Forest trails and lakeside paths in Greenbelt MD

There’s something especially inviting about beginning the Perimeter Trail by way of the Dogwood Trail—a quieter, more intimate entrance into the woods, where the transition from roadside to forest feels almost immediate. Just beyond the sign for the Dogwood Nature Trail, the world softens. The hum of passing cars fades, replaced by birdsong and the gentle rustle of leaves underfoot.

The Dogwood Trail serves as a kind of prologue to the longer loop, guiding you through a landscape that feels alive with seasonal change. In spring, the forest truly comes into its own with flowering dogwood, mountain laurel, and wild azaleas.  They  brighten the understory with soft whites and pinks, adding bursts of color beneath the tall hardwood canopy. Beneath them, the forest floor begins its quiet transformation with lush green skunk cabbages  unfurling in spirals, their broad leaves glowing almost neon against last season’s fallen leaves.

As the Dogwood Nature Trail (a 1.5-mile loop) intersects with the Perimeter Trail, you have the option to continue onto the full loop or wander the smaller circuit and return right back to this same point. The Perimeter Trail itself lives up to its name, circling the entire park and quietly linking its different spaces—passing picnic areas along the northern end and the campground to the south, all while remaining tucked within the forest. Along the way, it also connects to other nature trails, including the Blueberry Nature Trail, with the Azalea Trail just a short detour away.

Once on the Perimeter Trail, the path opens into a wider gravel track, marked clearly with yellow blazes painted on trees and trail signs. Despite its proximity to the city, the forest creates its own microclimate. Temperatures  here can feel at least 10°F cooler than out in the open sun, making it a refreshing escape on warmer days.

Crossing one of the wooden footbridges, the landscape shifts again. You’ll pass over Still Creek, a muddy but picturesque waterway running east to west through the park, as well as nearby Deep Creek. Their sandy banks are often etched with the tracks of birds and small mammals, while the slow-moving water reflects the trees in soft, wavering lines. It’s the kind of place that invites a pause to listen, to look a little closer, to notice the quiet life moving all around.

Wildlife here reveals itself subtly. A flicker of movement might be a white-tailed deer slipping between trees, or a squirrel darting up a trunk. Birdwatchers will find plenty to linger for—colorful warblers weaving through branches, the striking flash of a scarlet tanager, and, if you’re lucky, the soft, watchful presence of a barred owl tucked among the trees near the creeks. Overhead, woodpeckers tap out their steady rhythm while chickadees flit from branch to branch. Even the stillness feels alive.

And then there are the quieter details: clusters of mushrooms thriving in damp soil, fallen logs returning gently to the earth, and even the occasional carved initials in smooth bark, small reminders of those who have wandered here before.

One thing to keep in mind as you move through this lush environment: ticks are common in wooded areas, especially in warmer months, so it’s worth staying aware and checking after your hike.

Starting from the Dogwood Trail gives the Perimeter loop a sense of unfolding, as though the forest is gradually revealing itself. It’s not a dramatic hike, but an atmospheric one that is best enjoyed at a wandering pace, where the details become the destination.