Upvote 3 Downvote Kellie Carlisle October 21, 2011 Be sure to visit the swinging bridge, the beautiful dam, and always gorgeous Cascade falls. We promise this little adventure is worth conquering your fears for. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. Few spots were muddy but easy to get through. Jamie Alvarenga is a writer and editor for Only In Your State. After crossing the first swinging bridge, enjoy the easy path. Coordinates: .mw-parser-output .geo-default,.mw-parser-output .geo-dms,.mw-parser-output .geo-dec{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .geo-nondefault,.mw-parser-output .geo-multi-punct{display:none}.mw-parser-output .longitude,.mw-parser-output .latitude{white-space:nowrap}391428N 764459W / 39.241159N 76.74968W / 39.241159; -76.74968. Turn right. Once in the park, the closest parking lot for the southeastern trailhead is onGlen Artney Rd, just north of its intersection with Soapstone Trail road in Halethorpe. Insanely muddy! It's the only trail in this part of Patapsco Valley State Park that is paved. The first bridge was built by the Orange Grove Flour Mill for employees to cross the river. It is a suspension bridge consisting of a wooden deck supported by large cables. $4 per vehicle out-of-state. I started as a BA in 2016 because I was looking for ways to not only connect with other outdoor fanatics but to also find a way to encourage new parents and caretakers the courage and support to find ways to get outside. From its humble beginnings in 1907 as a 43-acre forest reserve to its expansion to over 16,000 acres today, this hidden gem has become a refuge for wild animals and native vegetation and a retreat from suburban and city life. Patapsco Valley State Park is located just west of Baltimore near Ellicott City, Maryland. Patch would like to thank Catonsville Library employee Bryce Rumbles and volunteer Lisa Vicari for their help in finding information. The Patapsco Swinging Bridge is located in the Avalon/Orange Grove area of Patapsco Valley State Park in central Maryland, United States. The trail is wooded and would be a good ride for families, but is too short to get any good mileage in. There are multiple connections to other trails. Multiple elevations. Patapsco Valley State Park Swinging Bridge This is an image set within the Bridgemeister collection. This map isn't accurate of you start at the entrance across from the parking lot. One caveat: if you are direction-challenged in any way, and if you are coming from Frederick Road, down Hilltop Place: Hilltop Place (which turns into Hilltop Road) is a very suburban, residential road. Hours of Operations: Hike it Baby is a national nonprofit with the tax ID 81-0969124 / Mailing address: 9450 SW Gemini Dr #36457 Beaverton, Oregon 97008 / 2019, {{current_weather.dt | moment( atts.date )}}, This error message is only visible to WordPress admins. Patapsco Valley State Park extends along 32 miles of the Patapsco River, encompassing 16,043 acres and eight developed recreational areas. Please be aware of this problem. The park area from Ilchester to Elkridge was was closed indefinitely. Entering the Avalon area of the Park, you will also see the Thomas Viaduct, built in 1835 it is the world's largest multiple arched railroad bridge with an arc and is still in use by trains today. Really hilly and not properly marked until you hit a certain point. The bridge is narrow and you can't social distance on it. There is a fee to enter the park. It is a pretty big parking area, That depends upon your route. The original swinging bridge over the river was destroyed. Please check Twitter and the Patapsco Valley State Park website for updates. beautiful seeing all the green return. The river valley (and the railroad) have been subjected to repeated floods, most notably in 1868, then again from remnants of Hurricane Agnes during June 1972. Avalon/Glen Artney/Orange Grove/Lost Lake Areas From the Beltway (I-695) take Rt. What trail is the Swinging Bridge in Patapsco? According to an article from the Howard County Times, more than 900 people were evacuated from their homes. Patapsco State Park is a hiker's paradise, with over 70 miles of well-maintained trails, and 200 miles of hiking trails altogether. You will receive your first email soon. She spends her time chasing around a curious 4-year-old and going on coffee-fueled adventures throughout Maryland. Well marked. From Interstate 695, take exit 15B to merge onto US-40 West / Baltimore National Pike toward Ellicott City. Fran Shaw wrote, "I remember driving out to see the damage in Ellicott City and only being able to drive halfway down the hill into town. Muddy but fun. In Old Ellicott City, the water went all the way up to the door of Leidig's Bakery's.". The closest parking lots are in the Orange Grove Area or across a swinging bridge in the Glen Artney Area. PATAPSCO VALLEY STATE PARK. Love Maryland? For more magnificent hikes in Maryland, click here! Thank you for all answers! It does not store any personal data. will definitely return. Help defend and expand trails nationwide. Although we love this spot year-round, autumn is a particularly beautiful time to visit. Great Elevations and dips to really get the feel of low impact climb/hike. There are also the ruins of a flour mill and dam. The National Guard helicopters were called in to rescue two workmen from the roof of the Daniels plant. Blackplate doesn't want to give the Grist Mill Trail a 5-star rating because it's paved and that it should have been left in a 'gravel' state. The swinging bridge in the Avalon section is fun to see and traverse. OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. The Howard County side of the Avalon Area is the most visited section of Patapsco Valley State Park. Just type 1 Ilchester Road into your GPS and park along the side of the street. Alternatively, you may use, Patapsco Valley State Park Questions & Answers, Within a few yards. You can access a trail map on line. The stream is clear and many people love to take a dip. Patapsco Valley State Park 4.5 257 #2 of 15 things to do in Ellicott City State Parks Visit website Call Write a review What people are saying By AnitaS484 " Great Hiking Spot " Oct. 2020 Great Hiking Spot By Thomas - Genevi. To access the swing bridge, return to car. The B&O (now CSX) Old Main Line runs parallel to the Patapsco River in the Avalon area of the state park accessible from US 1 in Elkridge, Maryland. Follow signs that are posted but AllTrails app was most helpful. Enjoy the water view below! . Leaf peep at locations like Aroostook State Park, Route 11, Eagle Lake Public Land, Mount Kineo and Rockwood. 1. Join TrailLink (a non-profit) to view more than 40,000 miles of trail maps and more! The Patapsco Valley has a history of swinging bridges built for pedestrian trav It is a suspension bridge consisting of a wooden deck supported by large cables. $0.00, Hike it Baby Family Trail Guide is an online resource to help families with children source trails that little legs can hike and parents can feel comfortable with. OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. This is one of my favorite parks to enjoymany trails to still discover, now that weather is getting warmer. Patapsco Valley State Park Avalon Area Photos (2,481) Directions Print/PDF map Length 4.4 miElevation gain 666 ftRoute type Out & back Explore this 4.4-mile out-and-back trail near Elkridge, Maryland. Because of its paved surface, this spot is perfect for bikes or strollers. The entrance and trailhead you utilize makes a big difference. Once in the park, the closest parking lot for the southeastern trailhead is on Glen Artney Rd, just north of its intersection with Soapstone Trail road in Halethorpe. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The Swinging Bridge will be open for foot traffic but not for access to the Grist Mill Trail. It's more like a series of smaller parks, strung together like beads on a string. Gambrill Manufacturing Company. You will receive your first email soon. The trail is gentle and wheelchair accessible. Swimming is allowed in all areas along the river unless posted otherwise. Your donation will help us to continue connecting more people to trails around the country. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. Check out this historic and scenic trek thats short and sweet, but perhaps a bit unnerving for those who are afraid of heights. This path is known as Patapsco Valley State Parks Grist Mill Trail, and it starts off with the first of two swinging bridges. There are scenic and historic stops along the Byway, which runs from Browns Valley to Belle Plaine, just south of Minneapolis. Swinging Bridge (Orange Grove Area). Got some great pictures of a Herron fishing in the river. We started at the beginning of trail. Day Use Service Charges: If you head in at the entrance thats in front of the parking lot, its a 0.4 mile walk to connect to the route thats listed on here. rn. Visitors can cross the bridge to discover ruins of this large mill site that extended from the railroad tracks to the Swinging Bridge abutment. Google Maps This path is known as Patapsco Valley State Park's Grist Mill Trail, and it starts off with the first of two swinging bridges. The trail was muddy but overall the trail was amazing! Park at the lot in front of the bathrooms.if its full there a larger lot adjacent. Starting at the Avalon area, near Lost Lake, we completed the 2.2 mike trail each way. Forty years ago on June 23, flooding from Hurricane Agnes hit the Patapsco River Valley area, devastating the state park, wiping out old mill towns and severely flooding Ellicott City and Oella. For more information on the trail, call or visit the Avalon Visitor Center, 410-737-0451. Hey! The swinging bridge in the Avalon section is fun to see and traverse. One over the river that you can cross to go to a rest area and another at the end of the trail. As Gunpowders premier day-use park, the Hammerman Area features a 1,500 foot beach and swimming area on the banks of the Gunpowder River. Patapsco Valley's Maryland Conservation Corps Crew Patapsco Valley State Park would like to welcome the Maryland Conservation Corps crew for the 2022-2023 service year. An article from May 23, 1973, stated that damages to the Orange Grove and Avalon section of the park exceeded $8 million total. The newest and second swinging bridge opened November 4, 2006. Get more stories delivered right to your email. You DO NOT want to park at the first lot (it is the wrong place) and ride your bike back up this hill (unless, of course, you are a masochist). Muddy in places. The best hidden gems and little known destinations - straight to your inbox. The Grist Mill Trail is a 5.0 mile long hiking and biking trail located in Patapsco Valley State Park in the Baltimore County side of the Patapsco Valley near Catonsville, Maryland. Very pleasant temperature for late December. Brown park sign clearly marks it. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. Near the trail end at Illchester also features the Illchester Train tunnel and ruins of the of the old St. Marys College, a former seminary. It is a suspension bridge consisting of a wooden deck supported by large cables. Patapsco Valley State Park is nestled in four Maryland counties - Carroll, Baltimore, Howard, and Anne Arundel. More than 80 homes in the Ellicott City area were damaged and in Elkridge 72 homes were affected. Follow River Rd, after paying admission, till you see handicap parking spaces and bathrooms, drive further down for general parking. Like any park service, Patapsco State Park has a number of dos and don'ts to keep in . It is located at the end of the Grist Mill Trail and crosses the Patapsco River to connect with Ilchester Road. Click here to subscribe! There it is! 8 Which is the best way to cross the Swinging Bridge? Please note, you need to pay a fee to enter the park. Instead of heading across the swinging bridge first thing, we took the trail up to Cascade Falls from the far end of the parking lot. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Wonderful natural and historical features await visitors to this beautiful state park. Caught some amazing views overlooking the Patapsco River and the Swinging Bridge in Maryland. The original swinging bridge over the river was destroyed. They were fun as they move while your crossing. Brought my camera and got some good photos of a blue heron. Weather was cool and breezy. Keep going for a little over a mile. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 1 h 57 min to complete. 1 through Elkridge and into Baltimore County. A total of seven people died and another died in the flooding at the South Entrance to Columbia, according to the Howard County Times. It is located at the end of the Grist Mill Trail and crosses the Patapsco River to connect with Ilchester Road. All of the areas of the park are lovely, but just wait until you see the swinging bridge! Follow Rt. RM S2YNM4 - The Patapsco Swinging Bridge is located in Patapsco Valley State Park in central Maryland USA. Once at toll gate, follow road under bridge until you come to a T, make a left and follow road around. The Casade Falls loop trail is a popular one to hike, though there is some uphill hiking on rooty areas, something to keep in mind with little ones. This new bridge allows easy entry for residents living in Ellicott City and Catonsville for the first time since Hurricane Agnes struck in 1972. Hike details are sourced and have been hiked by families who participate in our community. My wife and I walked the full trail and back again. Weekdays: $2/vehicle, out-of-state residents $4/vehicle Keep your eye out for cyclists! Wheelchairs don't work too well on gravel. Patapsco Valley State Park - Avalon, Orange Grove and Glen Artney Area - Halethorpe, MD - 1/21; . I didn't try to push wheelchair across Swinging Bridge but I will next time since my son (mobile but unable to walk distance) wanted to walk the loop. Walk across this marvelous structure, which we promise is sturdy -- but may sway the tiniest bit. Also, they have a easy-moderate walk to a small waterfall. The following Maryland hike offers two of them! Do not venture off the trail too far, as private property abuts the park along several sections of the trail. Besty McMillion's first memory of Patapsco Valley State Park was when she was a teenager on a group date visiting the swinging bridge in the Avalon section. This is actually the parking lot for the Buzzard Rocks Trail, which looks like it might work for mountain bikes and does eventually connect with the Grist Mill Trail. Muddy and cold but moderate. River Road was completely washed out. However we parked at next to visitor center as other lots were full. The grand opening for the bridge was November 4, 2006. Recreational opportunities include hiking, fishing, camping, canoeing, horseback and mountain bike trails, as well as picnicking for individuals or large groups in the park's many popular pavilions. This footbridge is in the same Maryland park as the famous Thomas Viaduct. 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