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!

My friend and I really enjoyed coming here for a good afternoon hike. The signs were clear and the…read morehike with the waterfall was really nice. There were restrooms by the parking lot and the park wasn't too crowded. We had a great time exploring this part of Patapsco!

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.

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.

This trail inside Papatsco Valley State Park is a little over a mile long. The trail loops through…read morebeautiful trees, hills, and a stream. During early fall season, fall foliage is magnificent. The trail is marked by blue paint on trunks of trees. Difficult level of this trail is easy. Definitely will return to do more exploration in the future.

Trail is well maintained and clearly marked. Perfect loop setup for easy navigation. Great moderate…read morelevel trail (some elevation change, rocky areas, but no actual climbing needed), perfect for most active adults, older kids, and relatively fit, leashed dogs. We found this was one of the lesser-used trails, so it was safe for maskless adventuring.

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!

The PG side is now connected to the Anne Arundel side!!! It's been a long time coming, but the full…read moretrail is finally open. The full length from Odenton to Lanham is 13 mi. That new section is really nice. They've even repaired some of the small bridges to refresh the trail. Also, they have added bike repair stations at a few intersections along the trail. Which include a bike pump to put air in your tires and some tools that are chained to a pole. That's pretty cool!! If you'd like to extend your ride you can continue on down Odenton road for a few more miles. Check it out!

I am trying to focus on the positives during this covid-19 pandemic. One of the perks has been…read morebeing able to spend more time outdoors, all in the name of social distancing. The W B & A Trail is a nine-mile stretch that runs through Odenton (Anne Arundel. Situated in the family-friendly and super walkable Piney Orchard neighbhorhood, it is easy to access and open for all to enjoy. I've ran, walked and biked down the trails and have gotten a good workout in every time. You also get to enjoy the scenary as you pass by several bodies of water and bridges. It's pretty flat, so good for all levels of fitness. Be careful because the trail is divided up by road way. Get out there and get some fresh air and just breathe.

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!

Playground was recently renovated. So much fun for the kids. Things were available for all the age…read moreranges and abilities. Also plenty of seating for the adults to relax on a nice sunny day! I highly recommend taking the kids and checking it out!

This is a great park for dog walking, sports activities and family hangouts. It is a vast park…read moredivided into two sections. One area is dedicated to wooded trails and flying disc activities, while the other features sports courts and extended trails. Walking along the snow-covered trails offered a unique, serene experience, with the peacefulness of the setting enhanced by sunlight gently filtering through the woods. There are parking areas located at various part of the park, convenient.