Fran Uhler Natural Area

Fran Uhler Natural Area, managed by the Maryland-National Capital Parks and Planning Commission (MNCPPC, aka Prince George’s County Parks Department), is located in northern Prince George’s County, bordered by the Patuxent River, the Patuxent Research Refuge, MD Route 197, and the Amtrak/MARC Railroad Line. Bowie State University lies immediately adjacent on the opposite side of the railroad tracks.

The Natural Area is named for legendary wildlife biologist Francis M. Uhler, who worked at the former Patuxent Wildlife Research Center and worked tirelessly to ensure the preservation of this spot. Dr. Uhler donated the money that allowed Prince George’s County to make an initial purchase of 29 acres in 1986, when the site housed an abandoned quarry and farmstead that was being used as an illegal dump. Today, there are more than 350 undeveloped acres that are managed by MNCPPC adjacent to Fran Uhler Natural Area.

Prince George’s Audubon Society, which campaigned for the area to become a public park, sponsors the park and offers monthly walks here on the first Saturday of every month at 7:30 am, in partnership with the Patuxent Bird Club.

The Fran Uhler property has indeed become “natural,” the more so since it surrounded by other natural areas, including Patuxent Research Refuge to the north. Much of the terrain is marked by ridges, hollows, and small ponds, reflecting earlier land use. Most is wooded, but there are open areas under a power line, where forest succession is taking place. Be aware that some parts of the park may be flooded after heavy rains and some of the low-lying trails may be inaccessible.

The park is accessed from MD Route 197/Laurel-Bowie Road via Lemons Bridge Road, which leads directly into the park. The entrance is marked by a gate that is kept locked except during the monthly bird club walks. If you are visiting on your own, you may park in the small lot outside the gate (also see below for additional parking and access) and continue on foot along Lemons Bridge Road, which becomes a gravel lane running parallel to the Amtrak/MARC rail line. The lane passes old fields bordered by woods, and then enters woodland as it nears the Patuxent River.

After entering the woods, the road/trail turns to parallel the river bank, and comes eventually to the pilings for the old Lemon’s Bridge over the river. A few non-maintained foot-trails wind past some old ponds in this area (see vicinity map at the link in the At a Glance section of this webpage), but this whole section may be flooded and the trails impassable.

Southeast of the railroad lies a state-owned property – the Uhler Natural Resource Management Area (169 acres), which can be accessed from Fran Uhler Natural Area via a foot-trail and underpass under the railroad near the Patuxent River. There is a network on non-maintained trails here, traversing wet woods and open shrubby fields.  See the vicinity map at the link in the At a Glance section of this webpage.

Uhler NRMA is next to Bowie State University and can be reached by the Horsepen Branch Spur Trail of the Washington, Baltimore & Annapolis Trail (WB&A Trail), a

The WB&A Trail is a paved, 5.6 mile hiker-biker trail that follows the right of way of an abandoned railroad, cutting across the north side of the town of Bowie. The Horsepen Branch Spur Trail is a 2-mile-long side trail that cuts north where the main part of the WB&A Trail approaches the Patuxent River. The northern end of the Horsepen Branch Spur Trail, near Fran Uhler Natural Area and Uhler NRMA, is unpaved clay surface, but the southern 3/4 of the Horsepen Branch Spur Trail is paved and is wheelchair-accessible, as is the main part of the WB&A Trail.

The Horsepen Branch Spur Trail offers excellent birding. Just after leaving the main part of the WB&A Trail, the Spur Trail runs along an extensive wetland fed by Horsepen Branch, a tributary of the Patuxent. The wide marshy area is easily viewed from the trail and hosts waterfowl, swallows and flycatchers in season, sometimes even a rail or two. Past the wetland, the Spur Trail continues north, running parallel to the Patuxent River and passing through wet woods. Here there will be warblers and flycatchers in the warm months, as well as other woodland songbirds. Be alert for American Woodcock, which may bee hunkered down right next to the trail.

A nice long hiking loop or bike ride is to start at the Park & Ride on Lemons Bridge Road, walk or bike through Fran Uhler Natural Area and then use the underpass to go south under the railroad to enter the Uhler NRMA and access the northern terminus of the Horsepen Branch Spur of the WB&A Trail. Continue southeast on the Horsepen Branch Spur, and then turn right (west) where it joins the main part of the WB&A Trail, which will bring you to Race Track Road. Turn right (north) onto Race Track Road; in 0.4 miles, bear right onto Jericho Park Road, which in another 0.5 miles will take you into Bowie State University. Continue straight ahead to reach the south side Park & Ride lot near Route 197, and then use the pedestrian underpass in the Park & Ride to get back to your car in the Park & Ride on the north side of the tracks.