Always a great place to walk or watch the birds in the lake. Nice place to park if you work or live…read morenearby to do some thinking. This is on a military facility. I love quiet time. Unless there's a cookout going on this is a very peaceful place to just unwind. Or bring the kids to play at the playground. You can also walk your dog. Just make sure he is on a leash.

I live on Fort Meade (2nd time). The previous reviews are accurate for their time. When I first…read morelived here, 2000-2003, Burba was really nice, well maintained, the water quality was good and there were enough little bluegill/sunfish to make a kid tired of catching them. This is no longer a "good" fishing spot, and not the overall family recreation area that it could be. This not just an old guy "get off my lawn" observation [okay its a little bit of that]. For many complex reasons the resource is no longer in good shape. There are far too many year round Canada Geese (nutirent load/water quality aspects), the shoreline is not regualrly groomed/maintained. The asphalt path that rings the lake is also in rough shape. It looks nice from a distance, and the playgrounds are still usable. But Burba Lake is a shadow of its former self right now. I understand the realities of the resources to restore it - but I do wish there was a way to do so. If there were a magic wand: -greatly reduce geese -restore water flow into lake (feeder streams in terrible shape) -maintain bank vegetation -restore native water plants -manage algae blooms -drop in structure for fish habitat -stock a variety of native fish species (I've only seen sunfish/turtles)

Only recently discovered this park so I wanted to share…read more I love living in this area. There's so many outdoor spots that you can try a new one just about every week if you wanted. Located in Laurel off main street, this park is parallel to the Patuxent River. They have some walking trails with a scenic option to enjoy the outdoors. There's a parking lot available. There's also a playground. Add this park to your list!

Out and back trail along the river with a playground , and plenty of benches along the way to sit…read moreand enjoy the nature. There's a small parking lot, and I believe I saw a single restroom stall. There's also a map of a 5k route that takes you out of the park and back.

I absolutely love this trail. My dogs and I enjoy hiking here. They enjoy the water break at the…read moreend of the lake. They jump into the river all of the time. My son saw his first deer here (he's a Florida native).

Very scenic and relaxing trail! This was my first time. I can't believe I had never been here. It…read morecertainly won't be my last. I met up with a group this morning for a walk! I parked nearby on the street and we began our walk. I loved that it's shaded so the walk wasn't bad. There were a few walking with dogs and children. I definitely recommend coming here! There's nearby food and shopping options.

Columbia is known for all the nature trails, lakes, villages etc. This particular trail is my "to…read morego" since it's very close in proximity. I usually do my walks, bike rides with my dad and daughter, jogs and you might see me with a jumprope. Just a good trail for some fresh air and to get my steps in! It can be a bit crowded at time but the people do practice social distancing / wear mask.

This is one of our favorite trails to go one for sure. I think the greatest thing about living in…read moreHoward Co. is all the different trails available. I have walked this trail both ways and up to the Wincopin Trails and Its always enjoyable. It is heavily trafficked if you go the bike path way, I recommend going towards Wincopin Trails if you rather be more secluded.

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!

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!

This is my favorite trail in Ellicott City. It's fairly easy, not too long and, surrounded by…read morebeauty. It's close to where I live so I often come here for a quick jog or hike. The difficulty level is very low; the trail is wide and most of it is paved. It's about three miles and there are markers every 1/2 mile. The view along the trail is absolutely beautiful during, it doesn't matter what time of the year you go. There's a stream which you easily can go down to. As for parking, there's a huge parking lot right at the start of the trail and since this trail isn't busy, it stays pretty empty. If you don't want a difficult hike and just want a relaxing walk, this is a great trail for that. Plus, it's great for kids and pets.

Easy parking for trail access (closes at dusk, but no gate and it's lit up). There's also access…read morefrom a few other spots. This is a 1-2 mile drive from Savage Mill. Trails are very well maintained and marked - almost too well (less of a wild feel). Only the very start is paved, don't despair, it gets more interesting. Decent circuit trail routes, can be added together for more mileage. I did a variation following the water which made my completed route 3.14 miles. Various bits of history tucked away in the young woodland- read up about the quarries and railroads if you're into local history. That's what those massive granite abutments (with no bridge to match) are all about. Lots of riverbank access. Decent number of toads on and near the trail at dusk. Road noise from I-95 on the western side but overall surprisingly peaceful escape from suburbia. This sort of open space is a major perk of living in Maryland.

Very nice trail to hike, run, or mountain bike. My daughter and I hiked, and although it was a warm…read moreday, the canopy of the forest provided shade and comfort. We traveled down along the stream and at one point we took advantage of this beautiful backdrop and got some great pics. Beware, on this trail there are a lot of tree roots and rocks peeking from the ground and waiting to trip you. I know this because we tripped on more then one occasion:) The route is a loop and there are red and blue markings throughout the trail. At one point we were a little turned around, but the red markings and the "P" with and arrow directed us back to the parking lot. We truly enjoyed our hike and if you do the entire trail it's about 3.5 miles. Also, expect some elevation at points, but all in all I would say it's an easy to moderate trail to walk depending on your fitness level.

I came here for a kid's birthday party and the children had quite a time! This party was astronaut…read morethemed so the instructor brought in a building set that would allow the kids to build spaceships. After building spaceships we were taken to the planetarium so the kids could travel to space. The kids loved seeing the different stars and planets. I enjoyed the show myself as well. It's been quite some time since I've been to a planetarium. After the initial show the kids ate pizza and cake and then returned to the planetarium. The second time in the planetarium they watched a movie about the stars and evolution. It looks like there's so much to see and do here, I'll definitely have to return to experience some of the other things they have to offer. However, I can definitely recommend having a kids party here. I would say ideally for someone in kindergarten and older.

Overall: excellent place for little kids to enjoy the outdoors, fun birthday parties, kind staff,…read moreinclusive bathrooms Visiting the outdoor areas is free but the inside costs money. We frequent the outdoor areas with our family. They have short easy hikes that cross a little creek, excellent for kids. There is a playground with a slide, hammocks, musical instruments, building blocks, and a mud kitchen. They put on outdoor plays and they have a kids garden area where they host events and classes. We prefer the outside to the inside. The inside has a discovery play room for kids with some creatures, toys, and dress ups. There are a couple exhibits and animals to view inside as well. We attended a 3 year old birthday party here and it was a hit. They have different themes and activities. This one had a play and the kids got to meet and touch a turtle.