Trailhead Hike: Patapsco Valley State Park, MD

Meet at Patapsco Valley State Park Orange Grove Area parking lot near the Swinging Bridge, 9:30 a.m. We venture to an often overlooked hiking mecca between Washington and Baltimore for our last hike of the year. We’ll visit three areas of Patapsco Valley State Park, a Maryland gem along the Patapsco River that offers an unbelievable 200 miles of trails. Long hikers cross a swinging bridge to start a circuit in the Hilton Area on the Forest Glen, Pigs Run, Santee Branch, Sawmill Branch and Buzzard Rock trails. Then they follow the route of the moderate hikers in the Orange Grove and Avalon Areas on the Cascade Falls, Morning Choice, Rockburn Branch, Valley View and Ridge Trails.