A very easy-access section of the Patapsco Valley State Park- you can drive right into the middle…read more I'd rank it as perfect for introducing people to a "natural" state park without the distractions of overly developed amenities. Great trails, enough elevation change for solid workouts, some sections with lovely old trees. There's a long stretch of a beautiful stream (Saw Mill Branch) and some areas that give you that lovely isolated feeling of being in the woods. There's campgrounds (way better than "backyard camping") and driving in from the gate on Hilton Ave puts you in a good spot to immediately start hiking. There's also trails leading in from a number of the surrounding neighborhoods. The paved path by the river is pedestrian and disabled friendly. A historic rail route runs parallel to the river and train spotters can get some unique views as well as see the famous Ilchester Tunnel. PVSP is one of my favorite things about living in central MD, and each section has some unique things. Explore them all - but this (Hilton) area is particularly accessible for beginners who want the full experience.

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!

Beautiful trail for a run! It's a bit hilly, but it's a great 5K route. The trail is especially…read morebeautiful in the fall with all the colorful leaves and foliage. There's also a pizza spot nearby that wasn't open when I visited, so I'd love to try it next time. I'll definitely be back for more runs!

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!

I came to Patapsco after planning a hike here for my run/walk/hike club. We chose the Cascade Falls…read moreloop trail as it seemed easy for beginner hikers which were a lot of members of my group and like it would not require any extra supplies. We came on a Sunday morning, parking was $2 as our shuttle was an in state vehicle ($4 for out of state!) and when we arrived around 9:30, there was already a decent amount of people at the trailhead parking lot, but we were able to easily park. There is a bathroom located nearby that is clean and has running water. I do think it is relatively well maintained and looked after, though there was 1 stall missing toilet paper. The hike itself was lovely, with fall foliage still around in sight. We did not come across any big wildlife like deer but given the amount of people this made sense. We did use bug spray on our shoes and bottoms of our leggings / ankle area to prevent any ticks. The trail itself was beautiful, there are 2 water crossing areas where you could get by on rocks but I have waterproof hiking shoes and just walked straight through. I would recommend this trail to beginners!

There is a free entrance off of Landing Rd. A month ago I started a walk at the Landing Rd. I…read morewalked to the Avalon area (3 miles). I walked north on the ridge trail 6 miles. I turned around and walked 6 miles back to Avalon. Then walked 3 miles to the landing road starting point. It was 97 degrees. Brought 7 liters of water and about 30% of it was electrolytes. brought some snacks. overall it was a good solid hike of 6 hours. I rested a bit at cascade falls (CF) CF parking lot, Avalon (in both directions) Total mileage was around 18 miles. Trail reference: https://www.alltrails.com/explore/recording/afternoon-hike-at-a-long-but-exciting-walk-65af16a

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.

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.

Ventured to this beautiful park since it was a nice, cool day. The park is gorgeous to drive…read morethrough with a lot of ample parking in different areas. We parked near the suspension bridge so we could cross and walk over part of that area and then circled back to the falls trail. Saw bathrooms and pavilions nearby. It's a beautiful area and I'm excited to go back to explore more trails and enjoy the scenery!

Being with my family. The park is always clean. We hiked the trails. Walked over the swinging…read morebridge. Had a picnic with good food. Great Day!!

We spent our Fourth of July at Terrapin and it was absolutely wonderful! From being welcomed at the…read moredesk (I am so sorry I can't remember his name!), to our awesome guides Justin and Jasmine, to Scott who helped at the swing and doing the belay to get us down - we truly enjoyed the whole experience (despite the unbearable heat this weekend). Justin and Jasmine made sure we stayed hydrated, and regularly brought us into the air conditioning to avoid overheating. They ensured our safety every moment we were there. The rope course was insanely fun, the giant swing and zip line were a blast and our favorite part was honestly the rock climbing! Justin and Jasmine were fantastic - we will definitely come back (preferably not during a heat wave haha) and hope they will be our guides again - every single person today made it memorable for my family! Thank you so much!!!

We have enjoyed this camp for years, but 2026 brought parental concerns over hearing that children…read moregrouped up to 12 years old were sharing bathrooms if another identified as the opposite sex. This should be an opportunity to identify a solution comfortable for everyone affected by providing single use options, as opposed to telling my daughter "it's ok because he identifies as a she". It caused an uncomfortable situation for girls and concerns for parents. No young girl should feel uncomfortable or anxious using the restroom.

The leaves are changing colors. This park is so beautiful I go here all the time. Thanks to whoever…read moremaintaining it.

The Howard County Recreation & Parks Summer Concert Series at Centennial Park is a fantastic way to…read morespend a summer evening! We saw I&I Riddim at the Centennial Park Amphitheater, and they brought incredible music and such a fun, relaxing vibe. The beautiful park setting made it even better. This was the first of the five-concert summer series, with free concerts taking place on Thursday evenings through August 5. If you're looking for a laid-back night with great live music, this is definitely worth checking out. Bring a lawn chair or blanket, relax, and enjoy a wonderful evening outdoors!

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.

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!

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!

This was so much fun! Hands down all the gold stars will go back!! My 11 year old son loved it too!read more

Overall, we had a great experience. Scott checked us in quickly and was pleasant to talk with. We…read morewere lucky enough to have the mountaintop camping site to ourselves since no one else booked for this week( likely due to the extreme heat and 4th of July holiday). The bathhouse was clean and had hot water. Most campsites only have lukewarm or cold water. There were also an abundance of toilet facilities and they were well maintained/cleaned. The view of the Potomac was breathtaking and the only downfall was that the camping sites are relatively close to each other both on the mountain and at the river's edge. I do recommend this center, however, and we will likely return when back in the area!