Ilchester Road to Glen Artney
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TRAIL MAP FOR PVSP SECTION 9: ILCHESTER ROAD TO GLEN ARTNEY PATAPSCO STATE PARK TRAILS MAP AND SUGGESTED HIKES ILCHESTER ROAD TO GLEN ARTNEY (INCLUDING HILTON AREA) Prepared by: Bill Saunders, Mountain Club of Maryland Last Updated: 5/26/2020 NOTES I have made nine trail maps of different sections of PVSP for my personal use as a hike leader: 1. Route 32 to Marriotsville Road 2. McKeldin Area 3. North Branch of Patapsco Rive to Woodstock Rd – Baltimore County side 4. Marriotsville Road to Woodstock Road – Howard County side 5. Woodstock Rd to Daniels area – both sides of the river 6. Daniels area to Ellicott City – Howard County side of river 7. Oella / Pickall area – Baltimore County side of river 8. Rockburn Park / Avalon area – Howard County side of river 9. Ilchester Road to Glen Artney – Baltimore County side of river This map covers trails in section 9, Ilchester Road to Glen Artney. Features This is a large area of Patapsco Valley State Park with many miles of blazed and unblazed trails. It includes trails of all levels of difficulty and several overlooks of the Patapsco River. This section includes the Grist Mill Trail, a flat, paved 3-mile walking trail along the river, running all the way from Glen Artney to Ilchester Road, that offers an excellent opportunity for easy hikes. The Avalon Area of PVSP, which is across the river, can be reached by crossing the Swinging Bridge. Parking There are numerous parking areas available to hikers: Hilton Area: There is ample parking inside the Hilton area of PVSP, which can be reach from South Rolling Road in Catonsville. Glen Artney Area: This area, which can be entered from South Street off Route 1, has plenty of parking in its Upper and Lower Glen Artney lots, as well as a small parking area at Lost Lake. Rolling Road: There is a large pull-off parking area (at least 15 cars) on Rolling Road at the Soapstone Trail trailhead near the intersection with I-195. In addition, the Southwest Park and Ride (which can be entered from Rolling Road or I-195) is right across the street. Hilton Road: There is a small parking lot (7-8 cars) on Hilton Ave in Catonsville. Ilchester Road: There is a very limited amount of off-road parking on Ilchester Road at the Patapsco River Crossing. HIKE SUGGESTIONS Below are directions for several possible hikes in this area. 1. Glen Artney: Grist Mill Trail: 6 Miles Easy NEXT CUMULATIVE STEP ACTION MILES 0 Start at the small parking lot at the Grist Mill Trail trailhead near Lost Lake in Glen Artney. Or park in the Lower Glen Artney and walk an additional .3 mile on the paved entrance road back to the Grist Mill Trail trailhead. 2.95 Follow the Grist Mill trail upriver on the paved walking path. You will pass the Swinging Bridge across the river and numerous trail intersections. You can hike the entire distance until the trail ends at the footbridge to Ilchester Road. There are plenty of views of the river during the walk. 2.95 2.95 Near the Ilchester Road footbridge, there is a seating area to rest before heading back. Then hike back downriver to the starting point. 5.9 2. Hilton Road: Buzzard Rocks / Santee Branch Loop- 9 Miles Medium NEXT CUMULATIVE STEP ACTION MILES 0 Start at the small parking lot on Hilton Road. 0 1.15 Turn right on the yellow Buzzard Rocks Trail (at the back of the lot). Walk Continue to the Ilchester Rocks overlook and enjoy the view. Then continue to follow the Buzzard Rocks Trail downhill to the Grist Mill Trail and turn left. 1.15 1.5 Follow the Grist Mill Trail to a cross-under that goes beneath the railroad track, and take this trail.Take this trail back up the ridge to the white-blazed Santee Branch Trail. Turn right. 2.65 0.55 Take this trail back up the ridge to the white-blazed Santee Branch Trail. Turn right. 3.2 0.95 Follow the Santee Branch Trail to the Vineyard Springs intersection and take the dirt road on the right back to the Upper Glen Artney picnic area. Then turn left on the parking lot road and follow it downhill to the upper Soapstone Trail turnoff on the left (about halfway down the hill). 4.15 0.75 Follow the Soapstone Trail back to the Lower Glen Artney parking lot. Turn left, cross the stream, and turn left onto the Bull Run Trail. 4.9 0.35 At the top of the hill, turn left to stay on the orange Bull Run Trail. Follow it around in a half circle to a fork, and turn left to follow the side trail down to a stream. 5.25 0.45 Cross the stream and take the trail on the other side, climbing the steep hill. At the top, turn right onto the white-blazed Santee Branch Trail. 5.7 2.08 Follow the Santee Branch Trail (white blazes) to its end. Cross the stream, and turn left (downstream) on the Saw Mill Branch Trail (red blazes) . 7.78 0.6 Just before the stream crosses under the railroad tracks, turn right onto the yellow-blazed Buzzard Rocks Trail and climb the steep slope. 8.38 0.85 Follow the Buzzard Rocks Trail along the top of the ridge. Stop at one or more of the overlooks to enjoy the view of the river. Pass the Saw Mill Branch Trail intersection on the right, then follow the yellow blazes as the trail turns left and returns to the Hilton Road parking lot. 9.23 3. Rolling Road: Soapstone / Santee / Grist Mill Loop Hike - 11 Miles Hard NEXT CUMULATIVE STEP ACTION MILES Start at Rolling Road / SW Park & Ride on 0 Soapstone Trail Immediately take the side trail on the right. 0 Turn right onto the orange-blazed Bull Run Trail 1.35 that climbs up the hill. 1.35 Climb to top of hill, turn right, and follow the Bear Run in an entire circle, then go all the way back down the hill on the orange trail. Turn right and 1 cross the large stream. 2.35 Cross the Lower Glen Artney parking lot with its pavilionsand rest rooms. Continue up hill on the 0.1 Soapstone Trail (to the right of the rest rooms) 2.45 At the top of the hill. Turn right and walk up the road toward Upper Glen Artney. In 1/4 mile, before reaching the top, bear right onto the 0.36 Santee Branch Trail. 2.81 Follow the white-blazed Santee Trail for two miles, where it merges with the orange Charcoal Trail, 2.13 and bear left onto this trail 4.94 In .2 mile, the two trail separate. Bear left to stay on the white Santee Branch Trail. In another .3 miles, when the Santee Branch Trail ends, cross the steam and continue straight (uphill) on the 0.5 Saw Mill Branch Trail. 5.44 When the Saw Mill Branch Trail ends, turn right 0.45 onto the yellows Buzzards Rock Trail. 5.89 Follow the yellow trail as it curves left to the Hilton Road parking lot. Cross the lot and turns right to continue on the Buzzard Rocks Trail. Stop at the Ilchester Rocks overlook to enjoy the view, then continue down the trail until it ends near the 1.45 river. Turn left onto the paved Grist Mill Trail. 7.34 Follow the Grist Mill Trail to Lost Lake, then turn left onto the road to Glen Artney t hat passes 2.3 under the railroad tracks. 9.64 Walk up the road to the Lower Glen Artney area. Pass the rest rooms and cross the stream at the 0.3 end of the parking lot. 9.94 In a short distance cross a smaller stream and turn right onto the eastern branch of the purple-blazed Soapstone Trail. Follow this trail back to the 1.3 parking area at Rolling Road. 11.24 .