawlings River traverses the park.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.montgomeryparks.org/PPSD/ParkTrails/trails_MAPS/Rachel_Carson.shtm |title=Rachel Carson Conservation Park Trails |publisher=Montgomery County Department of Parks |access-date=2011-09-04}}</ref>
The conservation area was named in 1977 for noted environmentalist Rachel Carson, the author of ''Silent Spring'', who lived nearby.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.montgomeryplanningboard.org/meetings_archive/04_meeting_archive/agenda_010804/itemB_010804_opt.pdf |title=Approval to Change the Name of the Northwest Branch Trail Corridor to the Rachel Carson Greenway Trail Corridor |last=Coleman |first=Lyn |date=2003-12-30 |access-date=2011-09-04 |publisher=Montgomery County Department of Park & Planning |format=PDF}}</ref> The park includes 50.6 acres acquired by Montgomery County in 2004.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://ww2.gazette.net/gazette_archive/2004/200445/montgomerycty/county/243458-1.html |title=County buys 130 acres for preservation |last=Tallman |first=Douglas |date=2004-11-08 |newspaper=Montgomery Gazette |access-date=2011-09-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304024614/http://ww2.gazette.net/gazette_archive/2004/200445/montgomerycty/county/243458-1.html |archive-date=2016-03-04}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/content/council/pdf/archive/pr/2004/1022legacy.pdf |title=M-NCPPC, County Council and County Executive Announce Four Legacy Open Space Acquisitions |date=2004-10-22 |publisher=Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission |access-date=2011-09-04 |format=PDF}}</ref> The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission prepared a master plan for the park in 2000.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://ww2.gazette.net/gazette_archive/2000/200019/olney/news/10913-1.html |title=Public comment sought on park plans |last=Hogan |first=Terri |date=2000-05-10 |newspaper=Montgomery Gazette |access-date=2011-09-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304023857/http://ww2.gazette.net/gazette_archive/2000/200019/olney/news/10913-1.html |archive-date=2016-03-04}}</ref>
===Underground Railroad Experience Trail=== The Underground Railroad Experience Trail, located in Sandy Spring, Maryland, commemorates the Underground Railroad and Quaker traditions. The trail extends north from Woodlawn Manor Park to the Sandy Spring and then on to a 300-year-old Champion White Ash tree. This trail is a member of the National Park Service's Underground Railroad Network to Freedom.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.montgomeryparks.org/PPSD/Cultural_Resources_Stewardship/heritage/urr_experience.shtm |title=Underground Railroad Experience Trail |publisher=Montgomery County Department of Parks |date=2011-08-01 |access-date=2011-09-04}}</ref>
===Northwest Branch=== {{main|Northwest Branch Trail}} thumb|The Rachel Carson Greenway Trail north of Burnt Mills in Montgomery County, MD
Between the Burnt Mills Dam trailhead on U.S. Route 29 (Colesville Road) and Kemp Mill Road near Wheaton Regional Park the Rachel Carson Greenway Trail follows the east side of the Northwest Branch, across the creek from the Northwest Branch Trail. The trail is rustic and designated hiking only except for the stretch between Valley Brook Drive and the trail connection to the Northwest Branch Trail, where equestrian riders are also permitted.<ref name="montgomeryparks">{{Cite web |title= Northwest Branch Stream Valley Park Trails |url=https://www.montgomeryparks.org/parks-and-trails/northwest-branch-stream-valley-park/rachel-carson-greenway-northwest-branch-stream-valley-park-trails/ |access-date=2020-08-31 |website=Montgomery Parks |publisher=M-NCPPC}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{Cite web |title=Rachel Carson Greenway Trail Corridor Plan |url=http://www.montgomeryparks.org/PPSD/ParkTrails/trail_planning/rc_greenway/RCGW_MP/RCGW_MasterPlan.shtm |access-date=2011-09-04 |website=Montgomery Parks (M-NCPPC)}} * {{Cite web |title=Rachel Carson Greenway & Northwest Branch Stream Valley Park Trails |url=http://www.montgomeryparks.org/PPSD/ParkTrails/trails_MAPS/NorthwestBranch.shtm |access-date=2009-11-14 |website=Montgomery Parks (M-NCPPC) |archive-date=August 14, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090814201259/http://www.montgomeryparks.org/PPSD/ParkTrails/trails_MAPS/NorthwestBranch.shtm |url-status=dead }} * {{Cite web |title=Montgomery County, Maryland, Park Trails |url=https://www.montgomeryparks.org/parks-trails/trails |website=Montgomery Parks (M-NCPPC)}} * {{Cite web |title=The Underground Railroad Experience in Montgomery County Parks |url=http://www.UndergroundRRexperience.org}} * {{Cite web |title=Prince George's County Trails Information |url=http://www.pgparksandrec.com/Your_Parks/Trails.htm |website=pgparksandrec.com}}
{{Maryland hiking trails}} {{Rachel Carson}}
Category:Protected areas of Montgomery County, Maryland Category:Protected areas of Prince George's County, Maryland Category:Hiking trails in Maryland Green