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    Patapsco State Park - Avalon Area

    4.6 (58 reviews)
    Open 9:00 am - 8:30 pm

    Patapsco State Park - Avalon Area Photos

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    The Wife by the waterfall.
    Jamar S.

    This is hands down my favorite local place to visit for a quick hike. There are so many things to do off the beaten path. There's peaks, valleys, tunnels, caves, a waterfall & if you're lucky, you'll even see a train ride by. A few days ago, I got to take my youngest child, my son Roman to see the waterfall, go for a dip as well as a 3-4 mile hike. I love this place as much now as I've ever have. It was crowded, a lot of families were there for the camp sites and grills. I want to visit once more before the summer is over.

    Cyril M.

    Beautiful state park. We went here this morning. It's amazing how the park was so big. And plenty of parking if you get there early. It can get really busy in the park like 1:30 pm onwards. The parking was full. There were so many trails to choose from. We chose the cascade falls trail it was good, easy enough. Just be careful with the slippery rocks by the falls. I love the hanging bridge part. Theres also plenty of picnic areas which i love because we always brings snacks and it's great they have that even bbq grills too. Amazing park! Would definitely recommend. Since it's November we paid only $2.00 per vehicle with the ranger in the entrance but i am not sure how much it is on peak seasons.

    Swinging Bridge
    Yvette M.

    Be prepared, there is a small honor system entry fee of $2 that's collected at the entrance. A cold December afternoon, prevented crowds, and not the most scenic views. We arrived unaware of what the hikes promised and wish we would have known that there are several ways to get to the Swinging Bridge. We learned the following on our adventure in search of the Swinging Bridge and Cascade Falls: 1. You can drive directly to the Swinging Bridge. Follow the sign and make the left turn up River Road. You won't see any other signs on the 1.5 mile drive. There are approximately 8 parking spots available when you arrive at the bridge, along with a restroom. You'll also see a trail marked with a sign for Cascade Falls. The falls are about a 10 minute hike from this point. 2. You can also park at the Avalon playground, which by the way has clean restrooms. From this point, you can walk up the paved road, which again is about 1.5 miles. A shorter and direct path that you'll share with cars. To avoid a longer hike on a trail and to get just a bit of exercise, this may be your best bet. You can reach the river from this walk, but we quickly realized that you can't walk along the river to the bridge. 3. The entrance to the Ridge Trail is also found across from the playground. This trail will take you to the bridge and falls as well. We took the Ridge Trail on the way back. Definitely a bit of a hike that will have you cross a very small stream, hike in mud, and trek over tree trunks and rocks. Although the trees are marked with orange along the way, we definitely felt a bit lost at times. A few markers are also placed throughout the trail, but none telling you how long the trail is. After looking it up, it states that the trail is 3 miles long. The Valley View trail is also available and after researching it, we discovered that this trail may have better views in the winter and is a bit shorter. There are so many more trails and I can only imagine how gorgeous this park is in the spring. Due to the lack of signage, this park definitely becomes an adventure. Lastly, Cascade Falls isn't the most beautiful fall or even biggest fall that you'll see, but it was nice to take a moment to enjoy my surroundings. We had the peaceful spot to ourselves and it was awesome.

    Deer family out for a stroll
    Dave W.

    I had the pleasure of taking multiple hikes here, during November mornings when it's cold and not very hospitable. The suspension bridge is amazing! The ruins of the flour factory is even more amazing! The ridge trail is worth the hike! The wildlife are hiding from the cold. It costs $2 to get in on the honor system. Bring your cash and take your proof of purchase. Don't let the weather stop you. I'm from Florida and I can hike when it's 25 degrees. So can you! Life is good!

    Da RULES
    Arcadia S.

    Good state park very clean, you will be charged three dollars per person in your party. If picnicking, bring your own trash bags as there are no longer public trash cans. Pavilions w electric outlets are available with a permit, alcohol license, all that. Yes they do come around and check so just be on the up and up. There is a creek running through the park, some old fashion playgrounds and hiking trails as well. A lot of the structure for the bridges looks very old and is attractive stone masonry.

    Oops
    Marcy M.

    I just love this area because there's much to do! I like hiking the thin dirt trail (about 1.4 miles) that leads to the Swinging Bridge and is walled in by brush, streams, stone, and trees. You look around and see the waterway with rippling water, maybe a fisherman or two, a kayaker here and there and, on a hot days, families playing in the more populated, more accessible areas of the water.The trail makes me feel like I'm alone on a rain forest trek (I have a creative imagination) and then along comes a friendly mountain biker and I am glad to see a smiling face and hear "On your right" so I can dodge the wheels lol lol lol j/k. Cascades Trail is more challenging and let's out on a waterfall and large rocks/boulders that one can quickly breach with just a little boost of courage (or maybe a tad more but I've seen smiling 12-yr old girls and a gray-haired lady hiker happily breach those boulders). I've seen eagles, heron, mallards of course, vultures, etc. The fishermen catch what's been placed in the water - trout and bluefish I think Try the Swinging Bridge but taking a leashed high spirited Jack Russell-beagle mix across with you makes it a little scary which I know from repeated personal experience. All in all, love this area of Patapsco Valley Park. Use your GPS to find the Avalon area bc PVP has so many different geographic sections throughout Maryland! You'll love Avalon and probably all of them! Next stop: Daniels Area of Patapsco!!! I've heard good things!

    by the solar panel area

    I went with as a group of 4 people and we were struggling to find where the parking//lot was. We ended up parking on the side of the road//shoulder since other people parked there. The entrance was kind of hidden. We had to walk past a 'hard har required' area and then at the end of the path it says 'Enter'. I did a 6 mile hike and was able to turn around to cut it short at certain points of the hike. This hike was mainly flat and some slanted hills. Youll be walking through dirt, rocks & tree roots with pants hitting your ankles/legs. I suggest that you wear long pants or shorts/capris with tall socks so no ticks can get to you. There are loke 2 small streams of river so you might end up walking in water. We went after it rained so the dirt was muddy.

    Lilian N.

    My friends and I hiked the Morning Trail, which we enjoyed. It's a bit slippery in some places due to the soft dirt and smooth rocks -- I would recommend wearing hiking boots. The Cascade Falls were a nice sight to see, but a bit underwhelming as it was smaller than I expected. I'd probably come again since it was a nice hike with decent elevation!

    Cascade falls!
    Riddhika J.

    I love this place. Avalon sugar area is perfect for trail biking, Hiking, running . Best part about this park is its easy accessibility. This park is about 15 mins drive from my place and there a 2$ parking fee or you can park for FREE on the lot across the Catonsville park and ride area on route 166 which leads directly to soapstone trail. First I will write about the hiking experience I had. We parked in the orange grove area and started hiking on orange trail. The trail was little muddy because of the rain the previous day but it was still doable. The trail is fairly easy only frustrating part was after half way through, the sign of the trail were all over the place and it was bit confusing but other than that it was enjoyable trail ended with a splendid view of cascade falls. The place was not too crowded so we sat there listening the soothing sounds of waterfall. We did orange trail twice and blue trail in about 3 and 1/2 hour. For biking, I always do Soapstone trail followed by vineyard and back by bull. I highly recommend this loop especially for beginners like me who are aiming for mountain biking in near future, its a good practice ground with Lodz of slopes. You will see plenty of artifact and bridges along the way and expect to see deer on the way.the trails leads to the edge where u can look down at the flowing river and across is the old railway line. I love seating here and devoting on my lunch sandwich. The trails are well maintained, Very easily accessible from the cities nearby and expect enjoyable and soothing experience with nature !

    Laura W.

    I brought my toddler here on a Wednesday in mid July. It was surprisingly crowded but the park is so big you can easily socially distance. Just an FYI during our visit port -a- potties were available but no true restrooms. We ate a picnic lunch across from the swinging bridge. The swinging bridge is a great experience-make sure you walk over it a few times! We spent most of our day in the river. The water seems very clean and is clear. The bottom is rocky so I'd recommend shoes/sandals. There is no beach in this part, but you can put your towel and stuff on bank. People brought chairs, inner tubes to float,etc. We were in a very shallow part, perfect for newly branded toddlers;however , I heard others say there were deeper areas too a bit further down. Bring your sunscreen and plan to spend a few hours. We took the brief hike to the falls (1/4 mile roughly from swinging bridge), but my son was unimpressed so we left quickly. The park admission fee is minimal, and I hear they do close when they reach capacity. I highly recommend the trip here even if you're coming from NOVA! It's about 45-60 minutes away but well worth it!

    Catrice D.

    I thoroughly enjoy going to this park after work for a nice workout. When I started working in the area, I had no clue that this place existed until we had a company picnic. Patapsco State park is a getaway of getaways! There is much history in this area and the trails go on for miles at a time. The park is always neat and clean, Ive never visited and saw the park unkept. I love the fact that you can bring your pet to the park to walk; they have designated areas for pet clean up most everyone abides within the rules but every now and then you may see some pet mess that someone decided to leave behind but for the most things are kosher. The one thing that I love about this place (which may be a negative for some folks) is that when I go deeper into the park, my phone service doesn't work, so I am away from all of the cares of life for a short period of time with no outside distractions. With that I am able to walk the park and think and ponder without having to check my phone a million times. ( a person likes me needs to be forced away from my phone). The park is a great place for families to get together for a cookout, a nice walk or bringing your kids and your favorite pet for a swim.

    Esther A.

    Awesome! Just awesome! First time visiting the park and I Can't wait to go back and explore other parts of it. We did 6miles in total. It was clean, the river was clean as well

    Cascade Falls

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    4 years ago

    A hidden gem!! Trails that have waterfalls and others with challenging inclines! There is even a long paved trail which is great for anyone!

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    5 years ago

    I love this park, it's so beautiful. It's the best place for meditation and the sound water is amazing.

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    5 years ago

    Niceeee! The park is very nice and clean and families are always out and about....I'm at the end where the Guinness Brewery is located.

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    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - Patapsco State Park - Avalon Area

    Do people swim here?

    We went a little off trail to sit near the water on a hot day. There we saw a couple I the water. My boyfriend took his shoes off and waded in. He didn't mind getting his clothes wet.

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    Review Highlights - Patapsco State Park - Avalon Area

    The Cascade Falls were a nice sight to see, but a bit underwhelming as it was smaller than I expected.

    Mentioned in 5 reviews

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    Sawmill Creek Park - A crow surveying the park.

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    3.6(7 reviews)
    6.0 mi

    Been here a few times for tennis and just walking around. The park is usually fairly busy between…read morethe paths, the skate park, the kid's playground, the basketball courts and the tennis courts. It's a little distracting to play tennis there during peak times- there's a lot of activity between the planes, the highway, people smoking pot in the picnic areas, and once there were even kids on ATVs riding around loudly. Sometimes people blast music in the parking lot for absolutely no reason. For awhile there was a creepy old guy who lived in his truck in the parking lot and would make me super uncomfortable being there if alone, but he wasn't there the last two times I've been- maybe he has moved on. But overall, it is great that there is a place in the community for activities such as tennis and skating, and it seems to be well-maintained.

    This was a nice park. I came here for an early evening walk with a friend. The walking trail…read moresurrounded the baseball fields and the basketball and tennis courts. It's not a very long walking trail. It was good enough for what we wanted, just to get a good few laps in for exercise. At the time, the park was busy with people playing tennis and basketball. There were a few little league baseball practices going on as well. The parking is another story. If you do not get there at a decent time, you could end up parking along the side of the playing fields or in the grass outside of the park. Thankfully, we were able to get a parking spot. If you live in the area, it's a nice park to visit. Just be aware that after work hours during the week, parking could be an issue. On top of that, the park could get really crowded.

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    A male cardinal proudly poses on a branch.

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    Sawmill Creek Park - A bike route within Sawmill Creek Park. This route leads into the city of Glen Burnie.

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    Harpers Ferry Adventure Center - Ask us about our 3-Level Aerial Ropes Course! #hfacadventures

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    We had an amazing time tubing with Harpers Ferry Adventure Center, an experience we won't forget…read moreanytime soon! From start to finish, everything was smooth and well-organized. The river was relaxing, the views were gorgeous, and the whole day just felt easy and fun. A huge shoutout to Spider, our guide, who truly went above and beyond. Not only did he keep the energy high with great vibes and a friendly attitude, but he also made sure everyone was safe and accounted for throughout the float. We noticed him picking up trash along the way. So awesome to see someone taking care of the river and setting a great example. He really cared about both the people and the environment. If you're thinking about doing a tubing trip in Harpers Ferry, this is the place to go--and if you're lucky enough to get Spider as your guide, you're in for a great time!

    Regular tuber, first time zip liner! And it was amazing. Cost was such a great balance to the…read morelength and intensity to this fun excursion. 3 hours on the course with great bridges, crossings, zip lines, and a free jump. Our guide Liam and his partner (terrible name memory!) were awesome and made our trip that ended in rain still feel safe without spoiling the fun! Highly recommend for families or a date day like we did

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    Harpers Ferry Adventure Center - Our 3-level Ropes Course is filled with fun and adventures! It's fun for the whole family! @harpersferryadventurecenter

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    Patapsco State Park - Avalon Area - parks - Updated May 2026

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