Always a great place to walk or watch the birds in the lake. Nice place to park if you work or live…read morenearby to do some thinking. This is on a military facility. I love quiet time. Unless there's a cookout going on this is a very peaceful place to just unwind. Or bring the kids to play at the playground. You can also walk your dog. Just make sure he is on a leash.

I live on Fort Meade (2nd time). The previous reviews are accurate for their time. When I first…read morelived here, 2000-2003, Burba was really nice, well maintained, the water quality was good and there were enough little bluegill/sunfish to make a kid tired of catching them. This is no longer a "good" fishing spot, and not the overall family recreation area that it could be. This not just an old guy "get off my lawn" observation [okay its a little bit of that]. For many complex reasons the resource is no longer in good shape. There are far too many year round Canada Geese (nutirent load/water quality aspects), the shoreline is not regualrly groomed/maintained. The asphalt path that rings the lake is also in rough shape. It looks nice from a distance, and the playgrounds are still usable. But Burba Lake is a shadow of its former self right now. I understand the realities of the resources to restore it - but I do wish there was a way to do so. If there were a magic wand: -greatly reduce geese -restore water flow into lake (feeder streams in terrible shape) -maintain bank vegetation -restore native water plants -manage algae blooms -drop in structure for fish habitat -stock a variety of native fish species (I've only seen sunfish/turtles)

Very scenic and relaxing trail! This was my first time. I can't believe I had never been here. It…read morecertainly won't be my last. I met up with a group this morning for a walk! I parked nearby on the street and we began our walk. I loved that it's shaded so the walk wasn't bad. There were a few walking with dogs and children. I definitely recommend coming here! There's nearby food and shopping options.

I absolutely love this trail. My dogs and I enjoy hiking here. They enjoy the water break at the…read moreend of the lake. They jump into the river all of the time. My son saw his first deer here (he's a Florida native).

Only recently discovered this park so I wanted to share…read more I love living in this area. There's so many outdoor spots that you can try a new one just about every week if you wanted. Located in Laurel off main street, this park is parallel to the Patuxent River. They have some walking trails with a scenic option to enjoy the outdoors. There's a parking lot available. There's also a playground. Add this park to your list!

Out and back trail along the river with a playground , and plenty of benches along the way to sit…read moreand enjoy the nature. There's a small parking lot, and I believe I saw a single restroom stall. There's also a map of a 5k route that takes you out of the park and back.

A county-managed natural preserve right in the middle of the county. It's over 1000 acres and has…read moreseveral miles of trails. The official parking location right off Trotter Road looks more like a national park facility than one of our humble county ones- lots of spaces, landscaping, informational signage, and bathrooms. There's an educational nature trail (grab the brochure on your way onto the trail), a good place to bring a family you're teaching to love the natural world. Lots of lovely old poplar trees. The north end of the park has "deep woods" vibes since unlike other local parks, there's no mountain bikers, no horses, no picnicers, and the river is a good walk away. Plus a large buffer zone extended north from there. Until a jet on final approach to BWI roars overhead to break the spell. There's riverfront access along the Connector trail. Respect the signage regarding closed areas. Most of the trails seemed suitable for runners. Note the trails around the Meadow on the map is mowed into the fields, which makes for a different experience underfoot (not my favorite personally). The parking lot is gated with signage saying it closes at sunset. However, the gate is powered and gave the impression it's the kind that won't lock you in- but best to check with the county to verify that. The trails here weren't my favorite (PVSP trails are more interesting to hike), but having such a substantial greenspace and nature preserve right in the middle of the county is great, and having it quiet and natural is even better. We in central Maryland are lucky to have so many of these kinds of spots.

My bf and I LOVE hiking here. The trails are mostly fairly easy/moderate and there are several…read morepaths you can take. As with most hiking places, be careful after it rains since it can get very muddy in some places. I also really appreciate that right next to the parking lot are clean bathrooms with running water and water fountains. The trails are fairly well marked and there are also maps available. There were also pamphlets of a list of all the different species of birds that live in area which was a pleasant surprise! My favorite part is the meadow area with really tall grass. But there were a couple of bird houses and once we saw many swallows (I think?) flying in the area and perching on the bird houses. Parts of the trail also go alongside the stream (I think the middle Patuxent river) and it's a very serene area and walk. We have already came here to hike a handful of times and plan to come back in the near future for more relaxing hikes!

This is a decent size park! You can rent a canoe, row boat or a motored one but those go very quick…read moreas there are not many! We saw a few people kayaking there. The lake is pretty huge for you to go around. It was well kept when we went during the fall! Such a pretty view and place to get away from the hustle and bustle of life if needed. Can go fising here and they give life vests for when you rent a boat if you dont have your own. But no littles under 3 can ride on their boats if you rent. Cant wait to go back when it is warmer.

A beautiful park my old church has been coming to for summer picnics for years! $12 admission for…read moreout of county residents, free for seniors. They only take card. You can reserve pavilions and they come by and help with trash. There is a dock where you can rent canoes, kayaks, paddle boats & row boats. Paddle boats are $30 an hour, the other ones are $17 I believe. Beautiful tucked away location. So soothing to sit near the water. I recommend letting a senior drive so you can get in free, or drive with a Carroll county resident.

The Trolley Trail is one of my favorite local hiking and/or walking trails. I mentioned both hiking…read moreand walking because you can go off the walking path and into deeper forest trails. There are also a few streams that are not roped off and you can go off the walking path down to the water. This trail has a lot of wildlife, including snakes, bunnies, ducks and deer, therefore, it is best that you keep your pets on a leash. There is one spot of the trail that is underneath a bridge and a lot of the dogs and cats get spooked due to the loud shaking noises. I frequent this trail a lot with my cat, Rune and we have never had an issue. It is very quiet and most of the people coming and going are incredibly respectful. The trail is easy to get to, and there is a lot of free parking, especially if you come early! At the beginning of the trail there is a café which is the perfect spot to grab a coffee, tea or a breakfast sandwich to enjoy on your walk!

This is my favorite trail in Ellicott City. It's fairly easy, not too long and, surrounded by…read morebeauty. It's close to where I live so I often come here for a quick jog or hike. The difficulty level is very low; the trail is wide and most of it is paved. It's about three miles and there are markers every 1/2 mile. The view along the trail is absolutely beautiful during, it doesn't matter what time of the year you go. There's a stream which you easily can go down to. As for parking, there's a huge parking lot right at the start of the trail and since this trail isn't busy, it stays pretty empty. If you don't want a difficult hike and just want a relaxing walk, this is a great trail for that. Plus, it's great for kids and pets.

Very nice and overall pretty clean state park. Maryland residents pay a fee of $3 per person and…read moreout of state is $5 per person. Plenty of parking but it's a slight walk away from the trails. There's a decent number of people playing recreational soccer, grilling and just enjoying the weather. A complaint I would say is that there aren't any trash cans available at all. I feel like having one by the main entrance is the least they could do. My boyfriend and I brought our dogs on to the rapids trail and they enjoyed the water. Would like to go back again.

It was hot! Really hot! But the shade was a Godsend! Had some trouble locating the trailhead...but…read moreonce there is was a nice stroll with my wife and Grandson. Difficult to get the stroller up the hill at first but after that....smooth-sailing! A good respite/hike when in Ellicott for the day!

This little suburban oasis is squeezed between several roadways, but it's a remarkably versatile…read morebit of open space. There's an athletic complex, several ball fields, two picnic pavilions, a large soccer field, basketball and tennis courts. Howard County parks & rec didn't fall into the trap of an overpaved "activities-only" park. Because there's also an extensive area of small ponds & wetlands with a restored streambed, some nature signage, and a surprising amount of native wildlife for such a modest park (including a few beavers!). My favorite is that you can get in a decent 2+ mile walk around the outside perimeter (all well-paved). It's also easy to walk into the park from the surrounding neighborhoods, or the adjacent park-and-ride lot. It's not the kind of park that's gonna have me coming from a distance, but for my neighborhood park, it's a gem.