Schaeffer Farm Trail System - Mountain Biking

After a rough winter, MORE's Thursdays @ Schaeffer rides are back with a vengeance. Riding groups encompass all skill levels so don't be bashful if you're a newbie.

Schaeffer Farm yellow blazed trail

When you think of legendary singletrack mountain bike trails, a few locales may come to mind: Moab, Utah; Crested Butte, Colorado; Lake Tahoe, California; Germantown, Maryland...wait, did you say Germantown, Maryland? The Schaeffer Farm Trail System in suburban Montgomery County may not feature gravity-defying sandstone obstacles (Moab), 9,000 ft. mountain climbs (Crested Butte), or bucolic High Sierra lake views (Lake Tahoe). However, in an east-coast, rolling-hills, singletrack kind-of-way, Schaeffer Farm has few peers.

As you enter the parking lot gate of the Schaeffer Farm Trail System, one thing is clear: this trail is popular. Novices and experts alike flock to Schaeffer Farm and very few leave disappointed. The parking lot connects directly to the white blazed trail loop (3.5 miles). Ride it counter-clockwise (or clockwise - both directions are allowed) to the yellow blazed trail (5.9 miles) which cuts through the woods - loosely following the Great Seneca Creek stream valley as it winds its way to the western portion of the park. Ride the outer loop of the yellow blazed trail, dodging in and out of forest and farmland, and return to the lot via the blue blazed trail (0.9 miles) or by retracing your revolutions on the yellow blazed trail.

Schaeffer Farm devotees will tell you that it's the "flow" of the trail that puts the smile on their faces. "Flow" does not come naturally - trail builders from Mid-Atlantic Off-Road Enthusiasts (MORE) are to thank for bringing their unique brand of it to the Washington DC area. Does this "flow" we speak of qualify the Schaeffer Farm Trail System as legendary? Depends on who you ask, but one thing is certain...you'll enjoy the ride!

Location / Directions: Boyds, MD (near Germantown, MD)
Trail Distance: Approximately fifteen miles
Surface / Difficulty: Natural - Singletrack; Moderate
Trail Map: Trail Map of Schaeffer Farm
Administration: Maryland Department of Natural Resources

Share/Save/Bookmark