Directions to the Finish and Start Lines
The Seneca Creek Trail Marathon is a point-to-point race, starting at the Damascus Recreational Park and finishing at Riley's Lock. We recommend that runners park their vehicles at the Riley's Lock finish area. We have buses to shuttle all runners to the start line.
Following are directions to the finish area, start area, and various points in between:
Riley's Lock
From 495, take the River Road west exit. Continue several miles until River Road turns left at Seneca Rd. (there is a stop sign). Turn left, then proceed a few hundred yards until Rileys Lock Rd. on your left (13015 Rileys Lock Rd). Please allow 30 minutes from the Beltway to get to the race site.
From most of Maryland, go up I-270 to Route 28 West (be sure to get int he local lanes as soon as you see the Montrose Road Exit). Go out Route 28 towards Darnstown. Go past Shady Grove Road and Hospital and then a mile or so further go past Quince Orchard Road (Fuddruckers on your right, McDonalds on your left). Continue on Route 28 to Darnstown about 1-2 miles. There is a traffic light and brand new Harris Teeter Grocery store on your left. Take a left onto Seneca Road (Route 112) at the light. Go all the way till it ends and merges with River Road. Go down River Road about a mile. You will be going down a hill. After passing a golf course on your left look for the next road that goes left: Riley's Lock Road. Take a left onto Riley's Lock Road and go to the very last parking lot, closest to the river.
Damascus Regional Park
23723 Kings Valley Rd, Damascus, MD
From Interstate I-270, go to the Route 27/ Ridge Road/Father Hurley Blvd Exit in Germantown (Exit 16). Go east towards Damascus. Go past the traffic light at Route 355 and then Brink Road. Keep going straight. Maybe 4 or 5 miles (give or take) look for a traffic light at King Valley Road. Take a right. Go about a mile down Kings Valley. You should notice a farm on your right and the beginning of a park on your left. The next landmark is what I consider some very ‘questionable art’: three red-ish banners sticking out of the ground. Take a left into this parking lot. The registration table is at the first picnic pavilion on your right.
From Riley's Lock to Damascus Regional Park
Exit Riley’s Lock Road. Go to River Road. Turn Left onto River Road. Turn Right onto Old River Road right at the entrance to Poole’s store or right past it (they connect anyway). Turn Right onto Montevideo. About 2 miles (this is ball-parking) take a right onto Sugarland Road. Go through the intersection of Sugarland and Whites Ferry Road (Rt. 107 I think). Less than a block you will be at Route 28.(Darnstown Road). Take a left onto Route 28 but immediately take a right onto White Ground Road. Continue on White Ground about 2 miles when you will get to the bottom of the hill. Take a right onto Schaefer Road. Now go about 3-4 miles staying on Schaefer. You will first go through a wooded area, then the soccer complex area, then a subdivision area. Keep going until you get to Route 117 Clopper Road. Take a Right onto Clopper Road. Take a left at the next light onto Route 118 Germantown Road. Go through Germantown, over I-270 keep going until you get to Route 355, Frederick Road. Take a left onto Frederick Road. Take a right Right onto Henderson Corner Road (less than a ½ mile). Take a right onto Route 27 Ridge Road. Now go about 3-4 miles to the stop light at Kings Valley Road. Take a right onto Kings Valley. Go less than a mile to the park on your left. Look for the three faded red metal banners sticking out of the ground maybe 15 feet high (this is very questionable art in my opinion). Take a left into the parking lot. For Fields 3 & 4/Soccer Fields (Picnic Shelter B & C)
Riffle Ford Road
Go out Route 28 towards Darnestown. Go past Shady Grove Road and Hospital and then a mile or so further go past Quince Orchard Road (Fuddruckers on your right, McDonalds on your left) Then go to the second light- Riffle Ford Road and take a right. Go past some houses and Smokey Glen Farm (on your right) and then go down the hill. You should notice a little brownish brick building (pumping station) on the right hand side right before the bottom of the hill. Pull over and park past the bottom of the hill clearly parking on the shoulder. Do not block either of the gravel driveways/roads and stay away from the fire hydrant. You can park past the bottom of the hill on the other side of the bridge and on the other side of the street, just pay attention to the signs and get completely off the street. Be careful entering and exiting your car as traffic sometimes races down Riffle Ford Road.
Watkins Mill Road
Go up to Montgomery Village or Lake Forest Mall in Gaithersburg. Get on Montgomery Village Avenue going east from Route 355 (Frederick Avenue). Go about a mile past Lake Forest Mall and you should notice a shopping center on your left (McDonalds near the road) Take the next left on Club House Drive. Go to the first stop sign and take a right turn on Watkins Mill Road. Go up and down a hill (you should notice a sign for Watkins Mill High School on your left at the intersection) Keep going straight. Go up and down one more hill and then down the next hill you should notice three or four old radio towers at the bottom of the hill (yes the radio towers are at the bottom of the hill, I do not have a clue why this is). The parking lot is on the right hand side of the road before the bridge and before the radio towers. There is also road parking.
Black Rock Mill
From the South: From most of Maryland and the Beltway go up I-270 to Route 28 West (be sure to get in the local lanes as soon as you see the Montrose Road Exit). Go out Route 28 towards Darnstown. Go past Shady Grove Road and Hospital and then a mile or so further go past Quince Orchard Road (Fuddruckers on your right, McDonalds on your left). Continue on Route 28 to Darnstown about 1-2 miles. There will be a light here (Route 112, Seneca Road) and a new Harris Teeter Grocery Store on your right. Continue on Route 28. You will go through one more traffic light. This is Route 118, Germantown Road. Still continue on Route 28 but look for your next right on Black Rock Road. Take a right. The mill is about a mile down the road. It will be on your left. It is hard to miss as it is an old stone mill. Please park legally in the mill lot and down the road beyond the bridge completely on the shoulder as to not block anyone in.
From the North or Germantown-Clarksburg areas:
Either from Frederick County or Germantown area get to 270 and 118- Germantown Road. Go West. Go through the built up part of Germantown, maybe two to three miles, then go past Route 117, Clopper road, and then go past the new Soccerplex, also called Germantown Recreational area. Still stay on 118, go down a hill- it will be wooded and look for Black Rock Road to your right. Take a right and get on Black Rock Road. You will go through an area with houses (this used to be called Browntown). After a while, maybe a mile or two, you will be in a wooded area going down a hill. At the bottom of the hill will be Seneca Creek and the mill. You will have to turn around to park.
Questions?
Please contact Stephanie Coffin, evenings from 8 - 9 pm at (301) 926-1755.
To report broken links, mistakes, or other problems, contact Ed.
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