Greenbelt Park - Maryland

Address:6565 Greenbelt Road
Greenbelt, Maryland
Tel: (301) 344-3948

Greenbelt is a charming, forested DC-area park with abundant opportunities to frolic through nature. The park's roots date back hundreds of years to when Native Americans and colonial settlers used to work the land. There are about nine miles of hiking trails for visitors to enjoy. Bird watching, nature walks, camping, picnicking, and horseback riding are also popular activities. Greenbelt frequently hosts special events, so check with the park for updates before your visit.

Long before colonial settlers appeared here, trees and flowers covered these rolling hills and wildlife roamed the woodlands. Algonquin Indians hunted this land in competition with other smaller tribes. A balance existed between the land and its plants, animals, and native people. Then the colonists arrived. Trees fell and forests gave way to farmland. Wildlife retreated to the frontier. For the next 150 years, people cleared the land, plowed the fields, and planted tobacco, corn, and other crops. The rich fertile soil returned high yields. The people did not give back to the land as much as they took. The land wore out, producing less each season and farming ceased. The land was left bare and defenseless. Erosion caused many scars before nature could slow the process with new growth. Since the early 1900's the land has been recovering. Today the mixed pine and deciduous forest testifies to the land's ability to recover. Greenbelt Park is a retreat from the pressures of city life and a refuge for native plants and animals just twelve miles from Washington, D.C. Hike or camp and discover Greenbelt Park.