I hadn't been out to OR for a long time but had the opportunity to enjoy some nature and food truck tacos on a beautiful Baltimore day. The trees are in full bloom, everything is green and bursting with life and it was peaceful in this place. Beware of the poison ivy though - it's everywhere and it's YUGE! read more

Oregon Ridge Nature Center - Beautiful park - Parks Near Me - Cockeysville, Maryland

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This is one of our favorite places to visit because of the scenic trails and the indoor nature center displays. The trails are relatively easy but fun to explore and you can go shorter or longer distances depending how much time you have. We enjoy visiting for a change of pace from the Pennsylvania State Parks because while the trails aren't extremely rugged or long, they're fun and the nature center has interesting displays and creatures to visit. read more

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Lots of trails. Clean bathrooms. Some artwork tucked away on the paths. This place has rivers, elevation and views. read more

Oregon Ridge Nature Center - Parks Near Me - Cockeysville, Maryland

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(To show how much Yelping means to me, our visit here was back in May...of '21 and I'm just getting around to thinking about this now. Obviously, I forget way more than I remember.) We were staying close by at the Embassy Suites and had a few hours with nothing to do and Google led us here as something different on a hot & humid Friday afternoon. We saw the Nature Center, the outside animals and then walked a few of the trails. Without a map and a clue, we did a circuitous trek on the Miners Trail into the Marble Quarry Loop which led to the fairly steep Loggers Trail at which time we were running out of daylight and took a small shortcut down the Virginia Pine trail getting back to the parking lot as it was almost fully dark, yet quite a few cars were still there. I know Oregon Ridge does paid events and educational programs and we saw two or three people taking engagement photos but overall, we came, we hiked, and we left. The trails are nice. The painted trees are well...interesting and some of the trails at the time weren't marked all that well but we had a fun time and maybe at some point we'll be back for more. read more

Oregon Ridge Nature Center - Parks Near Me - Cockeysville, Maryland

Recommend if you have younger children. Neat place. Inside the nature center, live animals. Staff very knowledgeable. Educational. Outside you can take a walk or play or explore the garden. And there are animals too. read more

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I am gonna let you in on a little secret. There is a place near DC to ski/snowboard for free. Given the recent snowstorms we've been blessed with, you might want to consider this. First of all, Oregon Ridge is an awesome spot to go hiking with your canine buddy. It is over 1,000 acres total. Different trails with varying difficulty and there's a rock quarry to swim in after a long hike for a nominal fee. I found it in a book about local hikes with dogs. Since each time I go here I find something new, people practicing hang gliding off the cleared hills, Ray Lewis carrying heavy crap up and down the hills, but more importantly, I found the remains of a rope tow and a ski lift. With some research I found out it was a ski resort until the 1960s. So I got this idea,during one of our many snow days we went up here with friend with ski and snowboard equipment. Even though you have to walk up hills on your own (major calorie burner) it's actually a great way to spend a snow day. Great for those just learning and not ready to try out the ski resorts. The ski trails are still clear, and you can gain major speed even just on a snow tube. No matter the season, Oregon Ridge is a great place to visit. Also note, after a day of hiking there are some great BBQ and pit beef joints in the area! read more

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Two workers at the lodge have been extremely hard to deal with, they are disrespectful and seem to be slacking off any time I've had a rental here. I don't know where the lodge finds these people. The plus sized man wouldn't stop bothering my daughters as they were playing volleyball near my pavilion and the man with the glasses kicked me out of my rental space 30 minutes before I was supposed to leave. DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME HERE read more

Great trails that are clearly marked. Hiking is free and dogs are allowed. There are really pretty painted trees by the nature center on the trail and some nice scenic views with benches. Parking is mostly shaded which is nice to not come back to a hot car when you're done. Would recommend. read more

Oregon Ridge Nature Center - Painted trees - Parks Near Me - Cockeysville, Maryland

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This is my favorite place to hike. Unlike some other parks this place provides a map with a "You are here" marker along with brightly colored strips on the trees of different trails. There are various trails with slightly different elevations. My dog Charlie really enjoyed the trails. The trails are dog friendly and thankfully not as crowded as the NCR trail. Another nice amenity is these trails do not allow bicyclist which is awesome. I love to ride my bike too but the NCR trail is perfect for that where Oregon Ridge is meant for just hikers. The trails are perfect for dog owners and families and people who just enjoy a good walk. read more

Good park. Community garden plots available! There is a swimming area that only costs a very small fee, nature trails, a huge field, a hall that can be rented out, and finally... An archaeology area. read more

I love it here, especially when it is open. COVID-19 has closed a lot of parks in the area, here you can still hike and walk the trails. Thank God! From the Website: "UPDATE 4/7/20 from Baltimore County: Oregon Ridge is open sunrise to sunset for essential outdoor recreation which would include hiking and walking only. Activities such as field games and picnicking will not be permitted until further notice." I love hiking and walking. Oregon Ridge has plenty of fields to walk through and around as well as 11 trails you can enjoy a nice day. Only issue I have is that a lot of the trails are not well marked. However, it's not like you can get too lost there. Close to Baltimore it's a great place to have a day hike, take the dog out for a run. read more

It's a good place. If you want to breath fresh air. There are a few animals but the maps are not so good. The park opens from 9-5 pm. There's also picnic areas and grills read more

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We had another lovely time at Oregon Ridge-this time going to the Nature Center area to have our outing. There is adequate parking and multiple areas to explore. The entrance to the Nature Center area is JUST behind the Oregon Grill...don't blink after turning right onto Beaver Dam Rd or you'll miss the (right) turn into the park. There is an area by a picture perfect lake with a pavilion. Off to the right of the fork in the road there is a large parking lot and pathways to the Nature Center and trails. There were live small animals for the kids to watch, actual restroom facilities (open again), and a large pavilion behind the center, where my group of 9 had a lovely picnic. There are a few grills available. You should call ahead of time and reserve your spot under the pavilion, or you may be booted out by scheduled group! You can also walk the Eastern Deciduous Nature trail that is also wonderful. read more

Great park and nature center. The kids had a great time exploring the nature center and the playground outside! Beautiful grounds and a nice 3 mile hike! read more

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The Oregon Ridge Nature Center has taken me back to my childhood. During the summer the park hosts a Mid Summer's Night Campout. I have not camped since girl scouts, 2+ decades ago. Let me tell you, this was perfect for novice, or parents looking to camp with children without going deep into the forest alone. Instead, you camp in the meadow, a slight walk from the parking lot and Nature Center. Having indoor bathrooms makes it easier for those not quite ready to ruff it. Our adult camping crew decided to Glam it out. We decorated the tents we rented from the park, and brought dinner and treats. Please note, candles are not permitted however the park provided an awesome bonfire with Smores after the night hike!!! The weater was perfect, the Naturalists & volunteers were knowledgeable and helpful. We needed help setting up the tent, so they came to the rescue. Do yourself a favor, bring an air mattress or sleeping bag pad!! The ground is unforgiving. Unplug from everything. Bring some positive vibes only friends, and spend the night with nature. It's important for wellness! read more

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I've been here a few times and each visit is a new experience; watching the seasons change is certainly beautiful. There is a huge parking lot with room enough to accommodate private events; it has been the venue for many a 5k. Pavilions provide shaded space for a picnic. The children's play area has a large and well maintained jungle gyms, high bars, slides, seesaws, and other colorfully painted pieces of equipment for kids to climb. A few blocks down the road, or a short walk through the woods, you find the Nature Center which houses various historical artifacts, live animals, insects, a small library and other information about the local area, its wildlife and its history. Taxidermied animals are displayed throughout and amphibians can be found swimming about in aquariums located in the back. The hiking paths/trails are a hodgepodge; some well marked, others indiscernible from the surrounding terrain. My major gripe is the swath of destruction (a gash in the hillside) to make way for a larger natural gas line. It's not only an eye-sore but disrupts several paths leaving some impassable. If I wanted to see heavy machinery and industrial expansion I'd travel to the city or a construction site. Final Verdict: A decent place to spend a few hours, though I wouldn't make a trip for the historical features. read more

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Beautiful hiking trails .Wildlife is in abundance here, friendly ducks, fish, and tons birds fling overhead. My boyfriend and I even saw a bald eagle, talk about astonishing! Oregon Ridge offers the best sledding hill when the snow hits... save that for your memory bank =) The main trail allows mountain biking, the rest are steel and rocky best for hiking and/or trail running. We didn't find any bathrooms along the trails (due to isolation) so mentally prepare yourself to pop a squat in the woods! Go hike. Get outdoors. Be active. Live. Enjoy. read more

Oregon Ridge Nature Center - Parks Near Me - Cockeysville, Maryland

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I had no idea that there was a park this gorgeous in Maryland! It isn't too far from home, and the drive there itself was just beautiful! Once inside the park, the views are amazing, and it is HUGE should you want to have events. There is a park for the kiddos, and I also noticed that there is a nature center and a restaurant nearby. There are lots of hiking trails, and events for various holidays. Definitely something to look out for and visit again soon to see what else there is to offer. read more

Turn off Shawan Road and bear right to get to a small interpretive history area or left to get to the office and picnic area. For bathrooms: bear left. We took the right fork and parked in the area closest to the history interpretative area. Looks like you need a guide as things are numbered in this area but we did not have one nor did we see any available so you may want to see if their website has any info. We wandered on the paved path by the old marble quarry, where there is now an archery area, and the ore quarry before finding ourselves on the red trail. The red trail was sandy at this point and eventually we hooked up with the yellow trail which has some seriously steep inclines, and crosses streams, without the assistance of bridges, three times, climbed a steep log staircase and scurried over a fair number of fallen trees. The trail follows a babbling stream for some time and loops around to pick up the red trail again further along. We followed red for a short time and then picked up the lake trail which is wooded, with plenty of roots and a steep dropoff on one side. Our hike was about 4 miles over a varity of terrain and a change of altitude of 418 feet. We are not frequent hikers and this jaunt took us 1 1/2 hours to complete. We did bring water and wished we had brought our snack which was back in the car! The main paths are paved, the red path changes over to sandy, and the yellow became a bit rocky with lots of tree roots and those very steep inclines. We encountered a couple of wood or 'root' stairways along the way as well as a fallen tree bridge. So know your fitness level and choose the correct path. I recommend good hiking shoes, a walking stick, water and a snack for the more strenuous trails. Really a beautiful spot with an education area, playground, lake, and picnic tables with no fee. I highly recommend this place for families to spend an inexpensive day in nature, a nature enthusiast looking for a place to get away and hikers looking for variety. read more

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It's a nice, quiet place. My husband and I went for a few hours on a weekday in early fall. We walked the trails and admired the scenery. Nice place to smoke a blunt and have a walk. read more

I was here for the Great grapes wine and food festival. This is a very large park with ample parking. They have a large stage for entertainment. The view and mountains is so beautiful . They had a Vip tent with a separate very large Porta potty. Clean as well. That's a plus. They had different vendors selling food and you could play games and win a lot of freebies. This time i won a tee shirt spinning the wheel at the Maryland lottery table. Always my first stop. I love spinning the wheels. I need to go on the price is right lol. This is my first hearing of this event. I would definitely recommend and attend Next year's event. We had a ball. :) read more

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I love this park area! It's heaven! So many beautiful trails! Thank you for staying open during covid! It's a Quarenteen savior!!!

Pretty cool. Historical, educational, clean decent trails for joggers, archery and playgrounds. Oh and animals!!! Ducks chickens owls. I came into the entrance listed here and was confused for a little until I started jogging around and found all the trails. I posted the map and there are maps all over the park. read more

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Pretty full parking lots these days, but plenty of well marked trails for a good hike. If just starting out you can just try the short orange trail around the lake for some good views. If you want a longer hike, try the red trail. There are bathrooms at the Nature Center which is really nice too! And while at the NC, go check out the chicken/goose/bunny enclosures too! read more

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Beautiful place. My first time there...loved the nature trail. Well marked and nicely maintained.

This park is an absolute lifesaver. It is a 20 minute minute drive from most places in Baltimore. There are basically two primary entrances. One is the area where the nature center is. The other is where the lodge is. Both have access to hiking trails. I love going up the ski hill to get my blood pumping. Families may prefer to start at the nature center, lots of cool taxidermied animals and a love bee exhibit, plus chickens and rabbits outside. There are a few trails, but the the most sizable one is a four mile loop. One big downside is park events. When there is a event, there are hoards of people. During these times, the park says screw you to hikers and people just coming to enjoy a park, charging event fees. Outside of that, you'll find the park a close oasis from the urban jungles of Baltimore. read more

This 1000+ acre park north of Baltimore is perfect for a summer swim (in an old quarry now filled up with clear water), a fall hike (when the leaves are turning), or a winter walk through the snowy, but well-marked trails that the excellent OR Nature Center maintains. It's a great open space with picnic tables and shelters for renting, just the thing for family reunions, weddings, corporate holiday outings, and the like. Heading to Oregon Ridge by driving up Falls Road and then turning East on Shawan Rd is a nice little road trip for people living in the city, as is the Prettyboy Reservoir further north. More adventurous types who like winding country roads can turn off earlier on Ivy Hill Road and then turn left on Beaver Dam Road, as well (this was our preferred route). Shorty's Pit Beef and Rib Shack (if it is still open) is a nice place to stop along the way to grab some grub to add to your picnic supplies. In general, Baltimore County has lots of little sideroads and quiet forest trails like the ones you find here at Oregon Ridge. Fresh air, cool breezes, fallen leaves, and a few good traveling companions to share the trails with you. What more do you need for a great afternoon outing? read more

My company had their annual crab feast here. In years past it has been great, unfortunately they are under new management this year and the experience was horrible. At 6:30 PM a staff member not only cut off the electricity to our pavilion but he locked up all of the restrooms without notification. So not only could we not use the facilities but we couldn't even wash our hands after we had finished eating. This was all done in an effort to kick us out early UNDER THE INSTRUCTION OF HIS MANAGER!! The park closes at dark and it was 6:30 PM in August. If you are looking to host any kind of party or event here, PROCEED WITH CAUTION. At least until the current management is fired. The level of service was beyond rude. read more

What a beautiful park, just moved to PA, but love visiting ... beautiful birds chirp chirp

Living in DC, this park is very out of the way for us... but we found ourselves there this past weekend for my husband's work picnic. I have so many great things to say about this park!! It's kind of in the middle of nowhere, but it' huge, and it's gorgeous! It's very well-kept - we noticed that their staff came several times to check out trash cans. It was very clean also - the picnic tables were in tip top shape, and the grills were spotless! I was really impressed. They have several covered and uncovered spots. I don't know how to reserve them, or if there's a fee - but it was definitely worth it if there was. They also have places for volleyball, indoor seating, clean bathrooms, and a huge playground for kids... and that was just one side! We didn't get a chance to really venture out. If you're in the area, or you need the space, Oregon Ridge Park comes highly recommended. read more

This is a nice park! It has a nice play area for kids. It has plenty of land for hiking. It's a very nice place to walk your dog! During the summer months, there is a beach area that people can swim in. There are platforms that people can swim to but the water is deep between the platforms so you do need to know how to swim. There is a bathhouse that you can change in and I believe shower in. There is a fee to swim at the beach area. There is a pavillion with grills on the beach side that people can rent for group gatherings. There are other pavillions on the property as well that can be rented. My company has held an off-site division meeting in September at Oregon Ridge Park the past 2 years. It is a day that everyone looks forward to. Other than the food, volleyball is a big hit! I am not sure if the volleyball net stays up all year or if it is set up because we ask for it but regardless, they do offer a volleyball net and volleyball. About 100 feet away from the pavillions is a horshoe pit. The park offers horseshoes as well! It's nice that we don't have to bring the equipment. There are grills at the pavillion that we take advantage of! For our first year using the pavillion, it was hot outside still and we had an issue with stink bugs but this year, it was cooler and rained a little during our outing so we didn't have an issue with stink bugs. The park offers different events throughout the year. More recently, they had Cane pole fishing which I took my son to. They offered the cane poles, hooks, and line for children to use and offered bait as well. The cost was $3 per person. Fishing took place in the quarry where swimming normally occurs. read more

I took my two children to swim here a few years ago. It was fairly crowded, but we had plenty of room to swim. As a matter of fact, we had the whole pool. We swam for a while and got out. The pool filled with people again. Shortly we entered the pool which quickly emptied again. I didn't catch on for a while. But when I did, I just went along with the ignorance. We were the only Black people there. The rest were white. Fortunately my daughters didn't notice. I will never come here again. read more

It has a nature center, theres a couple times to visit this place, Ive always wanted to go in october for there honey, that they make locally, which you can see the bees buzzing and working in the free nature center. FIREWORKS!!! go when the baltimore symphony orchestra plays, with the best fireworks show Ive ever seen (and Ive seen a lot of fireworks over the years) they arent the ones that shoot high up in the sky, but they are so much more interesting, this happens in the summer, well worth I think $20? Bring some wine and a blanket Also on the end they have the building and playground go to the far right and walk along the trees, and valley, you'll come to a work station, I found it very informative, if you plan on a long walk, hit this up first for some instruction on warm up Not to mention they have a swimming hole that has sand like a beach, I've never gone when it was open, but I hope it never gets crowded cus it has very limited beach area read more

We have taken it upon ourselves to see every state park in driving distance this summer. Not sure how well this go, as there are only so many weekends to do it. Anyways, we wandered up 83 to Oregon Ridge, and although I had been for concerts, I hate to admit we never hiked there. We started off in the general direction of the swimming area and kinda walked on trails (and off trails to explore). I am sure we are not in tip top shape, but we found ourselves huffing and puffing up some of the trails, which was actually a nice change from when we go to other parks with much easier trails. Least favorite part of the park is that in certain parts of the trails, you can still hear the traffic from Shawan road. It's like a snap back to reality, that you're not too far from civilization. Needless to say, we will be back. read more

This park is beautiful, clean and provides some nice opportunities for learning. In addition to being easy to find, it's spacious and safe. My daughters had a blast playing in the park area; lots to climb on, room to run, etc. The feel of the area itself is very safe; no shifty types hanging around, just families and kids having a good time. The nature center is a nice little spot for the kids to learn some history. I went recently for the annual Honey Festival, which I also completely recommend. read more

6/1/14 I never realized how close this beautiful park/ridge was from me. The drive to the park is about 20 minutes from Reisterstown and the back road drive is so beautiful and scenic. There is a parking lot but for festivals they allow parking on the grass. The grounds are neatly kept and the staff working were very friendly. There is a nice playground area for kids to have some fun, with benches for parents to watch on. The stage is nice and the sound system is great for those performing bands. There is an abundance of land for vendors to put up tents for events. I will definitely be visiting this area for a nice picnic or next event that they have at Oregon Ridge. read more

Although I really liked the park itself (it has a dinner theater, which is really cool), I came for the 4th of July fireworks. The orchestra was nice and great, but the fireworks were so subpar. And they fired off really late, so not so good for small kids. And the line to get in is nuts. You can sit outside of the stage area for free ($20 per person if you want to sit in the viewing of the orchestra area) - hear the music and see the fireworks for free. You can only do concessions if you have a ticket, which is weird. read more

Beautiful playground equipment in the park, but to our shock and dismay, there were only port-a-potties available for public use, and they were in abhorrent condition. There is also no running water. This park is supposed to be family friendly, and our entire group was so disappointed in the level of care this area of the park is receiving. read more

I've been to Oregon Ridge numerous times. Times have ranged from early morning, afternoon, early evening, weekends and holidays. THE GOOD... -lots of different trails to hike -park is clean -lots of ruins from old town from 1800's and early 1900's -leashed dogs are welcomed -viewing area with chickens, hens, geese and a turkey -fall is the most beautiful time to come here -several streams -occasionally see wildlife such as deer, chipmunks and turtles -log benches randomly placed on the trails -old ski slopes which are nice to look down, snap pics, especially in the winter -free entry and open practically all day until the sun goes down -lots of parking THE BAD... -wish more of the ruins had more detailed info about the former town and people -some of the streams along certain trails get be high...would be nice to have a small bridge to walk across...you gotta walk on the rocks, but even then shoes can get wet -no real enforcement for people who don't have their dogs on a leash read more

Great park, lacks good scenic views. The trails are dirt and pretty steep(poles are good idea). The lake is a great place to swim after a day of hiking and it has showers. Good nature exhibits. Not too crowded; the most I've ever seen was 30 people on a perfect day. read more

Oregon Ridge Nature Center - Go around the st.James trail - Parks Near Me - Cockeysville, Maryland