Howard Chapel/Jennings Chapel
Patuxent River State Park
Howard Chapel Road at Jennings Chapel Road, Brookeville, MD 20833
Amenities: A small unpaved parking lot east of the river. Another is on Jennings Chapel Road 0.3 miles north of the intersection of Jennings Chapel Rd and Howard Chapel Rd. No facilities.
Handicapped Access: Minimal access. Trails are primitive, often wet/muddy, and frequently have intruding briars. It can be worth listening in the vicinity of the parking lots and the bridge.
Special Attractions: The Patuxent River is stocked annually with trout.
Size: A portion of the 6,700 acre Patuxent River State Park.
Habitat: Floodplain and hillside deciduous woods, field edge, openings, seepages, and a few vernal pools.
Trails/Paths: There is a path both upstream and downstream from Howard Chapel Road on the Howard County side of the Patuxent River. The Downstream Trail leaves from the parking lot. To reach the Upstream Trail, cross the sometimes busy road, and walk about 100 feet east (away from the river). Look for a large tree with trout regulations posted high on the trunk. To the left of that tree there is an opening in the vegetation where a beaten path is visible. Be prepared for wet and muddy conditions in either direction. Except during extreme drought, boots are advised.
Compilers: Joanne Solem & Scott Berglund
