Not quite end-to-end on the Seneca Greenway

I intended to do a 25-mile hike, similar in difficulty to the C&O, as a training hike. The Seneca Greenway at 24.2 miles is almost long enough; you could easily add a bit on the C&O at the end. But a second problem is that there isn't really parking at the northern trailhead. So instead I added on the shortest possible bit of the Magruder Trail, which feeds into the north end of the greenway. The total would have been just over 26 miles.

However, I didn't make it to the end but stopped after 20 miles. Primarily, this was because I probably couldn't make it to my car before dark - and certainly I would have not gotten back to my vehicle at the start before it got dark and started pouring rain. In hindsight, I should have started earlier and not wasted daylight.

Then again, the Seneca Greenway is a little harder than the C&O. Maps show pretty insignificant elevation gain, but there are more tiny dips and rises that probably don't get counted. It's not hard, but you can't eat up the miles like you can on the C&O. (Note: To me, "greenway" implies "paved" - it is not.) My pace was definitely slower.

So that's what this hike wasn't. What about what it was?

This trail is one of several that allows you to follow a creek from somewhere in Montgomery County to the Potomac. There is also Rock Creek and Cabin John. Of the three, this is the most remote from houses. It is therefore reasonably scenic and mostly in the woods. The section from Riffle Ford to Germantown is an exception; plenty remote, but in open fields and in many cases along power lines. That section would not be great on hot days. 

Overall, it offered variety and at least as much scenic power as I expected.

Note that there are no restrooms at any trailheads, except at the southern terminus at Riley's Lock. Where it crosses Frederick Avenue, there are businesses a couple of blocks away. Otherwise, prepare to use the trees.