OUTDOOR ATTRACTIONS Patapsco Valley State Park KENNETH LOSURDO, JR

OUTDOOR ATTRACTIONS Patapsco Valley State Park KENNETH LOSURDO, JR.

Columbia Association Patapsco Valley State Park The Number 9 Trolley Trail The C.A. offers more than 3,500 Maryland’s first State Park (called This quiet, rustic trail along an old trolley acres of open space and neigh- “Moab East” by some) for mountain route leads into a stream-crossed valley and borhood amenities, including bikers welcomes 1.1 million visitors is easily accessed from Old Ellicott City. The pools, fitness centers, tennis, golf annually to enjoy its recreational trail begins in Catonsville Junction and follows and putt-putt, ice-skating, batting and historical attractions. The designated bike shoulders for the first mile, cages, skate parks, recreation park extends along 32 miles of the continuing along a scenic two-mile section centers, lakes, parks, dog parks, Patapsco River, with 16,043 acres of paved pathway and ending in Oella. A and walking, jogging and biking and eight developed recreational section of this trail is within Baltimore County's pathways. 6310 Hillside Ct., Ste. areas. Don’t miss the Thomas Benjamin Banneker Historic Park. patapsco- 100, Columbia, 21046, 410-715- Viaduct (an engineering marvel), the heritagegreenway.org/recreation/hiking.html 3000, columbiaassociation.org Swinging Bridge near the Cascade Falls trailhead, and the stroller- and Howard County Department wheelchair-friendly Grist Mill Trail of Recreation & Parks suspension bridge. 8020 Baltimore Pathway Howard County oversees regional, National Pike, Ellicott City, MD 21043, MOBILE APP community, and neighborhood 410-461-5005, dnr.state.md.us The C.A. Pathway parks with sports facilities, rec- Mobile App highlights reation areas, nature centers, Robinson Nature Center Columbia Association’s 93.5 miles of scenic outdoor trails, dog parks and Opened in September 2011, the pathways, facilities, lakes and village more. 7120 Oakland Mills Road, James H. and Anne E. Robinson center buildings. The “Locate me” Columbia, MD 21046, 410-313- Nature Center welcomes visitors of GPS feature allows users to find CA 4700, howardcountymd.gov/rap all ages to enjoy interactive exhibits facilities and map a route for walking, about local habitats, wildlife and running or biking to those facilities. Howard County Conservancy the Chesapeake Bay. There’s also Maps show elevations, lakes, streams, Opened in 2005, the Gudelsky a children’s discovery room and streets and C.A.’s tot lots. The C.A. Environmental Education Center at a digital, domed nature theater. Pathways app is available for download the Howard County Conservancy Ongoing programming gives kids of to mobile phones and tablets. is located at the 300-year-old Mt. all ages opportunities for stargaz- Pleasant farm. The center offers pro- ing, leaf-peeping and bird-watching. grams about the animal and plant life 6692 Cedar Lane, Columbia, MD found in the Chesapeake Bay water- 21044, 410-313-0400, AccessDNR shed. With a variety of habitats and howardcountymd.gov/ MOBILE APP micro-climates, the Conservancy’s RobinsonNatureCenter 232 acres of rolling hills are per- AccessDNR AccessDNR is the official fectly suited for nature study and app from the Maryland exploration.10520 Old Frederick Department of Natural Resources for the For questions or more information, State’s outdoor enthusiasts. Whether you Road, Woodstock, MD 21163-0175, contact Howard County Tourism 410-465-8877, hcconservancy.org want to visit a State Park, hunt or fish, & Promotion, 410-313-1900, explore waterways by boat or kayak, or visithowardcounty.com simply watch wildlife, the AccessDNR app provides all the information and 22 HOWARD COUNTY OFFICIAL VISITORS + RESIDENTS GUIDE | 2016 services you need on the go.