Black Hill/10 Mile Creek
Rog (rogs@erols.com)
Mon, 2 Mar 1998 23:49:00 -0500
To get to Black Hill's 10 Mile Creek area from the bridge, head East on
Clarksburg Rd. towards the main entrance to the park.
At the point where you would bear right to go to the park, turn
left instead on Old Baltimore Road. After a mile or so you'll see the sign
for 10 Mile Creek Road on your left. Turn left and park along the road.
If you're coming from Virginia and don't know the area, take 270 to
Germantown and get off at the Rt. 27/Father Hurley Blvd. exit. Bear right
(East) when the exit ramp splits. Turn left (North) on 355. After a
mile or so, turn left onto Old Baltimore Rd. Cross under 270 and go past
the park entrance. The next "serious" road you get to is Clarksburg Rd.
Go straight across for the 10 Mile Creek area or turn left to get to the
bridge. Follow the directions above.
park gate and down to the creek. There is no easy way across, so if you're
pressed for time (like on a lunch hour) you'll want to have your waders on.
The creek tends to be 6-12 inches deep at the shallow points. Once
across, just follow the dirt road straight ahead. You'll have to wade
across another much smaller creek. Stay on the road as it goes up the
hill. As you go over the brow, the backwater area will be on your left.
The road goes another 100 yards or so and ends at a bench which faces the
main part of the lake. At full pace, the whole walk is probably 10-15
minutes each way, so it's an easy lunch-hour walk.
It's a great spot! In addition to the ducks Dan mentioned, over the last
two months I've also seen a pair of Northern Pintails, one Northern
Shoveler, and a bunch of Gadwalls there. Also, if you can get there by 8am
or so, there are often 100-200 Tundra Swans. (Unless they migrate first,
of course.)
By the way, if you look at a Black Hill trail map, this is the area where
the three "Loop" trails begin. The "Turkey Loop" trail runs parallel
the path I've described, the "Lake View" trail begins near the bench I
mentioned, (it must have been named before the trees grew up though,
because there aren't many views of the lake now) and the "Osprey
Heights" trail (from which you can see the bridge) is beyond that.
There is also the "Cool Springs Run" trail that begins on the left just
beyond the gate near where you park. It goes on the other side of the
backwater area and winds its way out to Clarksburg Rd. through a variety
of habitats.
Hope this helps!
Roger Stone
rogs@erols.com