Cabin Branch Park

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Parks

District-Of-Columbia

Nearby: Seat Pleasant Recreation Area Greendale Recreation Center

Last Updated: December 5, 2025

Cabin Branch Park is a 1,800-acre park located in the state of Maryland, close to the border with the District of Columbia.

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Summary

The park features many natural attractions, including hiking and biking trails, picnic areas, and fishing spots. Visitors can also enjoy a variety of recreational activities, such as camping, birdwatching, and horseback riding.

One of the main points of interest in Cabin Branch Park is the Black Hill Regional Park, which offers a range of outdoor activities for visitors of all ages. The park also features a nature center, where visitors can learn about the local flora and fauna, as well as a lake where fishing and boating are allowed.

Another popular attraction in the park is the Seneca Creek State Park, which features over 6,000 acres of forest and waterways. Visitors can enjoy hiking, fishing, and boating in the park, as well as camping and picnicking.

Interesting facts about the area include the fact that the park is named after Cabin Branch, a stream that runs through the park and flows into the Potomac River. The park is also home to several historic sites, including the ruins of a 19th-century mill and a 20th-century dam.

The best time of year to visit Cabin Branch Park is from spring to fall, when the weather is mild and the natural beauty of the park is at its peak. Visitors should also be aware of the park's seasonal hours and fees, which may vary depending on the time of year.

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Park & Land Designation Reference

National Park
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.

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