Trails

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Nearly 70 archaeological sites document a remarkable and varied history that goes back thousands of years at JPPM. Through this special guided hike, visitors can learn about the 9,000 years of human history uncovered by the archaeology carried out in the park.

A printable trail map is available for your convenience.

	Point Trail This trail begins across the road from the Pavilion and has both a long loop and a shorter loop. The longer loop is 1.7 miles long and takes you to the river's edge and passes by the Smith's St. Leonard site and the Patterson Estate. A shorter 0.9-mile loop follows the field road back to the MAC Lab.
	Riverside Trail This trail is a self-guided loop approximately one mile long. It is an easy walk that will take approximately 45 minutes to an hour to complete. Interpretive signs begin at the Breckinridge Educational Center and take visitors to the Patuxent River, passing by the King's Reach archaeology site.
	War of 1812 Trail This trail focuses on a key piece of the story from the often forgotten War of 1812. Eleven interpretive panels are located at four different locations. The trail starts at the Visitor Center and also includes the mouth of St. Leonard Creek where the 1812 Battle of St. Leonard Creek occurred. Please note that some of this trail is inaccessible due to the ongoing Patterson House renovation expected to conclude Summer 2024.
	Woodland Trail The Woodland Trail is a self-guided loop approximately 0.6 miles long and of moderate difficulty. Most people take approximately 45 minutes to really enjoy the trail, though vigorous hikers can do it in half that time. Look for numbered signs along the way that talk about the flora and fauna native to this region.
	Village Trail This ADA-accessible trail begins across from the Pavilion and takes visitors out to the Indian Village. Along the way, interpretive signs talk about the changes in the environment and landscape in the past 400 years, as well as the Eastern Woodland Indian culture of past, present, and future.