Earlier this month for National Trails Day, June 2, Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne designated Rock Creek Trail in Montgomery County as one of 40 new National Recreation Trails, making it the second trail in the county's parks system to receive this national distinction.

"I know the millions who hike, bike and enjoy our county's parks system appreciate the world-class network of trails we have here in Montgomery County," said Parks Director Mary Bradford. "We are honored the US Department of the Interior has recognized another trail in our system this year as a National Recreation Trail."

The 10.2-mile paved surface Sligo Creek Trail, one of the oldest in Montgomery County and another in the department's system, received the National Recreation Trail designation in 2006.

National Recreation Trails are components of the National Trails System and recognize already existing trails that connect people to resources and improve their quality of life. The National Park Service Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program and the U.S. Forest Service, in conjunction with other federal and nonprofit partners jointly administer the program. Each of the trails inducted into the system receive a certificate of designation and trail markers. This year, Rock Creek Trail joins the network of National Recreation Trails that contains more than 11,000 miles of trails.

"We have nearly 200 miles of paved and natural surface trails in Montgomery County Parks," added Bradford. "Before the summer ends, I'd encourage county residents to take advantage of our two nationally significant trails or hit one of the other trails. Just download a map to select one that is right for you."

Rock Creek Trail is one of the most popular in the Washington Metro area. A recent extension of the trail south to Beach Drive allows users to continue from Montgomery County's Rock Creek Regional Park into the District of Columbia. Rock Creek Trail is an 18.6-mile, paved surface, hiker-biker trail, which is hilly in parts and offers scenic views of lakes Needwood and Frank. The portion of the trail in Rock Creek Regional Park ends at Lake Needwood where rowboats, pedal boats and canoes are available for rent. Parking at picnic area 1 on Needwood Lake Circle at Rock Creek offers easy access to the trail.

Visit these sites for more on the county's trails and the National Recreation Trails