Far from the bustling city, Hawlings River Stream Valley offers a peaceful escape. Today, we’ll explore its history and natural beauty. This 550-acre park was acquired by M-NCPPC in parcels from 1978 through 2001. Hawlings River Stream Valley remains undeveloped for active recreation.
Hawlings River itself stretches nearly 13 miles. It flows into the Patuxent River. The river was originally named Holland’s River. Its watershed spans about 28 square miles. The headwaters begin north of Laytonsville. The river flows southeast before meeting the Patuxent.
Imagine this: local residents sought to build a chapel on the river before 1769. They petitioned the colonial government. This shows the river’s importance to early settlers.
Parts of Hawlings River flow through Rachel Carson Conservation Park. They also flow through Hawlings River Stream Valley Park. Tributaries include Mount Zion Tributary, Reddy Branch and Olney Mill Tributary. Gregg Tributary and James Creek also feed into it. The river and its tributaries total about 98 miles of streams.
Montgomery County boasts many parks. Residents are usually within two miles of one. More than 10 percent of the county’s real estate is parkland. That’s nearly 37,000 acres.
Within the nearby Rachel Carson Conservation Park, you will find the Rachel Carson Greenway Trail. This trail runs for 3.6 miles along the Hawlings River. Hikers can see old-growth forest here. They can also spot stunning rock outcroppings. Meadows display showy wildflowers. The trail loops into five shorter trails.
Rachel Carson studied the habitat here for her book, Silent Spring. This book warned of the dangers of pesticides. The park has no bathrooms or water spigots.
Upper Hawlings River Stream Valley Park covers about 69 acres. It is located off Riggs Road in Gaithersburg. The parkland was acquired in 2021. There are plans to build natural surface trails. These trails will take advantage of the natural landscape.
As we conclude our visit to Hawlings River Stream Valley, consider its quiet significance. It protects the Hawlings River and offers a natural retreat. This undeveloped park preserves a vital piece of Maryland’s landscape. It reminds us of the importance of conservation.