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Black Hill Regional Park

20930 Lake Ridge Drive
Boyds, Maryland 20841
Park Manager: 301-972-9396
Hours: Sunrise to sunset, year round. Operational hours of other facilities based within the park will vary; please check listings for each facility.

With more than 1,800 acres, Black Hill Regional Park offers such a wide variety of outdoor activities that it’s impossible to experience it all in a single visit. Families and groups make full use of covered picnic shelters near playgrounds, volleyball courts, a fitness course, paved and natural trails and spectacular views of Little Seneca Lake. The lake itself can be enjoyed from your private boat, our rental rowboats, canoes, or our pontoon boat, and our fishing pier. Black Hill Regional Park also hosts a variety of special events and programs. Twilight Concerts, Summer Stage, canoe and kayak classes and other special events are scheduled throughout the year. Call the Park Manager's Office for more information.

For those who love the solitude of the forest, miles of trails can be explored by foot, horseback or mountain bike. Our nature programs and interpretive tours will enhance your understanding and appreciation of this beautiful park. If you are interested in naturalist-led group and/or public nature programs on the Kingfisher pontoon boat (max. cap. 30 people, with up to 8 people using wheelchairs), please call 301-916-0220 for information and reservations. Also check the Black Hill Nature Programs listings in the quarterly Montgomery County Recreation and Parks Guide, available at all Parks facilities.

Black Hill Regional Park features facilities that have been specially adapted to persons using wheelchairs. The deck of our Visitor Center has been fitted with clear plastic railings so that a person who is seated can view the lake and its surroundings without obstruction. Our newest fishing pier and the Kingfisher pontoon boat are easily accessible by wheelchair.

Boating and Fishing
Camping
Dog Park
Nature Programs
Park and Lake Facts
Picnic Shelters and Play Areas
Trails
Visitor Center
Important Phone Numbers
Tips for Visiting
Park Map and Directions

Boating and Fishing

Boat Rentals

Rowboats, canoes and kayaks are available for rent on a seasonal basis from May through September, weather permitting. A driver's license is required as a security deposit for each boat. At least one person in each boat must be 16 years of age or older. Swimming and wading from the boats or the lake shoreline is strictly prohibited. Anglers are permitted to use their own electric trolling motors on rental boats. Prices, hours of operation and additional information are available by calling the Boat Rental Facility or the Park Manager's Office (wheelchair-accessible). For more information visit BlackHillBoats.com.

Fishing

Species in Little Seneca Lake include: largemouth bass, tiger muskie, crappie, catfish, and several types of sunfish. Valid Maryland State Fishing Licenses are required for anglers 16 years of age or older. Fishing licenses are available for sale at the Visitor Center. A specially designed pier, located near the Boat Rental Facility, provides fishing opportunities to anglers, including those in wheelchairs.

Fishing maps can be purchased at the Visitor Center and the Boat Rental Facility, and fishing conditions are available on our “Fish Phone” at 301-444-3151 and are updated regularly.

Lake Tours

Join us for a naturalist-led group and/or public nature programs on the pontoon boat Kingfisher (max. cap. 30 persons). The ADA-accessible Kingfisher can accommodate up to 8 people in wheelchairs. A 60-75 minute tour on the Kingfisher is a great way for individuals, families and small groups to experience the beautiful, 505-acre Little Seneca Lake. Pontoon boat tours are available on Saturdays and Sundays from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day. Tours leave promptly at 12:30pm, 2:00pm and 3:30pm from the Boat Rental location. Tickets are $4.00 each, and are sold on a walk-up, first-come, first-served basis each day for trips that same day. Children under 5 must wear a Personal Flotation Device. Groups interested in touring the lake should contact the park naturalist for reservation and fee information. Please call 301-916-0220 for information and reservations.

Private Boating

Boaters with a daily or seasonal boating permit are allowed to use their private boats on the lake from March 1 through December 15. Seasonal permits may be purchased at the Visitor Center. Daily permit fees can be deposited in the fee boxes at the boat ramp or on the Route 121 Bridge pull-off area. Seasonal mooring stakes for private boats are sold at the Visitor Center on a first come, first served basis.

PLEASE NOTE: All boats and boaters must comply with Maryland State, U.S. Coast Guard and M-NCPPC regulations and standards, including:

• All boats must be off the lake before official sunset.
• Use of gasoline motors is strictly prohibited; only electric motors are permitted.
• A wearable, US Coast Guard-approved personal floatation device (PFD) is required for each boat occupant.
• Inflatable craft must have a minimum of three independent air chambers.
• Trailer boats may be launched only at the boat ramp within the park.
• Sailboats with a fixed keel or a mast above 18 feet are prohibited.
• Montgomery Parks, M-NCPPC is not responsible for damage to, loss of, or unauthorized use of any privately owned boat.

For a complete list of regulations, visit BlackHillBoats.com.

Water Trail

Explore the beauty of nature on the Black Hill Water Trail. Rent a canoe, kayak or rowboat (or bring your own), pick up a laminated Water Trail map, and take a self-guided discovery tour of Little Seneca Lake. Open Mar. 1 – Dec. 15.

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Camping

Camping is not available at Black Hill Regional Park. However, a short 5-mile drive takes you to Little Bennett Regional Park Campground, where you can plan a peaceful camping experience in a wooded setting. For more information on camping in Little Bennett Regional Park, call 301-972-9222.

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Dog Park

The Black Hill Dog Park is located on Picnic Lane. This area is approximately a half-acre in size and is enclosed with a 6-foot chain link fence allowing dogs to run off leash. It is a popular meeting spot and exercise area for local dog owners and their canine friends. Dogs must display current license and rabies vaccination tags, and must be older than four months. The dog park is open seven days a week, sunrise to sunset. Black Hill Regional Park was the second M-NCPPC park to open a dog park in Montgomery County.

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Nature Programs

The Visitor Center is home to a variety of nature exhibits and programs. Our park naturalists offer programs that highlight the natural and historical resources in the park as well as those in other areas in and around Montgomery County. Astronomy, fishing and kayaking programs, hikes, pontoon boat tours, van trips, and educational workshops are offered regularly.

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Park and Lake Facts

• Park size, including lake, is 1,843 acres
• Size of Little Seneca Lake is 505 acres
• Average lake depth is 24.7 feet with maximum depth of 68 feet
• There are 15.7 miles of shoreline
• Lake capacity is 4.25 billion gallons
• MD Route 121 bridge clearance is 20 feet
• Dam composition is earth and rock
• Above-stream dam height is 91 feet

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Picnic Shelters and Play Areas

Ten picnic shelters are available for public use on a firstcome, first-served basis and can be reserved for exclusive use from April 1 – October 31. All shelters are accessible to persons using wheelchairs. Two volleyball courts, two playgrounds and horseshoe pits are available for public use and are located near our picnic shelters. Trails to shelters A, B, C and I are flattest and easiest to access from the parking areas (wheelchair accessible). Call our Park Permit Office at 301-495-2525 or visit www.ParkPermits.org for fee information and availability.

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Trails

Scenic views of the lake and surrounding parkland can be enjoyed on over four miles of paved trails. Natural areas within the park can be explored on foot, mountain bike or horseback, on our more than 10 miles of natural surface trails. Most trails allow all types of use but access restrictions do exist, so please use proper trail etiquette and observe and obey the signs posted at all trail heads. Mountain bikers must yield to pedestrians and equestrians. Horse trailers must be parked in the overflow lot near the boat ramp. Learn more about Montgomery Trails.

When using paved trails, please observe the following guidelines to ensure safety for yourself and all other users:

• Travel on the right at a reasonable speed and in a predictable manner.
• Move left to pass after giving an audible warning. Do not pass until the trail is clear of oncoming traffic.
• Move safely off of the paved surface when you stop. Do not stop near blind spots or curves.
• Keep pets on a short leash.

When using natural surface trails, please observe the following guidelines to ensure safety for yourself and all other users:

• Stay on marked trails. Trails not shown on this map are not maintained and may terminate abruptly or travel onto private property.
• Do not blaze new trails.
• Utility easements cannot be used as trails except along the Cabin Branch Trail.
• Use restrictions do apply. Observe and obey access signs.
• Yield right of way as follows: Mountain bikes to all users; hikers to equestrian users.

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Visitor Center

The Visitor Center is home to Black Hill’s park naturalist-led programs. Visitors can also find handouts, brochures, and other information on park activities, as well as nature exhibits on display. The Visitor Center is open 11:00am – 6:00pm, seven days a week from May to September, and weekends only October through April (call ahead for winter hours).The Black Hill Visitor Center offers Park Naturalist-led education programs that make use of natural and historical resources found in Black Hill Regional Park and in other areas in and around Montgomery County. Wildlife and natural resources found within the park are interpreted in exhibits, videos and programs. Interpretive programs for schools and other organized groups are by special arrangement with the Park Naturalist.

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Important Phone Numbers

Park Police EMERGENCY	301-949-3010
Fire and Rescue EMERGENCY	911
Park Manager's Office	301-972-9396
Visitor Center	301-972-3476
Boat Rental Facility	301-972-6157
Fish Phone	301-444-3151
Park Naturalist Office	301-916-0220
Accessibility Information	240-777-6830
TTY	301-495-2575
Park Information Line	301-495-2595
Park Permits Office (Silver Spring)	301-495-2525
Park Permits Office (Germantown)	301-495-2480
Volunteer's Services Office	301-495-2504

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Tips for Visiting

Help us make your visit as enjoyable as possible by adhering to the following regulations:

• Park in designated areas only.
• Alcoholic beverages are prohibited.
• Pets must be kept on a leash at all times.
• Buses require parking permits and are not allowed in the park on Saturdays, Sundays, or holidays.
• Park regulations are posted and must be observed.
• Swimming, wading, ice-skating and windsurfing in or on Little Seneca Lake are prohibited.

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Park Map and Directions

Printable Black Hill Regional Park Map (pdf, 1.33MB)
NOTE: To download, right-click and Save Target As...

Door-to-door directions (mapquest)

More Information and Photos on Black Hill Regional Park

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