Love coming here and doing walks, plus the scenery is great - huge lake. On my recent visit I went…read morewalking with a friend - off the beaten path. Also, took a short visit through the Discovery Center (my first time inside) - will have to check it out another time. I'm already looking forward to my next visit to this park as it is one of my favorites in the county. Visited November 2024

This is a wonderful park! The lake is beautiful and there are plenty of walking paths (and parking)…read moreall around...not to mention a plethora of benches, gazebos, outlooks, observation areas, picnic shelters...and even restrooms that are open outside of the nature/discovery center hours... We've been here before during the summer season but this spring evening there were few people and it was very peaceful....it was so relaxing to walk along the small pebbly beach by the boat rentals! (The rentals won't be available until Memorial Day...) Highly recommended if you love lakes and woods...

This is the largest lake in Montgomery County. It is one of my favorite places to go out on my…read morekayak. Being as large as it is, there is quite a lot to see. There are two canoe trails (suitable for kayaks as well!). The shoreline is full of interesting birds. Down at the spot where Ten Mile Creek flows into the lake, I have floated right over the top of some enormous snapping turtles. During the summer, this is quite a popular place to be. There is a concession that rents boats for only $8 per hour. But the lake is big enough that it does not seem crowded. My boat is a bit tight for two people, so I often use this concession when I want to take a friend with me. Boaters should beware and make certain they have a permit attached to their boat. You can get a daily permit for $5 at either of the two boat launch sites. You can buy a seasonal pass at the visitor's center. Also beware if you own an inflatable boat (like I do). Your boat must have at least three separate air chambers or it is not allowed on the lake. This lake has probably become my favorite paddling spot. Unlike Clopper Lake, I have not yet found this lake's secret turtle hiding spot. But the sheer size of the lake makes it hard to get tired of Little Seneca Lake.

Kyacking here over the summer was amazing. The water clear and clean. Never crowded and an…read moreenjoyable day with beautiful views!

Baker Park is like the crown jewel in the diadem that is Downtown Frederick…read more The park has been under extensive renovations in its recent history and is quite large. According to the website its a "58 acre linear park running through the heart of downtown Frederick." When I think of Baker Park, I think of the bell tower or Carillon. I recently learnt this, but the Carillon is Maryland's largest musical instrument #ScoreOneForFrederick. The tower holds 49 bells which are played by a keyboard type mechanism at the bottom of the obelisk. It is played by a master Carillonneur John Wittman on the weekends. But also you can hear it's automated tolling on the hour when you're at the park any day of the week. The park was named after Joseph T Baker who was a local philanthropist and also the person who purchased the land for the park to built on in the 1920s. There is an organization of volunteers called the Friends Of Baker Park which helps to maintain the park and restore and renovate portions of it. All in all, it's a must see if you're headed to downtown Frederick. I could write endless words about Baker Park, but it is nothing compared to seeing it and experiencing it for yourself. That is the only thing that will do it justice. Walking along Carroll Creek has always been a delight, especially in the spring when the lily pads are out and the creek is teeming with ducks and other wildlife. It definitely makes you appreciate parks in general and how much they add to a city when they're well maintained and special. I think it's 100 percent aided in making Downtown Frederick a national destination to visit.

I normally don't review parks, but this is the last of my 1st of 3 series of America 250 reviews…read more I was at Baker Park on 4th of July in 2022. There was an outdoor fair on that hot afternoon. I remember I got a couple of free coupons from Wawa. I had a date that afternoon, and she met me here; she lived in Frederick. We walked around the beautiful park. Perhaps, there could be some more shade as it was lots of open space, but there were areas with trees close to Carroll Creek. Trails connect to the downtown Carroll Creek Park for an easy walk, which we walked to there on our date. This is a solid park with some amentities.

Nice quant lake in Columbia. Came here to watch a bit of the World Cup game vs. Turkey which was…read morefun even though we got tired to stay and they lost.

Loved this park.Very scenic and nice way to get your exercise in. Be it jogging, biking, or…read morewalking. Plenty of benches available. As well as free parking. They hold a lot of concerts nearby. As well as porta pottys available for a emergency restroom. I love everything and anything concerning lakes. People were out chilling on the grass. Or you can bring a lounge chair. This is very close proximity to collective Encore and collective offshore. I definitely will be returning whenever I want to enjoy an outdoor walk or event.

Love this place! We saw a bald eagle catching fish in the lake a few years back, and that's still…read morea core memory. The beach is nice, if a little iffy with people leaving trash and dog poop in the off season. That's really the only complaint I have about the park. I wish visitors would respect the space.

I drove up to the entrance at Greenbrier State Park at just about 9am this morning and told the…read morerangers that I just wanted to go fishing in my Kayak for a few hours and was turned away because I did NOT have a Reservation and all of the Day Use areas were full already. Excuse me!?!? - All I needed was a parking spot and a couple minutes to blowup the kayak and launch it on the 42 acre lake. I had no intention of hitting the beach or swimming or playing Volleyball or soccer or buying any concessions and what the hell, I could have even peed in the woods but NOPE - No room for you since you didn't make a reservation. Since they were specific about "Day Use" areas, Maybe I should have told them that I was camping (even thought I had no camping gear) and gone ahead and paid for a Camping spot? Then I could have driven my truck down to the DAY USE parking lot next to the lake and launched my kayak out onto that 42 acre lake? It doesn't really matter - I won't go back. I am a MD Native and resident but I also have a West Virginia Fishing License and that is probably where I'm going tomorrow. I can only imagine how this incredible reservation system works. I'll bet that I can make my 7 Day IN advance Reservation EVERY day with no intention of ever showing up (and wasting the opportunity for somebody else to enter like happened to me today) and I bet I could put 3 or 5 or 8 people on my reservations since they want to ACCUATE number of Visitors for each reservation (However many can fit it 1 CAR) and never be questioned about why I wasn't showing up cause you know damn right and well that some of those reservations go unused (and they sure didn't say anything about Give me your number and we'll call you if we have a cancellation or If they don't show up by 2 pm or whatever. I'll bet that half the people with Reservations aren't even showing up until afternoon (if they don't outright cancel for whatever reasons) and I was only planning on fishing for a few hours to start with. Like I said, it doesn't really matter- I won't go back and deal with that nonsense again. I needed one parking space and just a couple minutes to blow up eh Kayak and launch it on the 42 are lake and I would have been gone a few hours later (and I am strictly catch and release as well so I won't deplete the fish population either but NOPE!!!!! No Reservation = No Room for You! I had really hoped to be on the water shortly after sunrise but the part doesn't even open until 8am anyway. I'll find some other alternative since it was too difficult for the State Park to satisfy my excessive expectations (a Parking Spot) - I was in My Pickup - an overflow grassy spot will do just fine Thank You! I'm done with this nonsense.

Beautiful state park and campground. First time here. Plenty to see and great place to relax…read more Campground was clean for gravel sites. But site was level and easy to set up. Enjoyed our time!!

A bit of a mixed bag for me at Cunningham Falls…read more.. I was excited to find a listing of parks that supposedly had wheelchair accessible trails. I've never been to Cunningham Falls before and the idea of seeing a waterfall seemed lovely. However, the accessible boardwalk has strips on pretty much everything board which made me feel like I was riding a very angry horse. Each bump shot pain up my spine. I'm writing this a day later and I still hurt, and I think I'm a pretty tough chick... and the view of the falls was mostly blocked and not worth the actual pain. The Falls is more like a small stream of water that splashes down some rocks. It's a soothing noise but I was expecting something more grandiose... I suppose I could blame climate change. Most of the old stream beds are dry. We also checked out the "south beach" which I enjoyed. There's plenty of pavement, and packed gravel. I couldn't get close to the water, but that's okay because it was a sunny day and I prefer to stick to the shade. I was impressed by the fact that every picnic table has a grill nearby. If I lived closer I'd like to think I'd come to the south beach often, hide in the trees near the river, grill something delicious... but I was a several hours long trip from Dundalk, so it's unlikely that I'll return. It was a nice day-trip though. I don't regret going.

This is one of my favorite zen places. Or when I feel artsy, I bring my sketch pad and just…read moreunwind... very scenic views especially at sunrise or sundown. I prefer sundown... There's a steep incline when you get here but its worth it... Its a good work out... Its also good for avid bird watchers!!

(4.5) ~ Very Good Park for Walking & Hiking. Note: For casual street walking, continue on the wide…read more"paved" path towards the Right once you get to the Lake from the Parking lot -or- If you prefer "hiking" type trails, then take the dirt path on the Left once you get to the Lake. As others have noted the "paved" path is currently under construction at the midway point, & expects to be completed in 2027. Either way it's a fun short walk around 1/3 of Lake Frank:)

I've been here twice and have hiked the same loop, but both times it has been enjoyable!…read more On this occasion I brought a friend. We parked at the visitors center and went inside to use the facilities prior to our hike. It's a cute visitors center with historical information about the area, the wildlife, and trees. They also sell trinkets, magnets, bug spray, etc. The rangers are always cordial and will answer any questions you may have. They have a charging station!!!! This was clutch as I drove my EV this time. It's free and had me charged and ready to go by the end of my hike. We hiked up to Wolf Rock, Chimney Rock, and back. The trails are rated (if you have the All Trails app and/or based on the map). I'd say this hike was moderate. It's mostly shaded which is nice. There weren't too many insects, but you should apply insect repellent nontheless. They have several other trails. This one was a bit over 3 miles, but the full loop connects all the trails. I would like to make it to Cunningham Falls. This is a great option for me as I live in Maryland. The trails are clean, litter free so take your trash with you. Come check it out!

Catoctin Mountain Park Visitor Center -- A Quiet Gateway to the Mountains…read more Tucked into the scenic hills of Frederick County near Thurmont, the Catoctin Mountain Park Visitor Center is a great starting point for exploring one of Maryland's more serene outdoor escapes. It's part of Catoctin Mountain Park, a federally managed park offering about 25 miles of hiking trails, plus camping and trout fishing. Worth noting: it's separate from nearby Cunningham Falls State Park, so plan accordingly if you're trying to hit both. We stopped by on a brisk, sunny weekday and were rewarded with light crowds and a peaceful atmosphere. There was some noticeable truck traffic passing through the area--turns out much needed road improvements are underway--but it didn't take away from the overall experience. The visitor center itself is on the smaller side but well maintained and thoughtfully curated. Informational displays, posters, and plaques highlight the region's history--from its Native inhabitants to the communities that later shaped life in these mountains. It's a nice touch that adds depth before you hit the trails. Inside, you can find maps, books, and a modest gift shop selection. The park rangers were approachable and knowledgeable, offering helpful updates on trail conditions and access points. Bonus points for clean restrooms and a convenient place to refill your water bottle before heading out. For the youngsters in your group. Don't forget to join the Junior Ranger program and get your booklet stamped! Fun way to get kids excited to visit and appreciate the many beautiful National Parks in our country throughout their lifetime! Whether you're gearing up for a hike or just passing through, this is a solid place to get oriented, learn a bit of history, and soak in the surrounding natural beauty.

This is not my first time here. However, its been a very long time since I came here. They have…read morepaved this and made it more scenic. Meaning it was more dirt paths and weeds/scrubs atleast 10+ years ago. However, they still seem to preserve the natural habits (forest) for the wildlife. This is very very clean.!!! There are benchs along the paths. They have iron fencing in place as well. Parking is not abundant but its in place. And last but not least I did not see any place to potty properly legally. One can run, stroll, bike, walk your pup or sit on the manicured lawn. Please pick your dog poop up and dispose of such. There are poop bag and disposal stations around the path!! One complete lap is 1miles.

This is a cute area to walk, read a book or relax. On most occasions, the area is clean and the…read moretrail is expansive. It's kid friendly as well. Parking is tight in the evening and unfortunately, you may come across poop from the ducks and gnats that are a byproduct of the water. Generally, its well-maintained and beautiful area to get extra steps.