Accokeek Farms at Piscataway Park

Hiking in Maryland

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Difficulty: Easy
Length: 2.9 miles / 4.7 km
Duration: 1-3 hours

Family Friendly • Dog Friendly

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Overview: Farm hike through the fields with animals, diverse field areas, small forest, and river views.

start with an exploration of a working colonial farm, letting the kids pet some of the more friendly animals located there.

Leave some of your party at the fishing pier while you hike the combined 3 mile trail around the perimeter of the park.

Starting in the colonial farm area, the trail starts at a memorial, then goes along the river side weaving in between buildings. Breaking free of the farm buildings takes us past cow pastures, chestnut fields, and a steeper hike with an overlook. A chance to relax in the shade with an arboretum of trees, then dissipating into a trot along the road to our next trail entry point.

Once upon the blackberry trail we go through to a large field back along the road to another part of the park, an ecosystem with green houses and other things to see and do. Bypassing this ecosystem part of the park, we follow the fence-line back (looking for artifacts and watching for muddy areas). I did find an old 1950-1960 era whiskey flask there which can still be seen on the ground, along with other artifacts related to farming.

Entering the Pumpkin ash trail, we walk along the water's edge of the Potomac river, with great views--then back along the boardwalk trail meeting up with the picnic and fishing pier area.

A great trail with many diverse sections, and unique views.

Tips:

do not take artifacts, it is illegal! (if you see the whiskey flask still on the ground, please review and let us know its still there)
pack lunch to east by fishing pier or one of the many trail views
bug spray may be needed
stop by the adjacent ecosystem park to explore the greenhouse area just off of the fenceline trail

Points of Interest

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trail head and memorial

trail head start and memorial dedication

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trail view

easy going flat trail, lots of overgrown things

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trail view

trail view, gets wider

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old farm building

old farm building to explore

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trail view

trail view with cow pasture on left

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trail view

trail view, grassy and flat

pond on left

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trail view

trail view more forested than before

water views coming up on right side with a side trail to the Potomac river

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bridge and side trail

bridge and side trail to the Potomac river view

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Potomac river view

great view of the river, good lunch spot

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chesnut fields

turn left at the chesnut fields, easy walking path

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more forested here

more forested trail here, still flat

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enter the paw paw trail

this junction goes straight with some steeper paths in the paw paw trail, it loops around up and down a hill.

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trail view

trail view with private house (no trespassing!)

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the message tree

the message tree :-)

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trail view

trail view now downhill sloping

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small bench

small bench to relax

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larger shelter

larger shelter to relax with some sun cover

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road view

continue along the road until next path entry is noted

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goats

goats in a pen, friendly

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cows relaxing

cows relaxing under the shade trees

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blackberry trail entry point

deviate from road to blackberry trail entrance

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sewer marker rock

special rock :-)

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trail view

trail view, easy going flat, small muddy area ahead

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field of dreams!

wander around the field (watch for snakes) and make a line for the road on the other side.

(slight detour, but worth it)

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artifacts

some old machinery artifacts

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you can visit this ecosystem field if you wish

you can visit inside this ecosystem field if you wish, they have a greenhouse etc... or keep on going on our GPS track which goes on the OUTSIDE of the fence (fence trail)

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fence trail view

this is the fence trail view

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artifact - old bottle

found an old bottle here! about 3 inches in the mud.

theres a small mud portage here, muddy area...

go left till log is there, then go over log.

the bottle appears to be an old whiskey flash (curved for chest carry), possibly 1950-60's although i am no bottle expert :-)

low value antique.