On the same day as our short hike in the Piney Orchard Nature Preserve, my folks and I took all three girls to Horsepen Branch Park after school. Happily enough, we discovered more signage had been put in place in order to locate this place! Like last time, we turned onto Racetrack Road in Bowie near the Aldi and Walgreens shopping plaza, and followed the road for a few miles. Just after we crossed Horsepen Branch on the bridge with horse heads adorning it, we spotted a sign for the playground. The parking lot is for people using the playground and those using the WB&A trail. Pebble was the only one this time who wanted to bring her bike, and she happily maneuvered around the gate heading down the trail for the playground. Just an FYI, you cannot see the playground from the lot. It is hidden by a building used by the WSSC that you will have to circle in order to locate the break in the fence that leads to the playground area.
This was my parents’ first visit to Horsepen, and they were amazed by what it offered. In addition to the playground, there is a skateboarding area, a bike track that Pebble loves to traverse, an area with tools for cyclists with bike issues, and a pavilion. There are no facilities here, although there may be a porta-potty in the parking lot for cyclists using the trail. I bring our trusty portable potty when we come here, along with plenty of water and snacks.
Once we entered the playground area, my dad followed Pebble over to the bike track while Stormy and Rainbow went straight for the zip line. We were the only people at the park initially, so both girls got a lot of turns on the zip line. Last time we were here, Pebble couldn’t do the zip line herself, but this time she wanted to try it! I lifted her up onto the platform seat, and ran with her down the ramp, staying close in case she let go. My mom waited at the end of the zip line to also step in as needed. Amazingly, Pebble was able to hold on! So long as we helped her up onto the seat, she could manage it all on her own, and she was so proud of herself for it! I love listening to all three girls squeal with delight as the zip line gathers speed going down the ramp! Sheer delight!
In addition to the zip line, the kids played on the swings, clambered all over the rope course in the big kid’s playset, rode the motorcycles on springs, held on to the giant circles as my folks and I spun them in circles, and even climbed up on top of the train in the little kid’s play area. As always, the tower in the big kids’ area that you climb up, and then step off of onto a platform that then sinks slowly downward was a big hit! Pebble could manage the climb up to the platform better, but still needed help making the transition from the tower to the platform.
The kids played happily for over an hour before we packed it in. The sun was starting to set, and dinner needed to be cooked. It was a wonderful mini-adventure, and Pebble keeps asking when we will go back. She wants to do more zip-lining! Happy trails!
