Park Reservations
Contact: 443-962-0216
[email protected]
Howard and Montgomery Counties
Located between Rt 27 and Rt 97
Patuxent River State Park
c/o Seneca Creek State Park
11950 Clopper Road
Gaithersburg, MD 20878
Visitor Center and Nature Center
23222 Georgia Ave,
Brookeville, MD, 20833
Hours: Sunrise to Sunset
Agricultural Opportunities:
Part of the Maryland Park Service mission is to promote the management of natural and cultural resources to ensure the continuing benefits for present and future generations, and farming is an important component of that. Agriculture is one of the central themes in Maryland’s rich and complex history and remains an important part of our state’s culture. It helps maintain wide open spaces and provide pastoral views that have remained unchanged despite surrounding development. Agricultural land use can also provide important food for wildlife and provide locally sourced food for nearby communities. In areas of Patuxent River where agriculture can coexist with passive recreation, the Maryland Park Service leases out lands that contain prime agricultural soils and have a history of being farmed to interested farmers for short-term agricultural use.
Are you interested in farming at Patuxent River? See the list below for agricultural lands out for bid:
If you’d like to submit a bid for leasing one of the above agricultural properties, please fill out the hyperlinked form for the property of your choosing and return either via mail or in person by 12:00pm October 30, 2026, to:
Seneca Creek State Park
11950 Clopper Road
Gaithersburg, MD 20878
About the Park
Located in Howard and Montgomery counties, along the upper 12 miles of the Patuxent River, the park is comprised of 6,700 acres of natural areas and farmlands. A portion of the park is a
state wildlands area.
Recreational use is primarily hunting, fishing, hiking and horseback riding. The park includes a catch and release trout stream, designated hunting areas and unmarked hiking and equestrian trails. Note: The Maryland Park Service does not rent horses, and only provides the trails as a means of recreation.
The park is located Howard/Montgomery County line between Maryland Routes 27 and 97. Paths lead from parking areas at Long Corner, Mullinix Mill, Route 94, Hipsley Mill, Howard Chapel and Route 97 road crossings over the river.
Park Events
Click the flyer for larger version
Attention: Patuxent River State Park has mapped, blazed and maintained public trails in two areas: three miles of trails in the Southern Area between Route 97/Georgia Avenue and Howard Chapel Road, and six miles of trails in the Central Area between Annapolis Rock Road and Mullinix Mill Road. Detailed trail maps for the Southern Area and the Central Area are available in the links above.
Other areas of Patuxent River State Park have many unmarked “social” trails that have been created by hikers, hunters, and equestrians over the years. These paths are not maintained by park staff and should be used at your own risk. Plans are underway to continue to grow the official trail system that will replace the network of social trails. If venturing along social trails, bring a cell phone and note our Duty Ranger number (443-962-0216). GPS technology is recommended when utilizing social trails.
Large issues or hazards within the park can be communicated via text or call to the Duty Ranger.
