(We will walk about four hilly miles around Clopper Lake.  Hiking poles are recommended in light of the hills and roots along the trail. Carry water, and pack a lunch if you plan to join us for a picnic lunch under the pines at the conclusion of the hike.  The park gates open at 10 a.m., winter hours, with free weekday admission.  We will meet at 10:15 a.m. at the Pines playground parking lot.  The adjacent restrooms will be open.  If you get to the park before the gates open, a convenient place to pause and wait a bit is available at the St Rose of Lima Church parking lots on the opposite side of Clopper Road from the park entrance.

Directions:  Park address: 11950 Clopper Road, Gaithersburg, MD 20878. From the DC Beltway, take I 270 North, and take exit #10 Diamond Ave/ Route 117 from the I 270 side access and exit lanes.  Turn right at the end of the freeway exit ramp, and follow Route 117 west for 2.1 miles, Diamond Ave. becomes Clopper Road along the way.  Turn left at the park entrance sign and follow the park entrance road for 3 tenths of a mile.  You will drive past the entrance kiosk, and then turn right at the slip lane that lies just ahead of the T.  Turn left at the next stop sign (towards the Boat House)  Then, rather than continuing all the way down to the boat house, quickly turn right into the parking lot that's in view of the big playground, aka Tire Playground.  Per google maps your turn into the parking lot is at 39.146451, -77,252397.  (but google maps erroneously refers to it as the Germantown Tire playground, despite it's being in Gaithersburg.)

 

IThe hike is canceled if Montgomery County MD Public Schools are closed on account of inclement weather, but the hike will go on in the case of a delayed school opening.