Start of the Blueberry Nature Trail in Greenbelt Park
See the Hiking Trails web page for a trail map.
Length: .9-mile loop
Time: 30 minutes
Difficulty: Between easy and moderate
The Blueberry Nature Trail at Greenbelt Park is a short loop trail that can be accessed from the Greenbelt Park Campground. Park at the Ranger Station located just before the entrance and then walk a few minutes down the road to the trailhead. Also, if you are hiking the Perimeter Trail, you can access the Blueberry Nature Trail from one of two intersections.
The Blueberry Nature Trail is what I call a lollipop trail, meaning you hike out on a short stick before coming to the loop. From the campground road trailhead it takes less than five minutes to reach the main loop, at which point you can go left or right. For the record, I took a right and hiked in a counterclockwise direction, and this review is written from that perspective. However, it really makes no difference as to which way you go.
Typical terrain on the stick portion of the Blueberry Nature Trail in Greenbelt Park
The terrain slopes downhill from the start of the loop all the way to the Perimeter Trail. This causes rain water to flow down the trail during a storm, and over the years it has washed away the top soil, exposing roots and rocks that lie below the surface. As a result, the surface of Blueberry Nature Trail is the roughest of the four trails at Greenbelt Park.
Rough terrain of the Blueberry Nature Trail in Greenbelt Park
The intersection with the Perimeter Trail comes .4 mile down from where the moderately steep hill begins. The intersection is marked not only by a sign, but also by a ramp of some sort that was built by the Boy Scouts. What its purpose is, I have no idea. If hiking counterclockwise as I was, be sure to take a left, otherwise you’ll end up hiking north on the Perimeter Trail towards the picnic areas.
Intersection of the Perimeter and Blueberry Nature trails in Greenbelt Park
The Blueberry and Perimeter trails actually merge together for about a tenth of a mile. Unlike the Blueberry Nature Trail, the surface of the Perimeter Trail is smooth and the terrain is level.
Typical terrain of the Perimeter Trail in Greenbelt Park
The second intersection between the Perimeter and Blueberry trails is also marked by a sign. Take a left to begin the hike back uphill to the parking lot. The incline is about the same as you encountered on the way down.
Second intersection of the Perimeter and Blueberry trails in Greenbelt Park
I hiked the trail in the evening when the sun rays penetrated the canopy, casting spotlight-shaped circles of orange on the vegetation and ground. This created a very nice affect on some of the fallen trees in the area.
Sunlight shines on a fallen tree along the Blueberry Nature Trail in Greenbelt Park
Sunlight shines on a fallen tree along the Blueberry Nature Trail in Greenbelt Park
While being designated a Nature Trail, there are no stops along the way where you can learn about the environment, which is typical of a nature trail. Thus, the Blueberry Nature Trail provides nothing more than a walk through the woods, and at less than a mile, it’s not even particularly good for exercise purposes. Hike it only if you have nothing better to do. If you really want some exercise, combine it with the Perimeter Trail for a roughly 6-mile long hike.
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Last updated on April 8, 2026
