Blockhouse Point Conservation Park & Trails

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.

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.

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!

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.

We love this trail! Easy and good exercise, with a great view at the end. Also loved seeing the horses at the nearby farm, 10/10 will be coming back again!

the blockhouse trail is absolutely beautiful! the view at the end is amazing and it was so peaceful sitting and watching the canal and the sunset :)

A walk down that valley on an autumn afternoon with the warm sun on your face would give you a true appreciation of the nature! You would say so Glad I am here at the moment.

A hidden gem in Montgomery county. Easily missed. If you've done the C&O too many times, try this as an alternative. It offers shorter but rewarding hikes.

Can get a little muddy after a rain. But great trek to the overlook.

Beautiful short hike, but if you do both the one with the parking lot and the one by just the small strip of parking off the road it's a nice distance. The one with not much parking has an incredible view that you don't want to miss. Neither trail hooks up easily with the tow path because they're on the wrong side of the canal, which has water in it, but you can get to the tow path if you really want to by cutting through the woods. I probably wouldn't do it again though. No bathrooms, but violet's lock is nearby and has port a potties.

What a great trail - deep woods, very manageable yet still feels like a good hike. The reward of the gorgeous vistas overlooking the Potomac are wort going many times

Wonderful shady trails. Lot of options. Great look out points over the canal. Sorry no bathrooms there, so plan ahead or you'll need to be prepared to go 'in nature'!

Walk was very peaceful. Only saw three others.

This is a nice easy hike with the end reward of a beautiful view of the Potomac River.

Very relaxing and beautiful place for a hike.

Nice trails, seem maintained well enough... near the end there is a nice view of the patomac river from about 100 feet up on a rock face... saw 4 deer, the one larger doe seemed almost tame and used to seeing people...

As of August 2019 this stretch of the C&O has recovered nicely from the storms of June in July.

Nice set of trails and often good for birding. Be aware that there is no bridge over the C&O canal, despite the fact that some maps show one.

My family came here for a small Christmas Eve hike and it was nice! We only went down to the canal and back, but my mom and her bad knee could handle it with the help of hiking sticks.

Historic Civil War look out. "Standing on the bluffs overlooking the Potomac River near Blockhouse Point, your imagination can really transport you back to another time. It's easy to imagine being a Union soldier on guard in this remote area of western Montgomery County.", River Sentinel
By Ranger Mark