Explore our Abundant and Beautiful Great Outdoors

Outdoor enthusiasts have plenty to choose from in Montgomery County. Enjoy the great outdoors. Support an active lifestyle. All this and more is part of Montgomery County, with more than 30,000 acres of parkland, including a national park, state park and nine regional parks. For biking, hiking, roller blading, or walking, there is a path to beauty in our county.

acres of parkland

parks

public & private golf courses

lakes

soccer fields at the Maryland SoccerPlex

Our AMAZING Parks

Montgomery County is awash in beautiful parks, hiking and biking trails and outdoor amenities galore. The Montgomery County Parks Department maintains over 400 parks offering a range of recreational opportunities. The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Park offers hiking and biking opportunities along the towpath, while rides on the historic carousel and ballroom dance classes are available at Glen Echo Park. Patuxent River and Seneca Creek State Parks offer hiking, fishing, and horse paths, and Seneca Creek also provides bike paths, boat launches and rentals, canoeing and picnic areas

Brookside Gardens is an award-winning 50-acre botanical favorite with a Butterfly Garden, Children’s Garden, Japanese Style Garden and more. The Gardens were founded in 1969 and named for the winding brooks and streams that surround this extraordinary venue. Brookside combines intricately designed gardens with exquisite combinations of color, texture, scent, and scale to delight the senses – all easily viewed from tranquil walking trails, comfortable benches, and shady gazebos. Brookside Gardens’ has two conservatories, the captivating Wings of Fancy Live Butterfly & Caterpillar Exhibit and the amazing Garden of Lights display.

RECREATIONAL OPTIONS ABOUND

From dog parks to equestrian centers to ice rinks and splash playgrounds, Montgomery County has it all. For the golf enthusiasts, there’s no better place to hit the links than at one of our 30 public and private golf courses throughout the county. The Maryland SoccerPlex welcomes more than 600,000 visitors a year to its 24 irrigated soccer fields and 5,200 seat capacity Championship Stadium (pictured). Tennis players find their swing on courts at many of the regional and local parks, and also at the Montgomery TennisPlex.

Enjoy hiking and horseback riding on 4.7 miles of natural trails that wind through the scenic Agricultural History Farm Park in Derwood. In Bethesda, the Capital Crescent Trail follows an abandoned railroad right of way and extends 11 miles from Georgetown to Silver Spring.

Other activities include:

Find more on the Montgomery Parks Events Calendar and Special Events Listing.