Walking Tips Dress in Layers The weather and even your own body temperature can fluctuate as you walk or hike. Layering allows you to comfortably add or remove clothing as needed during your activity. Stay Hydrated If you plan to be active for an hour or less, plain water is typically the best option to keep you hydrated. If your activity will last for more than 1 hour (or the outside temperature is high) a sports drink, juice or milk provide important nutrients and electrolytes to prevent dehydration. Pack a Snack Keeping a healthy snack on hand is a good idea just in case your walk goes a little longer than planned. Snacks that travel well include an apple, banana, granola bar or a small snack bag filled with nuts, trail mix or pretzels. Wear Sunscreen Anytime you are out in the sun no matter what time of year it is, it is important to protect your skin by wearing sunscreen. Bring a Buddy Having someone to walk with makes the journey safer and more enjoyable. Good luck on your journey to better health! 68 Locations Earleigh Heights Ranger Station 51 West Earleigh Heights Rd, Severna Park 401-222-6244 Hours: Monday - Sunday, 8:00am - 4:00pm Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary 1361 Wrighton Rd, Lothian 410-741-9330 Trails are located in the Glendening Nature Preserve Hours: Monday - Sunday, 9:00am - 5:00pm. No entrance fee. All Parks listed below are open 7:00am Dusk. Closed Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. Regional Parks have a $6 daily entrance fee. Annual passes for all Regional Parks are available at Park Visitor Centers for $40. Downs Park 8311 John Downs Loop, Pasadena 410-222-6230 Closed Tuesday Fort Smallwood Park 9500 Fort Smallwood Rd, Pasadena 410-222-6230 Closed Wednesday Kinder Farms Park 1001 Kinder Farm Park Rd, Millersville 410-222-6115 Closed Tuesday Quiet Waters Park 600 Quiet Waters Park Rd, Annapolis 410-222-1777 Closed Tuesday 3
B&A Trail Earleigh Heights Ranger Station B&A 2 Location: Earleigh Heights Ranger Station Difficulty: Easy Length: South side of Earleigh Heights Road, Severna Park Features: Earleigh Heights was a rural stop on the Baltimore and Annapolis Short Line Railroad. The general store and post office, which also sold railroad tickets, today serves as a ranger station for the B&A Trail. Local truck farms shipped canned and fresh produce by rail to Baltimore from this location. 8 9 B&A Trail Round Bay Station B&A 3 Location: Round Bay Station, Severna Park Difficulty: Easy Length:.6 mile south of Evergreen Road, Severna Park Features: In 1885, the Baltimore and Annapolis Short Line Railroad purchased 210 acres on the Severn River at Round Bay to serve as a seasonal resort which would increase passenger traffic on the line. A half-mile spur brought crowds from Baltimore to the hotel, pavilion and other attractions. 10 11
BWI Trail BWI Linthicum Station Trail Marker BWI 1 Location: Linthicum Station, Linthicum Difficulty: Easy Length: South side of W. Maple Road at BWI Trail spur Features: Linthicum Station, across W. Maple Road, was the junction where WB&A railroad routes to Washington, DC and Annapolis diverged. Today s BWI Trail spur follows the high speed Baltimore-Washington mainline as far as Andover Road, while the MTA Light Rail follows the Baltimore and Annapolis route. 16 17 BWI Trail BWI Overlook BWI 2 Location: Claudia Woods Memorial, Linthicum Difficulty: Moderate Length:.5 miles west of intersection of Andover Road and Hammonds Ferry Road, Linthicum Features: Outstanding location to overlook the operations of the entire Baltimore Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport. Benches and picnic tables make this an attractive rest stop on the 12.5 mile BWI Trail which encircles the airport. 18 19
WB&A Trail Little Patuxent River Bridge WB&A 2 Location: WB&A Trail Little Patuxent River Bridge, Odenton Difficulty: Easy Length:.3 miles south of intersection of WB&A Trail and Strawberry Lake Way Features: This nearly 200 foot long bridge provides wonderful vistas upstream and downstream of protected natural areas which flank the WB&A Trail on what was, until 1935, a high speed electric railway extending from Baltimore to Washington DC. Francis Station was formerly located.1 miles north of the bridge. 24 25 Discover Downs Park in Pasadena Situated on the Chesapeake Bay, Downs Park offers a variety of natural and recreational activities. There are more than five miles of paved and natural trails, a children s playground, 4 handball courts, 2 ball fields and 3 basketball courts. The park property has a rich history which has been preserved by the Downs Park Historical Society. The Friends of Downs Park supports many programs and projects in the park. Through their volunteers, fundraising and advocacy efforts the Friends of Downs Park is a non-profit (501c3) organization whose prime purpose is the support, enhancement and improvement of the park. For more information about the Friends of Downs Park or to become a member contact Downs Park at 410-222-6230 26 27
Downs Park Locust Cove Trail DOWNS 1 Location: After entering the West side of the park, take a right on Locust Cove Rd. Park in the last lot on the left Difficulty: Easy Length:.41 miles round trip from parking area. Features: Follow the path to the left from the parking lot. Where trail intersects, take another left. Level, paved trail that winds through a forest of mature hardwood and coniferous trees, and leads to the mouth of Locust Cove. This tidal area is a haven for wading birds. The tributary leads first to Bodkin Creek and then on to the Chesapeake Bay. 28 29 Downs Park South Overlook Trail DOWNS 2 Location: Park in main lot near Information Center. Difficulty: Easy Length:.25 miles round trip from parking area. Features: Paved, level trail that leads to expansive views of the Chesapeake Bay. The handicap accessible, shaded pavilion offers seating and bay breezes in a picturesque setting. Use the viewfinder for a closer look at the Ospreys that nest from mid March through early September. 30 31
Discover Fort Smallwood Park in Pasadena Battery Hartshorne FSP 1 Location: Park in the lot near the battery. Difficulty: Easy Length: 1/16 mile round trip from parking area Features: Battery Hartshorne dates from 1896 and is the crowning landmark of Fort Smallwood Park. It was constructed with Portland cement, sand and gravel. The battery was created as part of a network of five artillery forts in response to the Spanish American War. It once provided protection to the City of Baltimore from incoming naval threats and now silently overlooks the Patapsco River, a reminder of its place in history. 34 35 Fort Smallwood Park Bill Burton Fishing Pier FSP 2 Location: Park in the lot near the old concession building. Difficulty: Easy Length:.45 of a mile round trip from the parking area to the end of the pier. Features: Named in memory of famed local fisherman and writer Bill Burton, this 380 foot pier sits on Rock Creek. The pier provides excellent opportunities for fishing, crabbing and sightseeing. The waters around the pier also provide habitat for Rockfish, White Perch and Blue Crabs to breed and grow. From the pier s end one can see the Francis Scott Key Bridge as well as the ships that pass as they head to port. 36 37
Jug Bay Glendening Nature Preserve Cliff Trail Jug Bay 2 Location: North region of sanctuary Difficulty: Medium, small hills, surfaces vary. No motorized vehicles allowed. Length: 0.6 miles. Features: The trail begins at the parking lot on Wrighton Rd. Cliff Trail runs along the west edge of the Preserve, atop the Bluff above the Patuxent wetlands. Good views, especially in winter, of the broad marshes and river. 42 43 Jug Bay Glendening Nature Preserve Sand Barrens Jug Bay 3 Location: Use Cliff trail until it hooks back up with Red Oak and take the trail up into the Barrens. Difficulty: Medium, small hills, surfaces vary. No motorized vehicles allowed. Length: 1.4 miles from parking lot. Features: The trails begin at the parking lot on Wrighton Rd. At the north end of the Red Oak trail, the trail drops down to a low area that was a former gravel pit, now filled with Virginia Pine and Opuntia cactus. We call this area the Sand Barrens. A picnic table is located here. 44 45