This is one of those places that makes you want to stay a little longer than you planned. The views…read moreare beautiful, the area feels peaceful, and there's plenty of space to just walk around and enjoy being outside. The overlook was definitely my favorite part. The colorful rocks give the place a unique character, and once you get up there, the view is absolutely worth it. Great spot to clear your head, take some photos, and spend some time in nature. I'll definitely be back.

One of the most beautiful state parks in Maryland. Amazing views of the valley and is only a 2 mile…read moredrive away from iconic High Rock. It is situated right on the Appalachian Trail and is a perfect place to enjoy a peaceful picnic. A great play area makes this an ideal location for get togethers for families.

Really neat park. Lots to see. Fantastic day outside with the kids. They had a blast around the…read morepond and spotted a bunch of turtles.

This park is a nice use of an old industrial space, which seems to have included a quarry, a mill,…read moreand a watercress farm, at minimum. Numerous kid-friendly facilities, both outdoor but also an indoor nature center were available. There were plenty of live nonhuman animals and some chatty humans inside the nature center, which is now open on weekends. The sights on the outdoor trails were numerous, and tables to eat at were plentiful. All the facilities were clean and new. As a play date for kiddos (not mine), it was very impressive.

The second of the remaining three covered bridges in Maryland we visited. It was built in the first…read morehalf of 1800 and was still being used. My oldest daughter also drove her vehicle through it. Bridges was beautiful but a fresh coat of paint was needed. There was a adjacent free parking lot. It also had a park with restroom facility.

Seeing these old bridges how they were built and the materials used back when they were built is…read moreamazing craftsmanship to see and be able to drive across so many years later. There are three covered bridges in the area. Go check them out.

This is a well cared for park. However- the trail is not what AllTrails says it is. It's possible…read moreit used to be a bigger park with a 3-4 mile trail. It is not anymore- now it's closer to .5 miles.

Tony and I stopped to enjoy the roadside park. Waterfall, playground, bathrooms, grills and picnic…read moreareas. Great free park to enjoy. People we're eating, fishing and swimming

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.

Hikes in a Sunday with friends. 100% recommend. I'd say it's beginner friendly. Beautiful water…read moreviews both on the hike and in the picnic areas. Hammocks, rental canoes. Such a nice all day event with families or a mate. Trash free park, wheelchair accessible, clean bathrooms. 100% recommend

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.

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.

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!

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.

I visited this park on Saturday as my friend planned a surprise proposal to take place in front of…read morethe fountain. It was the perfect backdrop for such a special moment. I saw a few other groups arrive for pictures in the park - a wedding party and a quinceañera court. There was also a playground near where a few kids/families played. There was a bathroom area, but they were locked. It would have been nice to be able to use the facilities, especially since I didn't see any other options around.

I love tulips, so when I read about this place, I couldn't wait to visit. It's located as the…read morecenter of an expensive Baltimore block, surrounded by million dollar homes. There is no start or end, so just park on one of the surrounding streets and walk over. We were there the third weekend in April, and while the tulips were definitely past their peak, and many were completely gone, there were plenty of flower beds of tulips still blooming. Plus, almost all of the azaleas were blooming. I loved that they had so many different colored tulips and azaleas. They did different combination of colors in all the different flower beds, so we ended up seeing some surprisingly beautiful displays, even with some tulips no longer blooming. We weren't there very long because it was cold out, but this would be a great spot for engagement pictures or a picnic.

Sherwood Gardens is a privately owned community park in the Guilford neighborhood of Baltimore. A…read morenonprofit raises money for the gardens' maintenance and the spring planting. Although it's a privately owned park, the gardens are open to the public, with street parking on all sides. Up to 70,000 tulip bulbs are planted annually along with other spring flowering bulbs. The gardens are charming but as with anything spring-related, spring is shorter and shorter and less and less predictable. Use your best judgment to get the photos you see here. This spring, we had a mid-April heat wave and by this past Saturday, the tulips were already looking quite rough and the daffodils were gone altogether. For the best blooms and pictures, pay attention to the weather. The spring flowers were most beautiful early in April this year and the heat wave cut their beauty a bit short this year. When we visited on Saturday, it was certainly still a lovely place for a walk, and we did see plenty of people taking pictures and enjoying the gardens. However, it wasn't as beautiful by then as we might have expected for early April. A lovely little park. You can take a walk, read a book, take photos, enjoy a picnic... Certainly take advantage if you live in or are visiting this area of North Baltimore - especially in those weeks of the years when the tulips are in full strength and beauty!

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.

This is a huge park, great for camping, hiking, walking, beach relaxing and more…read more Be aware: constructions are currently going on at different places of the park including the main entrance. After the constructions are completed, the park will start to request campers or day visitors to make reservations online during holidays and weekends visitors. Atmosphere: it's a large park filled with nature's love, trees, water, birds, logs, dirt paths, bugs, wildlife, fresh air and tables benches roads for visitors. Service: staff in the visitors' center are friendly and knowledgeable. Value: you cannot put a price tag on your love of nature and experience of outdoors. Parking: there is no issue to find parkings inside the park, just depending on how far you are willing to walk. Beautiful park, highly recommend.