Easy parking for trail access (closes at dusk, but no gate and it's lit up). There's also access…read morefrom a few other spots. This is a 1-2 mile drive from Savage Mill. Trails are very well maintained and marked - almost too well (less of a wild feel). Only the very start is paved, don't despair, it gets more interesting. Decent circuit trail routes, can be added together for more mileage. I did a variation following the water which made my completed route 3.14 miles. Various bits of history tucked away in the young woodland- read up about the quarries and railroads if you're into local history. That's what those massive granite abutments (with no bridge to match) are all about. Lots of riverbank access. Decent number of toads on and near the trail at dusk. Road noise from I-95 on the western side but overall surprisingly peaceful escape from suburbia. This sort of open space is a major perk of living in Maryland.

Great trail for a peaceful, fairly easy hike. I did the red trail, and a good portion of it runs…read morealong the river which is nice. The red trail is very well marked and loops back to the small parking lot at the trailhead. Portions of the trail are a bit rocky, and there's also a bit of elevation, but overall it wasn't really strenuous at all. I'd go back and follow a few different trails next time !

Columbia is known for all the nature trails, lakes, villages etc. This particular trail is my "to…read morego" since it's very close in proximity. I usually do my walks, bike rides with my dad and daughter, jogs and you might see me with a jumprope. Just a good trail for some fresh air and to get my steps in! It can be a bit crowded at time but the people do practice social distancing / wear mask.

This is one of our favorite trails to go one for sure. I think the greatest thing about living in…read moreHoward Co. is all the different trails available. I have walked this trail both ways and up to the Wincopin Trails and Its always enjoyable. It is heavily trafficked if you go the bike path way, I recommend going towards Wincopin Trails if you rather be more secluded.

Amazing hiking trails! Trails are pretty accessible for all levels…read more The trail maps need updating as there are some new trails.

It's closed for months to repair a sewage siphon in spring, which is ridiculous. There's a sewage…read morepipe that empties into the waterfall area, but people don't seem to care and they swim, even though you can smell the sewage. The whole place and even the forest is littered with hard lemonade and beer bottles, babies diapers, dog poop and all kinds of food wrappers.

A very easy-access section of the Patapsco Valley State Park- you can drive right into the middle…read more I'd rank it as perfect for introducing people to a "natural" state park without the distractions of overly developed amenities. Great trails, enough elevation change for solid workouts, some sections with lovely old trees. There's a long stretch of a beautiful stream (Saw Mill Branch) and some areas that give you that lovely isolated feeling of being in the woods. There's campgrounds (way better than "backyard camping") and driving in from the gate on Hilton Ave puts you in a good spot to immediately start hiking. There's also trails leading in from a number of the surrounding neighborhoods. The paved path by the river is pedestrian and disabled friendly. A historic rail route runs parallel to the river and train spotters can get some unique views as well as see the famous Ilchester Tunnel. PVSP is one of my favorite things about living in central MD, and each section has some unique things. Explore them all - but this (Hilton) area is particularly accessible for beginners who want the full experience.

This is one of my favorite places to visit when I'm in Maryland. I had a marvelous hike there on my…read morelast trip by Cascade Falls. It was beautiful! The waterfall isn't that big but it was still enjoyable to see. There are some rough spots to navigate if you're expecting an easy hike. But overall, it is definitely worth the trip!

Nice park with a playground, lots of sports, trails, fishing, facilities, shade, and lots of…read moreparking. We liked this 270-acre park tucked away in Savage MD. We spend a bunch of time on the nice little playground for a range of ages, with climbers, swings, slides, benches, and picnic tables. It had plenty of nearby shade. There were facilities near the playground. This park is centered among miles of hiking trails. From one or another of the baseball diamonds you can access the Putuxent Branch Trail and the River Trail along the Little Patuxent. Crossing the river on a little wooden foot-bridge, you have the Wincopin Trails and the Savage Mill Trail. We have to come back and try out the trout-fishing in the river! We didnt visit them all, but they say they have 2 basketball courts, 5 baseball/softball fields that say permits-required, 2 sand volleyball courts, 4 tennis courts, plus a large open field that can be used for other sports, games, and events. There's a rentable pavilion. We didnt see the fire-ring or horseshoe pit. This time that we went there, (Jun 2026), they had a well-attended little league tournament going on. That made parking tighter than usual, but many seemed to be attending specific games, so spots came open pretty often. They also had at least four different food trucks! We tasted them all! Quite a nice park that seems small until you start exploring everything it has to offer!

Clean, safe, great walking trails. Fabulous park to spend the day in the spring and summer!read more

Parking is a bit slim. Dont park in the grass. Automatic $50 ticket…read more Overall great place to bring family. Very shallow and calm water since it's Bayside. Beach is roomy. Nice view of the Bay Bridge.

Visited on a Sunday, nice parking area with modern restrooms that were open. Plenty of maintained…read moretrails with different views of the water, woods, marsh areas. Only really issue was trail signage, did not have a map (should have took a picture at entrance) so trail signage was not the greatist. The Map Legend at entrance did not have a legend that we saw so distance was a guess. Overall, nice park, be back in the Summer.

We spent our Fourth of July at Terrapin and it was absolutely wonderful! From being welcomed at the…read moredesk (I am so sorry I can't remember his name!), to our awesome guides Justin and Jasmine, to Scott who helped at the swing and doing the belay to get us down - we truly enjoyed the whole experience (despite the unbearable heat this weekend). Justin and Jasmine made sure we stayed hydrated, and regularly brought us into the air conditioning to avoid overheating. They ensured our safety every moment we were there. The rope course was insanely fun, the giant swing and zip line were a blast and our favorite part was honestly the rock climbing! Justin and Jasmine were fantastic - we will definitely come back (preferably not during a heat wave haha) and hope they will be our guides again - every single person today made it memorable for my family! Thank you so much!!!

We have enjoyed this camp for years, but 2026 brought parental concerns over hearing that children…read moregrouped up to 12 years old were sharing bathrooms if another identified as the opposite sex. This should be an opportunity to identify a solution comfortable for everyone affected by providing single use options, as opposed to telling my daughter "it's ok because he identifies as a she". It caused an uncomfortable situation for girls and concerns for parents. No young girl should feel uncomfortable or anxious using the restroom.

Patapsco State Park is a huge, beautiful plot of land accessible from multiple areas of MD…read more For only $2 car, collected in an unattended Honor Box, you get access to acres and acres of nature's finest greenery scattered among hills and rocks and boulders to hike through trails of trees, streams, waterfalls, and more. Because of the tall trees, you get plenty of shade while walking through the woods. I take my young children who can effortlessly conquer 3 miles of the trail without hesitation. It's an awesome nature experience hearing the birds chirp & insects buzz, seeing the small schools of fish being carried down the stream, the crawling creatures perfectly positioned for nature enthusiasts capturing photos. The park entry also allows you to use the open grass areas to picnic or grab a grill. The water is practically a beach area as I've seen multiple families lined up on both sides of the bridge enjoying the cool water. As well as my children and I. There's plenty of parking. The bridge is a highlight boasting wonderful opportunities for pictures with beautiful natural lighting. There's also some train tracks on the other side of the bridge perfect for photo ops but BEWARE! it is a functional and operating train track! My family and I can't get enough of this park. Definitely experience it for yourself.

There's a resident Bald Eagle in the park now and I've seen him five times this spring. Saw him…read moreflying upstream with a fish in his talons today. Woodpeckers, blue jays, and nuthatches were there today.

Ned to go somewhere serene?! If so this is your place!! There was dogs and people enjoying the…read morewaterfall. Amazing location for a picnic as well. There are several large rocks that you can sit down and enjoy the views. A great spot to get photos as well. Make sure you bring proper shoes as you will be in the element and it will get slippery and wet out there. I will definitely be back when it's warmer to enjoy the warm water!

Great hike for all ages and most abilities. I went hiking with my brother and his family and they…read morehave 4 kids ages 3-9. There is a Porta Potty at the beginning of the trail in the parking lot. The trail is well maintained. The are parts where the elevation is a little steep and long. If you have lunch issues then the elevated parts may be an issue. There is one part where you have to cross the river that requires some balance and walking across stones or through the water, whichever you prefer. The trail has tree roots on it in several parts, so watch your ankles so you don't roll them. There are benches along the way to sit rest on and there are benches at the end of the trail overlooking the falls. The falls has a little pool below it that is fun for the kids who like to wade in it. There are large flat stone spaces where you can sit and observe the falls.

We've never actually been inside the center, but my kids absolutely love the mud kitchen and music…read moregarden, so we find ourselves frequenting the free outdoor grounds pretty often. It's such a fun little spot tucked away, and I love that we can easily pair some playtime with a quick lap around the nature path. The area is nicely shaded, which makes it a great option even when the weather is warmer. And I have to mention the tube slide, I love it just as much as the kids do! It's become one of our favorite little places to stop for some free outdoor fun.

I came here for a kid's birthday party and the children had quite a time! This party was astronaut…read morethemed so the instructor brought in a building set that would allow the kids to build spaceships. After building spaceships we were taken to the planetarium so the kids could travel to space. The kids loved seeing the different stars and planets. I enjoyed the show myself as well. It's been quite some time since I've been to a planetarium. After the initial show the kids ate pizza and cake and then returned to the planetarium. The second time in the planetarium they watched a movie about the stars and evolution. It looks like there's so much to see and do here, I'll definitely have to return to experience some of the other things they have to offer. However, I can definitely recommend having a kids party here. I would say ideally for someone in kindergarten and older.