Updated review. I…read moreabsolutely love Piney Orchard Nature Trail! It's my go-to jogging destination because of how peaceful and serene it is. On any given day, you can spot a wide variety of bird species, which adds to the tranquility of the surroundings. The trails through the woods are well-maintained and offer a wonderful escape into nature. I especially enjoy the paths that lead to the fresh water ponds, where you can admire the beauty of the area while getting some exercise. If you're looking for a relaxing and scenic place to jog or simply unwind, Piney Orchard Nature Trail is the perfect spot!

This is such a sweet little enclave of trees and flowers and birds and people walking dogs and…read morecrackling leaves. I've been here to walk 4-5 times, in different seasons, and each has its charm. In the spring, you will see myriad flowers in bloom, hear the lovely song of little streams and birds trilling. Winter is very different, with frosty pine cones and leaves to photograph, and everything so still. Fall is lovely! I saw two does with their mostly grown fawns, and encountered a baby rattlesnake! That surprised me greatly as I've never seen or heard of them around here. I confess that fall is my favorite season; I love the bluest skies and the aroma of leaves. I prefer not walking on asphalt too much, so as soon as I can (where the duck loop cuts off and so does the vernal trail) I cut down to the sand/dirt path along the water. Both trails, asphalt and dirt, eventually end up at a sort of trail end. The other day when I was here, since there was no water in the stream, I crossed over to see if I could go any farther - ermmm not really. There are numerous access points from the neighborhood that borders the preserve, so lots of folks seem to walk their dogs close to home. The water was extremely low since we've had very little rain; I was surprised at how far the mud banks extended into the lake. There are NO services whatsoever! Go potty before you get out to walk!

Hidden park and bike trail back off of race track road. When we pulled up we weren't sure it was…read morethe right place, but we trusted the process and took the walk back towards the building. The park is beautiful and has a pavilion to chill. Nobody was there the whole time we were at the park, so my daughter got the run of things. The playground is very nice, and the highlight is a decent size Zipline. There's a small skateboard area, and some ride on obstacles for bikes. Plenty of parking but there is a short walk from there to the park. It's the perfect place to spend a lazy day, and just a cool little park overall...

Clean equipment and a great atmosphere. The grounds were being cut and kept while we were out there.read more

My boyfriend and I enjoy heading to Gorc Park when we want to take our workouts outside. There's…read moreton of multi-purpose fields and open space to do whatever you want if there isn't a game going on. We've run sprints and suicides, jogs around the field and other general HIIT workouts. There's an extra added challenge because part of Gorc sits on a hill. There's a playgrounds nearby if you wanted to use the monkey bars for calinsthetics. Docking a star because, as someone without kids, it seems like there are games or practices going on there practically all the time, so we haven't really gotten to enjoy it as often as we'd like. Parking is plenty, with overflow into the street. Get outdoors during this time if you (safely) can!

Great park nestled in between 97 and Crofton. I never knew it was there but it offers great trails…read morewith lots of incline. It's a bit small but great for being right in the middle of everything

September is a great time of year to visit Bacon Ridge. The trails are well marked. Had a fun walk…read moreenjoying the park and the nature it provides.

Clean and quiet pond perfect for a post-dinner walk. Dog and kid friendly. -1 star because there is…read morea considerable amount of bird (maybe goose?) poop on the path and no shortage of gnats in the air along the loop.

Nice park in Ellicott City near Columbia mall. I love how expansive the park is with its long,…read morediverse paths. The park has different amenities such as tennis and basketball courts and picnic areas. There is an area to launch boats providing the park a nice waterfront edge to it. The park is peaceful and beautiful to take families. I took my mother here for Mother's Day and it was a peaceful and awesome experience to say the least. There is a ton of path to explore and the tree coverage is excellent in areas throughout the park that can help with the warmer and hotter seasons. A park that is too open with no tree coverage is beyond miserable even during warm but not too hot days. This is a nice outing to go to near Columbia mall. Columbia mall has its own park across it named Lake Kittamaqundi which is pretty, scenic, and nice, but this park is much bigger and tucked away from the mall area and Merriweather Post Pavillion.

Bring your gear and your map and pick a trail and start to explore. I've got this thing about parks…read moreand I'm determined to see all of the local parks so finally I can check this one off the list. I literally saw only one person but that's what you want when your on a personal excursion. I still have one trail I need to explore but it was flooded due to the rain we just had. If you are a fisherman, there's plenty of water but unfortunately I didn't catch a thing but that's ok, the views more than made up for it. The gates were locked so I had to hike everywhere....I didn't get to see the kayak launch but don't worry, I will get there next time. Bring a chair, and some patience...and maybe don't come on a day after the rain lol

Beautiful trails. Only wish people wouldn't litter. The…read morewalk with the kids was fun and educational.

Hate it if you want, but I consider this park a gem! In part because it's often empty, so please…read morefeel free to stay away ;) I have an older dog who struggles to walk very far at all, but she loves to smell and hunt in the woods and brush. Patuxent Ponds Park had all of that in a little trail in a little park that was just the perfect tiny package for my darling pup. There are benches around a pond and it has pretty scenery... not sure what more you're looking for to relax in a park but I was definitely happy. Still, in the summer, the pond is just a bunch of still water and I imagine it is a mosquito and tick (if that's also a Maryland thing?) haven. But for winter and fall it is great. The path winds around to another part of the pond, the only bummer is it doesn't circle fully so you have to turn back around. Still, very pretty and calm. If I had to really come up with a complaint, it's that there is no garbage can. Had to bring both of my dogs' poop bags in the car with me and drive it up the road to the walking trail to get a garbage. Either way, I'll be back.

Nutshell - a great little park with a real bathroom (bathroom is closed in the colder months),…read moreplaygrounds, and sports fields. Playgrounds: There are so many fun little parks and playgrounds around Bowie! This one has two age-appropriate playgrounds, so even if you've got toddlers and elementary schoolers you're good to go. Sport stuff: There's a blacktop basketball court right behind the playgrounds, and a ballfield behind that. It has a backstop, but I couldn't see a dirt diamond. Across the parking lot is a a football/soccer field with uprights that could double as a soccer goal. Other facilities: Hallelujah, an actual bathroom. BUT, it's closed during the late fall and winter, evidently. There's also a covered picnic area with a big open grassy area behind it.

This is a phenomenal dog park all the way at the end of the road. They have a small dog section,…read moreseparate from the large dog section. Most patrons are friendly and respectful of dog park etiquette. I have never encountered a reckless owner or aggressive dog. There are benches and chairs and lots of trees that provide shade from the sun. There is a concrete pad with dog bowls and kiddie pools. There is a water hose that you can use to replenish the water bowls and pools. The grass and dirt areas are maintained well. I really like this park!

This is my pups favorite dog park! There's lots of space, like it's massive!, and almost always a…read moregood amount of dogs for him to play with! The hose and small pool let's dogs cool off on hot days as well as shaded, grassy areas. I've seen nothing but respectful owners who are diligent about cleaning up their dogs waste and supervising their fur babies. On hot or dry days it can be a little dusty and if the hose and pool is full it can get a little muddy, so maybe bring a brush or towel if you don't want your seats dirty but I highly recommend it! Also it's usually best to wear shoes or pants that aren't your favorite as some dogs jump up to say hi with wet and dirty paws lol They even have a rack for you to hang your leash and things which is nice to be able to be hands free. It's a bit of a drive for us but with how exhausted he is when we go home it's so worth it!

This small community park has a playground, tennis courts and circular walking path. You'll rarely…read morefind it crowded, so it is a good spot to stop with young children & slide down the slides a few times or to take a walk once around the loop. I suppose tennis fans might appreciate the courts (generally open although sometimes I've seen groups in there). Other county parks offer larger playgrounds and longer, more interesting walking paths (Quiet Waters, for instance) but for a local park this has its place.