Persimmon Trail loops around Conservation Pond

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See the main Hiking Trails web page for a trail map.

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Length: 1.3 mile, round trip
Time: 1 hour
Difficulty: Easy

A short and easy hike can be made by combining the Riverview and Persimmon Trails at Piscataway Park’s National Colonial Farm. This is a lollipop-shaped route, meaning that you hike out on the Riverview Trail (the stick) to reach the Persimmon Trail, a loop that encircles Conservation Pond, then return back to the start on the Riverview Trail.

The hike begins on the Riverview Trail, which is located near the National Colonial Farm Visitor Center. When at the back of the building, take the dirt road to the left; the trailhead is just up ahead.

Start of the Riverview Trail

The Riverview Trail is a wide swath of mowed grass that is marked by blue blazes, which are swatches painted on the trees, fence posts, etc. Follow these to stay on the trail.

Typical terrain of the Riverview Trail

While the trail runs along the Potomac River, it unfortunately does not live up to its name. Clear views of the water are rare due to the trees that have grown up over the years. For better views of the Potomac, try the Pumpkin Ash Trail, the Marsh Boardwalk Trail, or visit the fishing pier located behind the Visitor Center.

Typical view of the Potomac River from the Riverview Trail

About a tenth of a mile from the start, the Riverview Trail comes to a fenced in area of the farm, which I believe is the Museum Garden. You may also see some animals in the pastures. I saw sheep when I visited.

Fence around the Museum Garden

Sheep in the pasture near the Riverview Trail

There is a tree with a double blaze on it right before coming to the garden (a double blaze indicates a turn). However, it is not exactly clear as to which way to proceed because you cannot see another blue blaze from this point. Stay to the right (left goes to the farm) and go around the back of the garden. When you get to the far side you will see a post with another double blaze.

Trail marker on the backside of the Museum Garden fence

At the post, take a left down a very short dirt road. This quickly dead ends into a much wider dirt road, the main road through the farm. Take a right and follow the signs to the Livestock Barn. You will pass the Caretaker’s Residence on the way. In less than a minute from the turn the road curves to the left and merges with another dirt road.

The main road merges with another road at the red posts

At this point you will be standing in front of a field flanked by a wooded area. If you look carefully, you will see blue blazes on the trees and a fenced in area at the far side of the field. Follow the treeline across the field and continue down the grassy path that runs between the fence and the forest.

Blue blazes on the trees direct you to cross the field

Riverview Trail

When you come to the end of the fence you will find yourself on the backside of a hill where a double blue blaze is painted on a tree. Jog to the left and you will see a post that holds a bird house. This is the intersection with the Persimmon Trail, which circles around Conservation Pond and connects back to the Riverview Trail on the other side of the hill (though you can’t see it, the hill is actually a dam that forms the pond). To hike the Persimmon Trail, continue so that the pond is on your right. This will set you off in a clockwise direction.

View of Conservation Pond from the hill at the Riverview-Persimmon Trail intersection

Post that marks the intersection of the Riverview and Persimmon trails

Like the Riverview Trail, the Persimmon Trail is a mowed path through the grass. It is flat and easy to hike as well.

Typical terrain of the Persimmon Trail

At the start of the Persimmon Trail you rarely get a good view of the pond due to the trees. There are a number of paths that previous hikers have cut to the pond, so either take one of these to get to the water or wait until a little farther down the trail where there are some easily accessible clearings.

Hiker-cut path to Conservation Pond

Anywhere you can get to the water is a good place to spot waterfowl, though the pond itself is not very picturesque. If you want decent photos of the birds, be sure to have a 400mm or longer lens.

Geese in Conservation Pond

At the far end of the pond is a trail that cuts over to one of the dirt roads that services the farm. You don’t want to head that way, so keep walking so that the pond remains on your right.

Just before returning to the Riverview Trail is a bird blind with an information panel that identifies some of the birds you might see. However, brush has grown up in front of it, so if you want a better view or good photos, use one of the clearings where you can get right down to the water’s edge.

Bird blind on the Persimmon Trail

When you reconnect to the Riverview Trail, if you take a look to the right you can see the bird house where you picked up the Persimmon Trail. Head that way to get back to the Visitor Center. The Riverview Trail actually continues a little farther to the west, so if you want to say you hiked the entire thing, take a left. You would also turn left if you plan to hike a portion of the Bluebird Trail and the entire Paw Paw trail, creating one, long loop hike from the four trails on the west side of the National Colonial Farm. The total distance of such a hike is about 2.5 miles, which is just a little over a mile longer than returning to the Visitor Center from here.

Looking back to the other side of the pond where the hike began

If you are a bird watcher, the Persimmon Trail is the best hike in the park. Otherwise, like all trails at Piscataway Park, there’s nothing particularly scenic about it or the Riverview Trail, other than the fact that you can see the Potomac River every now and then. Hike the trails at Piscataway only if you want some exercise or something else to do while visiting the National Colonial Farm.

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