Guided-Hiking

A group of seven hikers headed downhill a trail in a wooded area. The graphic says Guided Hikes and features the Greenwell Foundation logo in the top left corner.
Explore the trails of Greenwell State Park with Guided Hikes!

Beginner-Friendly | Ages 5+ | 10 Miles of Trails | Experienced Guides | Additional Activities

Step outside and explore nearly 600 acres of diverse ecosystems and terrain at Greenwell State Park with Guided Hikes! Whether you want to get active, learn more about native flora and fauna, or simply enjoy some quiet moments surrounded by nature, experience it out on the trails! 

Our Guided Hike program is designed to connect hikers of all ages and abilities to the natural world to enjoy the therapeutic benefits that come with being surrounded by nature. While other hiking programs focus on distance, our hikes focus on providing opportunities for hikers to practice mindfulness- to slow down, explore their surroundings, and enjoy the journey. Each of our Guided Hikes also provides a unique theme and activity- no two hikes are exactly alike!

View The Trail Map

Guided Hikes are offered throughout the year, so check out our hiking offerings below, gather your group, and hit the trails!  

No experience? No problem! All of our guided hikes are beginner-friendly and are led by experienced nature guides. All hikes take place on marked trails at Greenwell State Park, and hikes can be adjusted to accommodate hiker’s preferences, skills, and abilities.  

Our Guided Hike Offerings

Each of our guided hikes offers a unique experience- no two hikes are exactly alike! Click on each selection to learn more about each offering. To register for a hike, please select the “click here” text in each hike description or select a hike by date from the calendar below for registration information. 

A view of a women's back as she looks at bright purple flowers growing off the side of a trail.

Friday, Sept. 25th 5:30pm-7:30pm
Perfect for naturalists and artists alike, join us on a Pigment Pursuit- the perfect combination of art and nature! On this hike we will be noticing the little details and colors surrounding us in the forest and appreciating the beauty in a single shade. Each hiker will be assigned a color and we will spend our hike finding things in the forest that match your color. We will then ‘collect’ the colored items by drawing it in a sketch book and sharing our creations!
  • What’s Included: 
    • 2 Hour Guided Hike 
    • New Sketchbook For Each Hiker
  • Participants: 5 min. and 15 max. 
  • Pricing: $35 per hiker (Adult or Minor)
    • 15% Senior Discount (Must provide valid ID)
    • 15% Student Discount (Must provide valid college student ID) 
  • Please click here to register or see the calendar below.
A view of a trail at Greenwell State Park with the sun setting into the trees. It is fall and the leaves have changed colors to reds, oranges, and browns. There is a lot covering the ground near the trail.
Friday, Oct. 30th 5:30pm-8:30pm.
Get ready for a ghostly good time on the trail! Bring your costume and join us for a bewitching twilight hike through the forest. During this hour and a half hike, we will keep our eyes and ears peeled for any mischief or spooky happenings around us. We will than make our way to the Knott Lodge to tell ghost stories around the campfire and enjoy cider, cocoa, and s’mores! 
  • What’s Included: 
    • 1.5 Hour Guided Hike 
    • Storytime Around The Bonfire
    • Warm Beverages (Cider & Hot Cocoa)
    • Smores
  • Participants: 5 min. and 15 max. 
  • Pricing: $25 per hiker (Adult or Minor)
    • 15% Senior Discount (Must provide valid ID)
    • 15% Student Discount (Must provide valid college student ID) 
  • Please click here to register or see the calendar below.

Two photos of fairy homes made of natural materials such as twigs, leaves, and bark pieces.

Friday, Nov. 13th 3:30pm-5:30pm
Did you hear that? Did you see that? Tucked into the hallows of trees, nestled under the moss, or sheltered in the enchanted lands of Greenwell, you might spot a fairy or two…
Bring you whimsy and sense of wonder and join us in a guided Fairy Home building activity hike! During this hour and a half hike, we will be exploring at a slow pace, allowing participants to search for natural resources to build their temporary fairy homes. Come on out and find where nature meets imagination!
  • What’s Included: 
    • 1.5  Hour Guided Hike 
    • Warm Beverage (Cider, Hot Cocoa) 
    • Nature-Themed Craft & Take-Home Trinket 
  • Participants: 5 min. and 15 max. 
  • Pricing: $20 per hiker (Adult or Minor)
    • 15% Senior Discount (Must provide valid ID)
    • 15% Student Discount (Must provide valid college student ID) 
  • Please click here to register or see the calendar below.

A group of 6 hikers come up a trail looking off to the left up a hill at the trees and other foliage.

Sunday, Nov. 15th 9:30am-11:30am 
Looking for the best way to keep the Sunday scaries away?-Ground yourself in nature at Greenwell!
We will take our time on a slow, calming, mediative hike, bathing our senses in the forest and focusing on the sights, scents, and sounds all around us. During this hour, we will be setting a slow pace, allowing participants to truly immerse themselves in the living world that is all around. We will than make our way to a beautiful destination to set the scene for our picnic brunch. 
  • What’s Included: 
    • 1 Hour Guided Hike 
    • Picnic-Style Brunch
  • Participants: 5 min. and 15 max. 
  • Pricing: $55 per hiker (Adult or Minor)
    • 15% Senior Discount (Must provide valid ID)
    • 15% Student Discount (Must provide valid college student ID) 
  • Please click here to register or see the calendar below.

On a gravel trail, 4 individuals gather to inspect a map. The trail guide points to a spot on the map to a man and woman while a small child stands in front.Friday, Nov. 20th 10:00am-12:00pm 

Have you ever read a book and wished the creatures within could come to life? On this hike, we will be doing just that!
Bring the entire family for this interactive story time hike and craft at Greenwell! We will spend the 2 hours hiking to a perfect story spot where we will read a children’s book. Following the story, we will spend time bringing it to life by creating air-dry clay miniatures of the characters. No art experience is needed, just bring your sense of imagination and adventure!
  • What’s Included: 
    • 1 Hour Guided Hike 
    • Storytime
    • Air-dry Clay Critter Craft
  • Participants: 5 min. and 15 max. 
  • Pricing: $25 per hiker (Adult or Minor)
    • 15% Senior Discount (Must provide valid ID)
    • 15% Student Discount (Must provide valid college student ID) 
  • Please click here to register or see the calendar below.

    A winter snow scene as different trees along the treeline have their branches outlined by snow sticking to them.Saturday, Dec. 5th 2:00pm-5:00pm 

    Dust off that tinsel and swap your hiking fleece for you ugliest sweater, it’s time to jingle all the way through Greenwell!
    We will spend an hour and a half hiking through the trails looking for candy canes along the way! On this hike, we will be setting a slow pace, allowing participants to take in the views of the winter wonderland around them. Then we will make our way to the Knott Lodge where we will vote for the ugliest sweater around the campfire!
    • What’s Included: 
      • 1.5 Hour Guided Hike 
      • Bonfire
      • Ugly Sweater Contest & Prizes
      • Smore’s 
      • Warm Beverages (Hot Cocoa & Cider) 
    • Participants: 5 min. and 15 max. 
    • Pricing: $30 per hiker (Adult or Minor)
      • 15% Senior Discount (Must provide valid ID)
      • 15% Student Discount (Must provide valid college student ID) 
    • Please click here to register or see the calendar below.

    A shot from the ground up at a snowy pine tree against a snow storm sky.Saturday, Dec. 18th 2:00pm-5:00pm 

    “O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree, how lovely are your branches!”
    Join us for a Holiday Trek through the park! We will spend the first hour of the afternoon at the Knott Lodge creating nature-safe ornaments. Then we will set out on a scenic winter hike to find the perfect tree to decorate with our newly created ornaments. So bring your cozy gear and your winter cheer and meet us on the trail!
    • What’s Included: 
      • 1.5 Hour Guided Hike 
      • Warm Beverages (Hot Cocoa & Cider) 
      • Nature-Safe Ornament Craft 
    • Participants: 5 min. and 15 max. 
    • Pricing: $25 per hiker (Adult or Minor)
      • 15% Senior Discount (Must provide valid ID)
      • 15% Student Discount (Must provide valid college student ID) 
    • Please click here to register or see the calendar below.

    Important Registration Information For ALL Guided Hikes: Advanced registration for all Guided Hikes is required. Dates are subject to guide availability and weather. Participants: 5 minimum required. Ages: 5+, participants under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. All experience levels welcome. Pricing varies for each hike based on the costs of added activities. Please see the registration page for all details and available dates.  

    Guided Hike Schedule

    Our guided hikes offer various dates and themes throughout the year. This calendar displays all scheduled Guided Hikes. To learn more and register, click an event in the calendar below and click the “Sign-Up Here” link to access that hike’s individual registration page. 

    Why Hike At Greenwell?

    Hiking offers a number of different physical, mental, and social benefits. No matter what trail you take, hiking is a great low-impact exercise that helps build stronger muscles and bones, improves heart health and balance, and decreases risks for certain medical problems such as heart disease or high blood pressure. 

    Because these hikes are focused on exploring the natural world at a slow pace, they also offer the time and space for peaceful meditation, practicing mindfulness, and stress-management. Take a moment to listen to the sounds of birds and insects chirping, feel the sun on your face, and plant your feet into the earth to help ground you- allow yourself to connect with nature and relax. 

    Besides connecting to the natural world, our guided hikes are designed to connect people and foster new social connections! Share the experience with family, friends, other groups, or make new friends with the other people who sign up. The land and experience are meant to be shared, and for some hike offerings, we even have a social afterwards! Plus with the added activities you get a chance to search for inspiration and unleash your creativity. Come enjoy all of the benefits that hiking at Greenwell has to offer!

    Our Guided Hiking Program, like all of our programming, is designed to be accessible and inclusive so that people of all skill levels, experience levels, and abilities can participate and enjoy all of the benefits that outdoor recreational programming can offer.

    All of our guided hikes are set at a slower pace, and are led by experienced nature guides who will tailor the hike to the group’s abilities, experience, and preferences. Some hikes are better suited for families with younger children or individuals with limited mobility, so please check the hike description carefully before registering!  If you have any concerns or might require any additional accommodations, please reach out to us at info@greenwellfoundation.org or bbales-woods@greenwellfoundation.org.

    Greenwell State Park offers nearly 600 acres of diverse ecosystems and terrain, and over 10 miles of marked trails to explore. 

    Each trail offers a variety of terrain and difficulty, ensuring that every hike offers a new adventure. Experience different views of meadows, water-front lookouts, sandy beaches, fields, and marshes. From the gravel River Trail winding around the shoreline of the Patuxent River, to the hidden beaches of the Brown Trail, and even the inclines of the Orange Trail leading to wetlands nestled in between the shade of the trees there is so much to discover. 

    No matter which trail you take, all of them offer plenty of wildlife to spot including different amphibians, birds, insects, mammals, reptiles, and various plants. From golden ginkgo trees in the fall, to budding magnolias in the spring, sweet honeysuckle in the summer, and icy glistening evergreens in the winter- the trails offer gorgeous views no matter what season you visit. The landscape, foliage, and tree lines all change with the seasons so every time you step out onto a trail you might discover something new!

       

    For Questions & More Information Please Contact: 

    Office Phone: 301-373-9775

    Email: bbales-woods@greenwellfoundation.org