Equine Herpesvirus (EHV) Alert for Park Trail Riders
HV has spread to Maryland. The contagious virus can spread quickly among horses through direct contact and contaminated equipment. To protect your horse:
Avoid sharing tack, feed, or water buckets.
Use social distancing when parking, and park as far from other trailers as possible.
Wash hands and clean equipment regularly.
Isolate horses returning from events or showing signs of illness.
Stay alert for symptoms like fever or nasal discharge and contact your veterinarian if you notice anything unusual. Practicing good horse hygiene keeps our trails—and horses—safe.
For more info, contact your veterinarian or the Animal Health Program at the Maryland Department of Agriculture.
Discover Our Trails Features, Maps, and Tips for Your Journey Located in northwestern Montgomery County, the Hoyles Mill Trail travels south from Black Hill Regional Park through Boyds Local Park and Hoyles Mill Conservation Park – one of our best natural areas to South Germantown Recreation Park and then Seneca Creek State Park where it terminates at Schaeffer Farms in Seneca Creek State Park.
Unless noted otherwise on the map, trails marked “Natural Surface” and “Hard Surface” are “Shared by All” trails which includes hikers, bikers, and equestrians.
Trail Details Activities: Hiking, biking, horseback riding
Location: The trail is located in the upper portion of the County, west of I-270 and west of Germantown.
Trail length/surface: 6.3 miles of combined natural and hard surface trail.
Trail characteristics: The From the north, the trail will switch from natural to hard surface along Black Hill Rd and then Clarksburg Rd. across the bridge over Little Seneca Lake and then across Clopper Rd into Boyd’s Local Park. From Boyd’s LP you will continue south into Hoyles Mill Conservation Park on a natural surface and then along Hoyles Mill Rd on a packed gravel path. The trail will turn right onto a natural surface again and take you to the South Germantown Rec. Park.
Drinking water: Yes, at Black Hill Regional and South Germantown Recreational Parks
Restrooms: Yes, at Black Hill Regional and South Germantown Recreational Parks
Access and parking: -Parking on Clarksburg Rd between Ridge Oak Dr. and Top Ridge Dr.
-The boat ramp in Black Hill Regional Park on Black Hill Rd.
-South Germantown Recreation Park by the driving range.
-Parking lot on White Ground Road.
