Howard County MD

silenthunterstudios

silenthunterstudios

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I can't take off on my birthday this year, but I am planning a small local trip the next day, a Saturday. I am going to a powwow not far from Baltimore, at the Howard County Fairgrounds, and then I'm going to Bass Pro Shops at Arundel Mills, a huge mall. After that, I might be heading out to Edgeworks in Frederick MD.

In between, I'd like to do some light hiking. I'm not as familiar with Howard and Frederick counties in MD as I'd like to be. I know that there are some small parks along the Liberty Reservoir in Howard County.

Thanks.
 
In Frederick County, Cunningham Falls State park isn't bad, cool water fall on the trails. Can get a little crowded in the summer but worth doing.
 
After you leave Arundel Mills Mall, follow any signage that points you to Route 100 West and if you miss that, that's OK, just follow the signage that points you towards 295 North and as soon as you get on 295N you will be able to grab Route 100W.

You will be on Route 100W for just a couple/few miles until you see the upcoming exits for Route 1 North. Which is also called Washington Blvd. around here and you will take that North towards Elkridge. You will go a mile or two North on Route 1 and you will see a sign, not a big one but they are there, on your left for Patapsco Valley State Park.

This is right over the line into Baltimore County but don't let that stop you. Check out the page and look at the Avalon and Orange Areas, there is more accessible through that entrance I gave you directions to as well.
 
If you go out route 29 to 70 and then take the Marriotsville road exit. Go to the right and follow it to Railroad Tracks. You will see parking on your left just over the tracks. There is the Patapsco there that I fish alot. If you follow the river downstream there are trails to hike and thats just another part of the state park. It has a nice waterfall there and plenty of trails.

Latley I have been driving out to Frederick or Harpers Ferry to do hiking myself. Its a bit more of a drive but its great on a saturday to get up in the hills. I ride the motorcycle out there and bring along my Falcon or Pygmy falcon and attach the helmet to the pack and just go.
 
That's a bit of a haul if he wants to stay a bit more towards the Arundel Mills Mall side of the area.
 
Don Rearic said:
That's a bit of a haul if he wants to stay a bit more towards the Arundel Mills Mall side of the area.
Click to expand...

Well he mentioned perhaps going to Edgeworks (great little store) in Frederick. If he goes out 100 to 29 which he can get from the mall and then hit 70 he can get to Marriotsville without issue. All depends on what he wants to do first and so on.

But if he makes it out to Frederick he's got more options IMO. Cunningham Falls was mentioned and is nice. I also like Catoctin State Park. Has alot of trails.

Don Keeping in line with Patapsco, the Daniels area also has trails along the Patapsco River, Its got alot of different ways to get to (Patapso State Park) with a good amount of trails.
 
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i would recommend visiting patuxent wildlife refuge if your gonna be around here. not too far from arundel mills. plenty of hikes, wildlife, observation for said wildlife.
i was just there during the weekend camping with my troop. its not very far at all. rightnow they have some decent sales on fishing gear now.

be sure to check out the timberland factory store its like across from bestbuy.

heres the website for patuxent: http://www.fws.gov/northeast/patuxent/
 
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I've done most of my backpacking in the Canaan Valey and most of my back contry camping in the Shenandoah Valley. But one place I'd really like to explore is Savage State Park. It seems to have everything including some old wood forest I'd love to see.

For day hikes, there are a few railroad hikes (a real nice one I think starts in Parkton up 83) that are nice, the C&O Canal is nice and easy to get to, and Origan Ridge in Hunt Valey is nice.

I think you can google mddnr and see a lot of state park choices.

Have fun!
 
I've done the trail up in Parkton, all the way up to York (in sections). I also hiked Oregon Ridge, really gorgeous view of Hunt Valley from the top of that hill, but my fat ass almost died going up. That hill felt like a vertical wall.
 
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