Welcome to the untamed woods of Patuxent River State Park. Your GPS may suggest the hide is only 0.4 miles from parking, but once you follow the winding trail system, the distance is closer to 0.75 miles. Expect roughly a mile-and-a-half round-trip adventure. Follow the yellow-blazed Flowing Free Trail, which begins at the trailhead just beyond the Nature Center. The route is easy to follow thanks to clear signposts and yellow trail markers. The path gently rolls over a few small hills and is bordered by thornbushes on both sides—fortunately trimmed back to keep the trail passable. This trail will bring you to within about 150 feet of the hide.
======================================================================
Park Hours
Dawn to dusk
No Fees
Pets allowed, but must be leashed.
Tucked along the quiet upper stretches of the Patuxent River, Patuxent River State Park offers geocachers a peaceful escape into one of Maryland’s largest and most natural park landscapes. Spanning roughly 6,700 acres across Howard and Montgomery counties, this park protects the headwaters of the Patuxent and provides miles of scenic terrain perfect for exploring caches hidden deep within the woods.
Unlike many parks with clearly marked paths, Patuxent River State Park embraces a more rugged, back-to-nature experience. Unmarked and minimally maintained trails wind through forests, open meadows, and farmland remnants, making each outing feel like a small adventure. For geocachers, that means plenty of opportunities to venture off the beaten path and discover hidden corners of the park.
The park stretches for about 12 miles along the river, with access points at locations such as Long Corner, Mullinix Mill, Route 94, Hipsley Mill, Howard Chapel, and the Route 97 river crossing. These entry points make it easy to begin a caching journey from several different directions.
Outdoor recreation here centers around hiking, horseback riding, fishing, hunting (in designated areas), and mountain biking, and the Patuxent River itself includes a catch-and-release trout stream. Much of the park lies within the Northeastern Coastal Forest ecosystem, and a portion has been designated as a Maryland State Wildlands Area, helping preserve the natural habitat and quiet atmosphere that make the area special.
For geocachers, Patuxent River State Park is the perfect place to enjoy long woodland walks, scenic river views, and the thrill of the hunt—all while exploring one of Maryland’s most serene outdoor landscapes. Just remember to bring good navigation skills, sturdy shoes, and a sense of adventure as you set out to find the caches hidden throughout this beautiful stretch of the Patuxent River valley.
Cache Across Maryland 2026.
This is one of the caches placed for Cache Across Maryland 2026. This year you must find all ten caches prior to the picnic held on Saturday, May 9, 2026 in order to qualify for a free Maryland Geocaching Society CAM geocoin. You must attend the picnic to get your coin. After the free coins are given out you will be able to buy coins while they last.
Make note of the code word found inside each cache container. You must enter all the words into an online decoder in order to print your CAM certificate as well as print a claim form to submit and receive your geocoin at the picnic. More info on CAM is available here.
