Cosca Regional Park

Cosca Regional Park

Cosca Regional Park lies near Clinton, in suburbanized southern Prince George’s County. Opened in 1967, it’s best known for its playing fields, lake, nature center, and other amenities. But the 700-acre park consists mostly of rolling woodlands where savvy hikers can enjoy nature, exercise, and solitude year-round. The woods are deciduous, with a scattering of pines and hollies. Wildflowers dapple the woods with color over three seasons. Migratory songbirds do the same in spring. Butterflies follow suit in a special garden in summer. Oaks, hickories, beeches, maples, yellow poplars (tulip trees), and gums add to the park’s palette in the fall. Deer and squirrels are the most frequently seen four-footed creatures, but others are also present, as beaver-chewed trees attest. This hike is an easy 5.5-mile loop with only 700 feet of elevation change, which uses of most of the park’s trails. Except in warm weather and around the nature center, lake, and picnic areas, there are few visitors. Scenery: Rolling woodlands, lake views, stream valleys. Trail surface: Mostly dirt; some pavement, grass.

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