Our Trails
EPIC has created two model public equestrian trail systems, one along the Dry Seneca stream valley in Poolesville and another in Boyds in Montgomery County’s Agricultural Reserve.
These sanctioned equestrian trails traverse both private and public lands. EPIC manages trails through regular maintenance providing environmentally correct alignments, controlling erosion, removing trash and monitoring equestrian trail usage. All EPIC trails are posted with numbered sign posts to help riders stay on course and to reference if calling for help in an emergency. Scroll down for trail descriptions and maps.
Since 2022, EPIC has added two new trails to its Breezy Loop Complex: Mike’s Loop in honor of EPIC founder, Mike Rubin, and The Kay Family Trail, named for the Kay Family Foundation, a great supporter of EPIC over the years.
EPIC is working on making its trail maps more user-friendly including developing interactive and digitized maps. If you have some expertise in this area and would like to help us with this project, email us at info@epicmontgomery.org.
ABOUT EPIC
EPIC sponsors trail rides on its network of trails. Join us for a trail ride and learn more about preserving equestrian access to trails and open space and consider adopting a trail.
Scroll down to join the EPIC mailing list and get notified about upcoming trail rides and other EPIC news.
Dry Seneca Trail
The northern terminus of the Dry Seneca Trail is behind Harkaway Stables on Partnership Road. The trail follows the stream for approximately 5 miles crossing Sugarland Road and continuing next to Montevideo Road on to the southern terminus near Poole's Store on Old River Road. The trail is marked with numbered sign posts from 1 to 42.
The public is welcome to visit as long as they stay on posted trails. The terrain is gently rolling with a few hills and stream crossings and many scenic views of the stream and agricultural fields.
Riding the trail roundtrip at a moderate pace should take about three hours. On Montevideo Road the Dry Seneca Trail connects to Seneca Creek State Park and the new Seneca Bluffs trail that goes to the Potomac River and C&O Canal.
PARKING AND ACCESS NOTE: While there is unfortunately no designated trailer parking at Dry Seneca, there are about 4-6 trailer parking spaces along Sugarland Road (two or three on each side), where Sugarland Road separates Ladds’ Loop from Sugarland Loop. If you haven't been there and are planning to use them, we suggests that you scope them out by car beforehand to make sure you are comfortable with it. There is also a larger parking area at the State Park on Montevideo Road, just south and east of the one lane bridge at Rocklands Farm, that can be used to access the park itself and the southern portion of the EPIC Dry Seneca Creek trail system. A drive-by to scope out the area before arriving with your trailer is also recommended. For more information on parking for Dry Seneca Creek, riders can contact EPIC VP Tom Gutierrez by emailing info@epicmontgomery.org. Happy Trails! there is no trailhead parking, there is limited parking at the entrance to the Seneca Creek State Park on Montevideo Road, some parking along old River Road and some parking along Sugarland Road near the trail crossing.
View and/or download PDF map of this trail:
“Do you mean to say, I can come ride these trails any time!?”
— Sandy Boyd, after riding the Breezy Loop Trails for the first time in October, 2021
Breezy Loop Trail Complex — The Kay Family Trail, Mike’s Loop, Breezy Loop, Bucklodge Loop, Turtle Trail and Gilliam Farm Loop
The EPIC Breezy Loop trail system consists of multiple connected loops with a single trail head at the Potomac Pony Club field and parking lot at 19301 Bucklodge Road. The entire system can be ridden in 2-3 hours depending on your route and pace.
There are stream crossings, spectacular views of Sugarloaf Mountain and beautiful vistas of Montgomery County’s largest historic barn on Old Bucklodge Road.
Our most recent additions to the Breezy Loop Complex are Mike’s Loop and The Kay Family Trail.
Mike’s Loop, honoring our founder, Mike Rubin, forms a large loop around the edge of the farm fields south of the railroad tracks. It starts from one part of the Gilliam Farm Trail, loops around the large farm fields west of White Ground Road, and eventually hooks up with another part of the Gilliam Farm Trail.
The Kay Family Trail, named for EPIC’s long-time supporters, is about 1.2 miles long and traverses the large wooded area to the west of White Ground Road. It includes one easy stream crossing and is suitable for riders of all levels.
The Turtle Trail is so named because of its proximity to the site of a box turtle habitat relocation effort by the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and landowner (and EPIC co-founder) Mike Rubin. Part of the environmental mitigation program related to the Intercounty Connector (ICC) was the relocation and study of box turtles. As their habitat along the path of the ICC was being destroyed, the HSUS was tasked with capturing and moving as many of these creatures as possible.
The plan was to move the population to a new, safe locale, sequester them for a period of time and then release them. Two large pens were constructed, turtles placed therein, and two years later they were released with GPS locators implanted.
Please be careful not to step on a turtle as you ride through. Box turtles like to rest in the middle of trails!
Click the map to the right to download a PDF of Breezy Loop, Bucklodge Loop, Turtle Trail and Gilliam Farm Loop trails.
View and/or download PDF map of this trail:
The Turtle Trail
Please be careful not to step on a turtle as you ride through. (Box turtles like to rest in the middle of trails!) Turtle Trail adds a quiet, shady 15 minutes more to your Breezy Loop ride. There are a few log jumps along the way. This trail lies on low ground so it may be closed in the rainy season.
Gilliam Farm Loop
This loop is named for the Gilliam Family who farmed this property in the 40’s, 50’s and 60’s.
Buck Lodge Loop
This trail is so named because it parallels and crosses Bucklodge Creek.
“The Turtle Trail is so named because of its proximity to the site of a box turtle habitat relocation effort by the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS).”
Landowner and EPIC co-founder, Mike Rubin