"E" Trail McFarlan Woods Segment

Dogs Leashed

Features Birding · Fall Colors · River/Creek · Wildlife

This is a good though slightly difficult trail to run. It is a less traveled section of the park, so please use caution as it isn't maintained as often.

History: A Boy Scout troop built the Explorers Trail (aka La Trainee de L’Explorateur) in the 1960s or 1970s. The trails that encircle the Mt. Airy Forest are marked with white blazes and a red 'E'. This trail is also commonly know as the "E" Trail.

From the trailhead at McFarlan Rdige Road, there is a post marked "E START" along the left side of the clearing. Follow the clearing, until slips into the woods. You'll see another post marked "E". Follow the trail to a clearing with stone benches and a fire ring, then go straight to a steep descent to a large creek junction. Cross the main creek to the left and you'll see a large post (similar to a totem pole). Once across the creek, turn left and follow a gravel service road along the creek. After a while, you'll come to another major creek junction and another "Totem Pole". Turn right along the creek bed. You'll follow and criss cross the creek bed staying on the service road. Once you come to the third (final) creek junction, cross to the right side of the main creek, continue about 100 feet, and the trail will continue up hill to the right. Continue to the top of the ridge to a picnic area. The is the end of the McFarlan Woods section and the beginning of the Diehl Rd. section.

Continue straight, and the trail will dead end on a horse trail in a grassy brier patch area. Turn right and continue to follow the blazes along the ridge and back down the other side of the hill. The trail will dead end again on another portion of the service road and you'll turn left. One you come to another main creek crossing, turn left and go back into the woods. Follow the trail through and up and over the next ridge; once up and over the ridge, the trail will dead end at the beginning of the service road.

You can follow the service road to the right in order to loop back to previous sections of the trail. This will lead you back to the original trailhead.

Pine, Ash, Maple and Oak forest. A wide variety of wild flowers. Take time to visit the Arboretum on the north end of the park near the main park entrance.