Three Notch Trail

Three Notch Road has served as the main highway between northern St. Mary's and Point Lookout since the days of Native Americans and later the English colonists. The name is likely attributed to a 1704 law that stipulated "three notches of equal distance" shall be marked on trees to indicate a road leading to a ferry. The road was situated to bypass streams, waterways, and ravines, much as it does today—three centuries later.

Three Notch Road was reconstructed as the modern MD Route 235 between 1923 and 1938. The highway was then completely rebuilt during World War II to serve the Patuxent River Naval Air Station. Between 1950 and 1985, MD Route 235 was converted into a four-lane, divided highway. In the early 2000s, the highway was expanded to six lanes in the California/Lexington Park area.

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In colonial times, the Three Notch Road was known as Main road or "Phenix" or Patuxent path.

Trail History 2006

The idea of constructing a hiking/biking trail on the railroad right-of-way was discussed as far back as the early 1970s; however, planning for the trail didn't begin until the early 2000s. The first phase of the trail was opened for public use in Charlotte Hall in June 2006. It is envisioned that the trail will eventually run from Charlotte Hall to Lexington



Park for a distance of over 25 miles and serve both recreational and alternate transportation needs.

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Tobacco Barns
"Three Notch Road"
Three Notch Trail
Forest Hall
De La Brooke Manor
Extending the Rail
Village of Mechanicsville
"Deep Falls"
Chaptico
Chaptico

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