Start of the Azalea Trail in Greenbelt Park

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See the Hiking Trails web page for a trail map.

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Length: 1.25-mile loop
Time: 45 minutes
Difficulty: Easy with a few short but moderately steep hills

The Azalea Trail is a loop that passes through all of the picnic areas at the northern end of Greenbelt Park. Because the Holly and Laurel picnic areas are closed and gated unless reserved, park at the Sweetgum Picnic Area to begin the hike.

Being a loop, there are two ways to access the trail from the Sweetgum Picnic Area, with the most obvious being the trailhead on the right side of the short road that leads to the parking lot. This sets you off hiking the trail in the counterclockwise direction, which is how I hiked the trail. The second trailhead is on the opposite side of the parking lot near a large field. The parking lot is an oval with a small median in the center, so you won’t even see this trailhead unless you drive all the way around to the other side.

From the trailhead at the road, the Azalea Trail starts off as a wide, gravel path and heads down a slight hill for the first quarter mile before leveling out. The trail surface is smooth and free of roots and rocks, so you can walk without having to watch every step you take. If you typically use hiking poles, they are not needed here.

Typical terrain at the start of the Azalea Trail near the Sweetgum Picnic Area in Greenbelt Park

No sooner do you start the hike than you come upon a number of exercise stations that are part of a Fit Trail, which the Azalea Trail merges with for a short distance. Each stop has some sort of exercise apparatus such as pull-up bars or a bench to do sit-ups. Oddly enough, there is no mention of the Fit Trail on any Greenbelt Park literature, so I have no idea where it goes after it diverges from the Azalea Trail about ten minutes from the start of the hike. I suspect it is a city or county trail that just happens to pass through Greenbelt Park, for there are many public parks and trails in the area.

Exercise station on merged section of the Azalea and Fit trails in Greenbelt Park

Just after passing the split with the Fit Trail, the Azalea Trail begins to run along North Branch Still Creek. If it has been raining, the trail can be muddy, so if you have hiking boots be sure to wear them instead of standard sneakers.

Wet area of the Azalea Trail near North Branch Still Creek in Greenbelt Park

Being in a wet area, the vegetation along the trail can become quite lush. Be sure to check yourself for ticks every few minutes. If you pick up any, most likely they will start off by walking up the front of your leg. If in shorts, you need to catch them before they get under your pant legs, which is why I recommend long pants when hiking at Greenbelt Park.

Azalea Trail in Greenbelt Park runs along the North Branch Still Creek

At .4 mile into the hike is an intersection with an unmarked trail that branches off to the right and leads to the park road. It is at this point that the Azalea Trail parts from the creek and heads eastward, so from here on out the terrain is a little drier and there is not as much vegetation.

A tenth of a mile later is an intersection with a trail that proceeds up a short, moderately difficult hill and connects to the Laurel Picnic Area. It is also very narrow and flanked by grass, making it a potential tick gauntlet. Unless you have a reason to hike to the picnic area, pass this by and continue on the Azalea Trail.

Trail connecting the Azalea Trail to the Laurel Picnic Area in Greenbelt Park

Soon afterward, the Azalea Trail crosses the vehicle road to the Laurel Picnic Area. At this point the terrain becomes a little more hilly with a series of moderate but short ups and downs. Just before reaching the crest of a hill that is noticeably steeper than the others that came before it is the intersection with the trail that leads to the Holly Picnic Area. As with the Laurel Picnic Area, Holly is available by reservation only, and there is no reason to hike to it unless you are picnicking there.

Hilly area of the Azalea Trail near the Holly Picnic Area in Greenbelt Park

The trail forks just past the turnoff for the picnic area—stay to the left. This fork also marks the official start of the Fit Trail (aka Exercise Trail). It appears that the Fit Trail follows the Azalea Trail between the Holly and Sweetgum Picnic Areas and then splits ten minutes or so past Sweetgum into unknown territory, most likely heading out of the park.

Azalea Trail and Fit Trail merge near the Holly Picnic Area in Greenbelt Park

There is only a tenth of a mile between the Holly and Sweetgum Picnic Areas. Cross the field at Sweetgum to get back to the parking lot and end the hike.

Field at the Sweetgum Picnic Area in Greenbelt Park

Trailhead for Greenbelt Park’s Azalea Trail at the Sweetgum Picnic Area field

The Azalea Trail is short enough not to become tiresome or boring, but other than being a source of exercise, there is not much to it. I recommend hiking it only if you are picnicking and want to burn off a few calories.

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