patapsco valley state park swinging bridge

The Patapsco Swinging Bridge is located in the Avalon/Orange Grove area of Patapsco Valley State Park in central Maryland, United States. Definitely felt safe enough to go again. Good trail, sticks helped because leaves made it pretty slick out there. Although I did not go past the end of the trail, I was told there is a visitor's center not far past the end, where you can get refreshments. TRAIL INFO What's to like about the trail: Picturesque river vistas, mature forest, waterfalls and swinging bridges. How much does it cost to get into Patapsco State Park? Do you have memories of Hurricane Agnes? Those looking for a longer trek can park in the Avalon Area and hike the Ridge Trail to . Do not be fooled into thinking that this must be River Road. Patapsco Valley State Park - Avalon 5120 South Street Halethorpe MD 21227 410-461-5005 Which is the best way to cross the Swinging Bridge? Dogs are welcome, but must be on a leash. H " Robust facilities, trails, and parking " Dec. 2019 We were walking to the swinging bridge but this trail was taking longer to hike due to all the switchbacks. They were fun as they move while your crossing. "It was kind of swingy and a. 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. Patapsco Valley State Park is a Maryland state park extending along 32 miles (51 km) of the Patapsco River south and west of the city of Baltimore, Maryland. This path is known as Patapsco Valley State Parks Grist Mill Trail, and it starts off with the first of two swinging bridges. Challenging and fun hike. Took this trail up to the swinging bridge. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. Swinging Bridge (Orange Grove Area). Multiple elevations. The new swinging bridge was constructed October 6, 2006. One Of The Most Remote Beaches In Maryland Is Also The Most Magnificent, This Hike In Maryland Is Full Of Jaw-Dropping Natural Pools, This Beautiful And Scenic Trail In Maryland Is Perfect For Beginners, Enjoy The Best Dam Hike In Maryland Near Liberty Reservoir, Theres No Other Historical Landmark In Maryland Quite Like This 400-Year-Old Tree, Explore This Hidden Gem Park With Some Of The Best Boardwalk Trails In Maryland, This Underrated Trail Just May Be The Most Peaceful Hike In Maryland, The Maryland Forest Trail That Holds A Long Forgotten Secret Of The Civil War. Contact: jalvarenga@onlyinyourstate.com, Patapso Valley State Park In Maryland Has Swinging Bridges, Ruins, Camping, Waterfalls, And Trails, Hiking At Gathland State Park In Maryland Is Like Entering A Fairytale, Visit Cunningham Falls State Park in Maryland, A Hidden Gem Beach With A Nearby Waterfall, Rocks State Park Offers An Easy Hike In Maryland That Takes You To An Unforgettable View, Hike To A Gorgeous Swimming Hole At Swallow Falls State Park In Maryland, Most People In Maryland Dont Know About Our Old POW Camp, Explore Historic Gems And Scenery Galore At Susquehanna State Park In Maryland, A Beautiful Bridge Hike In Maryland, The Grist Mill Trail Is Full Of Mesmerizing Sights, 7 Of The Most Beautiful Fall Destination In Maryland. A lot of people out there with us. Thomas Viaduct (Avalon Area). There are two swinging bridges that cross the Patapsco River. There are scenic and historic stops along the Byway, which runs from Browns Valley to Belle Plaine, just south of Minneapolis. (or Lance Armstrong), TrailLink is a free service provided by Rails-to-Trails conservancy, Grist Mill Trail at Patapsco Valley State Park, We're a non-profit all about helping you enjoy the outdoors, Glen Artney Road (Lost Lake) and Ilchester Road (Ilchester), No longer generating electricity since the 1930s, the dam was removed in September 2017 to restore river habitat upstre. Patapsco Valley State Park is located just west of Baltimore near Ellicott City, Maryland. Patapsco Valley State Park is a Maryland state park extending along 32 miles (51 km) of the Patapsco River south and west of the city of Baltimore, . There are multiple connections to other trails. Ridge Trail, Valley View, Cascade Falls, Morning Choice, and of course the Bloede Trail and Extension - these trail mainstays are legendary in the trail community and host hundreds of thousands of trail users each year. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. This new bridge allows easy entry for residents living in Ellicott City and Catonsville for the first time since Hurricane Agnes struck in 1972. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. It continues to reign as the longest multiple-arched stone railroad bridge in the world and spans more than 600 feet across the Patapsco River in the Avalon Area of the park. After crossing the first swinging bridge, enjoy the easy path. This is a decent short trail. This footbridge is in the same Maryland park as the famous Thomas Viaduct. It passes by the Swinging Bridge and the site of the former Bloede's Dam. Went to ridge valley trail instead. Because of its paved surface, this spot is perfect for bikes or strollers. Jamie Alvarenga is a writer and editor for Only In Your State. RF EGC7W6 - Cascade Falls in Patapsco Valley State Park, Howard County, Maryland RF PAX8XJ - Cascade Falls, at Patapsco Valley State Park, Maryland Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". The entrance and trailhead you utilize makes a big difference. Closure Notice:Starting October 2022, the trail will be closedwill be closed for approximately 12 months in order to permanently repair the footbridges. Then park superintendent Charles Jackson recalled that time period roughly a year later in an interview. Exciting July Happenings! #potapsco#potapscovalley#waterfall#hiking#swingingbridge#camping Nice place for the family to picnic, hiking, swimming, biking and camping.Patapsco Valley State Park, Maryland near Ellicott City, Baltimore county has so many attractions, scenic views and trails along 32 miles of Patapsco River. Standard E-ZPass transponders are free and there is no monthly fee for customers with Maryland addresses. It's more like a series of smaller parks, strung together like beads on a string. The benefit of parking in the park is that all the trails are downhill to get to the parking area. Muddy and cold but moderate. ", Kathleen Dunworth Geil wrote, "We lived in Woodstock MD at the time. Park there and trailhead is about quarter mile up River Road on the left. The grand opening for the bridge was November 4, 2006. In official day use areas, weekday admission is $2 per vehicle for in-state residents and $4 per vehicle for out of state residents. 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. 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. Have you ever crossed a swinging bridge? Park entrance is on the left. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. In Elkridge, a family of six was forced from its home and they attempted to reach high ground in a small boat. beautiful seeing all the green return. Your donation will help us to continue connecting more people to trails around the country. Muddy but fun. 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. Having a map is handy if you're wanting to explore. This is one of my favorite parks to enjoymany trails to still discover, now that weather is getting warmer. Enlisted in 1994 to get his PhD in oceanographical acoustics from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California. The newest and second swinging bridge opened November 4, 2006. An article in the Catonsville Times from July 20, 1972 said that the flood caused roughly $1.8 million in damages to Patapsco State Park. Jamie Alvarenga is a writer and editor for Only In Your State. Weekdays: $2/vehicle, out-of-state residents $4/vehicle Patapsco Valley State Park charges a fee to enter. More than 80 homes in the Ellicott City area were damaged and in Elkridge 72 homes were affected. The closest parking lots are in the Orange Grove Area or across a swinging bridge in the Glen Artney Area. Where is Patapsco Valley State Park in Maryland? Patapsco Valley State Park Questions & Answers 257 Reviews Ranked #2 of 32 Attractions in Ellicott City 371juliab Virginia Beach, Virginia How far is swinging bridge from parking lot? There's a lot of bikers along the trail, so be prepared to find a place to step during the really narrow stretches. Leaf peep at locations like Aroostook State Park, Route 11, Eagle Lake Public Land, Mount Kineo and Rockwood. From there we drove for 15 minutes to Daniel's Dam.Enjoy the video, don't forget to share and subscribe ! The trail is wooded and would be a good ride for families, but is too short to get any good mileage in. 1. Lovely winding trail along ridges. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Patapsco_Swinging_Bridge&oldid=983090895, Southern United States bridge (structure) stubs, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 12 October 2020, at 05:32. There is a fee to enter the park. Great hike,and workout! Please note, you need to pay a fee to enter the park. The only reason that the Grist Mill Trail is paved is because it was made to be accessable to everyone including those in wheelchairs. OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. Monday through Friday: $2 per vehicle in-state. Cascade Falls Trail & Swinging Bridge (Avalon Area) The Avalon area of Patapsco has a lot to see- The Cascade waterfalls, a paved, wooded walking trail, and the Swinging Bridge, which overlooks the Patapsco River. Help defend and expand trails nationwide. 77 reviews of Patapsco Valley State Park "Patapsco Valley State Park is fan-flipping-tastic! 1 ( Exit 12-A) toward Elkridge. In Old Ellicott City, the water went all the way up to the door of Leidig's Bakery's.". . I am happy to help you find the best- for you- Trails, Parks and Epic Play areas in and around Maryland.and add some fun facts in the mix. Along the way, there are plenty of signs with historical facts, you will hear the water fall at the hydroelectric damn, see people fishing, picnicking, wading in the water. April-October: (All areas EXCEPT Pickall) Day Use Service Charge Pickall Area: $2/person, out-of-state residents $4/person It does go slightly uphill from the parking lot, but is mostly straight. Contact: jalvarenga@onlyinyourstate.com. Patapsco Valley State Park is a scenic area of dense woodland that follows a 32-mile (51-kilometer) section of its namesake river. add another half-mile if that's your starting point. Poorly marked in some areas,easy to get off trail if you don't check the map and also,the app does not indicate the right starting point,it takes you around for about half a mile and then brings you back to the trail in the beggining,so be aware and keep your eye on the map [4] The park encompasses multiple developed areas on over 14,000 acres (5,700 ha) acres of land, making it Maryland's largest state park. No longer generating electricity since the 1930s, the dam was removed in September 2017 to restore river habitat upstream.Patapsco Valley State Park was created in 1907 and is one of Maryland's oldest state parks. The Patapsco Valley has a history of swinging bridges built for pedestrian trav During warm months, its a great place to swim the Avalon and Hilton entrances offer best access to swimming areas in the Patapsco River. Get more stories delivered right to your email. Other highlights off the tail are a swinging bridge at Orange Grove and the remains of the Bloede's Dam (scheduled for demolition in late 2016) which was the world's first submerged electrical generating plant contained inside a dam. As this area had a propensity for flooding check park service twitter before heading there. 7 Where is the Swinging Bridge Trail in Maryland? 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 Swinging Bridge will be open for foot traffic but not for access to the Grist Mill Trail. 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. The Patapsco Valley has a history of "swinging" bridges built for pedestrian travel from one side of the river to the other. Plus, all 3 girls like jumping up and down on the bridge to get it to move more. For more magnificent hikes in Maryland, click here! went for a casual trail run but was struggling after the first leg. Nice hike. And it is shaded enough so that, even on a fairly warm day, you won't have any discomfort. The immense park contains eight individual recreation areas, with picnicking, mountain biking and canoeing among the main activities. A second swinging bridge opened November 4, 2006. Hotels near B&O Ellicott City Station Museum, Hotels near Howard County Historical Society Museum, Hotels near Ellicott City Firehouse Museum. Park entrance is on the left. Btw,my activity recorded it's not accurate,as I forgot to turn the app off until I got home :), Lots of mountain bikers. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 1 h 57 min to complete. As the sun began its descent below the tree line, we retraced our steps back to the trailhead and shuffled across the Swinging Bridge. Also of historical interest is the 300-foot Swinging Bridge in the Orange Grove Area. 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). A total of seven people died and another died in the flooding at the South Entrance to Columbia, according to the Howard County Times. The Patapsco Swinging Bridge is located in the AvalonOrange Grove area of Patapsco Valley State Park in central Maryland, United States. From Howard County follow Rt. E-ZPass commuter plans are available. The beginning of the bridge trail is just steps away. An article in the Catonsville Times from July 20, 1972 said that the flood caused roughly $1.8 million in damages to Patapsco State Park. TRAIL GRADE: MODERATE (2) TRAIL PARKING: 10 spots or less KEY WORDS: Swinging Bridge, Waterfalls. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. 6 Does Patapsco State Park take credit cards? . From Interstate 70, take exit 87A to merge onto US-29 South. There are all types of foundations for old bridges. Turn right. We went off trail and down to the road to walk back to our car then drove to the parking lot by the bridge. Weather was cool and breezy. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. 9 a.m. to Sunset. 1 (Exit 3) toward Elkridge to South St. For just the entrance fee information, visit the Maryland DNR Patapsco Valley State Park Service Charge page. Starting in the Avalon area of Patapsco Valley Park near "Lost Lake", this is about 2.5 miles long, ending at a suspension bridge across the Patapsco River at Illchester Road. There is only 3 handicap accessible, including van accessible spaces, right by bathroom building. Not too crowded. Turn right. Check or FAQs for more common login questions. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". However we parked at next to visitor center as other lots were full. 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. Wonderful natural and historical features await visitors to this beautiful state park. The park follows the river for 32 miles, from Carroll County through Howard, touching on Baltimore County and Baltimore City as well. There are also the ruins of a flour mill and dam. There are trails on both sides of the 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. Getting there: Depends where "there" is. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Maryland wildlife officials were searching for a young, wayward black bear today in the Patapsco Valley State Park area in western Baltimore County. Maryland DNR Patapsco Valley State Park Service Charge page, Service Charges for Maryland State Parks page, Grist Mill Trail - Maryland Dept of Natural Resources. Great Elevations and dips to really get the feel of low impact climb/hike. Love Maryland? For more information, please see, No conditions reported in the past 7 days. You will receive your first email soon. The Grist Mill trail is a paved bike path that runs the length of the Hilton and Glen Artney areas of Patapsco, on the north side of the river. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. Does Patapsco State Park take credit cards? She spends her time chasing around a curious 4-year-old and going on coffee-fueled adventures throughout Maryland. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. As a consequence, the area has many historic sites and also preserves a valuable greenway in this urban area. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. All of the areas of the park are lovely, but just wait until you see the swinging bridge! 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. 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. Upvote 3 Downvote Kellie Carlisle October 21, 2011 Be sure to visit the swinging bridge, the beautiful dam, and always gorgeous Cascade falls. The Patapsco Valley has a history of "swinging" bridges built for pedestrian travel from one side of the river to the other. Fun hike to do in the morning. ", Patch readers recalled the storm on the Catonsville Patch Facebook page. Park entrance is on the left. Learn more about the Orange Grove Area specifically by clicking here. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. This is an unguarded, swim at your own risk area, and as with all areas of the river, swimmers should be cautious of swift currents and sharp stones along the river bottom. The Swinging Bridge : Spanning the Patapsco at Orange Grove, 1.6 miles northwest of Avalon, past suspension foot bridges at this location enabled residents of the Orange Grove mill town to cross the river to Baltimore. I would not rate this a hike since it is paved. Patapsco State Park - Avalon Area 52 reviews Claimed Parks, Tubing, Fishing Edit Open 9:00 AM - 7:30 PM See hours See all 186 photos Write a review Add photo Location & Hours 5120 South St Get directions Edit business info Amenities and More Masks required Accepts Credit Cards Good For Kids Private Lot Parking 4 More Attributes Ask the Community Went for the 1st time with a friend and had a blast. It is located at the end of the new Grist Mill Trail in the Avalon area, crossing the Patapsco River and joining with Ilchester Road. There are campsites and picnic shelters for rent in advance and . Alternatively, you may use, Patapsco Valley State Park Questions & Answers, Within a few yards. This path is known as Patapsco Valley State Parks Grist Mill Trail, and it starts off with the first of two swinging bridges. An article from May 23, 1973, stated that damages to the Orange Grove and Avalon section of the park exceeded $8 million total. Grist mill train closed due to bridge construction. The National Guard helicopters were called in to rescue two workmen from the roof of the Daniels plant. Due to the below freezing temperatures overnight, some water that collected on the path froze, leading to some black ice, which one hiker slipped and fell on. Ugliness is the measure of imperfection.H.G. 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. Right off the Cascade Falls Trail you can also cross Landing Road and hit the Rockburn Trails. app only recorded a quarter of the trip so it was confusing following the trails to get where I needed. I felt very safe and comfortable with the distance and incline of this trail. Turn left on South St. Park entrance is on the left. This map isn't accurate of you start at the entrance across from the parking lot. Insanely muddy! According to an article from the Howard County Times, more than 900 people were evacuated from their homes. 1 through Elkridge and into Baltimore County. RM S2YNM4 - The Patapsco Swinging Bridge is located in Patapsco Valley State Park in central Maryland USA. It does not store any personal data. The roads are not very well marked either. It is located at the end of the Grist Mill Trail and crosses the Patapsco River to connect with Ilchester Road. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". I love it! Few spots were muddy but easy to get through. Bloede's Dam, on the National Register of Historic Places, was said to be the world's first submerged electrical generating plant, which was housed under water inside the dam. Nice place for a long hike with options. The Patapsco Valley has a history of "swinging" bridges built for pedestrian travel from one side of the river to the other. Follow River Rd, after paying admission, till you see handicap parking spaces and bathrooms, drive further down for general parking. $50K Winning Lotto In Catonsville + Trucker Parks At Funeral Home, Food Delivery Driver Stabbed + Baltimore County House Fire, Baltimore Co. PD Recruiting Website + $5K Fine For Crowing Rooster, Record Number Of Guns Confiscated At BWI Airport In 2022: TSA, Hogan To Take A Break After Office; Jabs At Trump, DeSantis On CNN, Adorable Adoptable Pets Of The Week In The Catonsville Area. There is no greater joy than watching a child come alive outside! Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Patapsco Valley State Park runs as a diagonal line, west to east, across Maryland. Yet the weather can be so delightful, and the scenery so beautiful tha Plan ahead: read more information on our website. Hike details are sourced and have been hiked by families who participate in our community. Turn left on South St. Park entrance is on the left. Good walking surface but narrow in spots. Our contributors do their best to give you all the details they can, but if something is missed, you can reach out to the contributor and offer suggestions for them to add to make it a better trail description for all. 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. There are campsites and picnic shelters for rent in advance and trail maps and restrooms available also on the DNR website. There are many unique sites to see in this park. The world's longest multiple-arched stone railroad bridge. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. There it is! Follow US-40 West for 3 miles, then turn right into the park's entrance. Well send you a weekly peek at more amazing places to explore around the country. Lots of mountain bikers and very few hikers. Address: 1 Ilchester Road, Ellicott City, MD 21043. We always start our adventures here by crossing the bridge. We choose this because my husband is in a shoulder sling and it had been raining hard the few days previous, so we needed on easy walk. 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. It is a suspension bridge consisting of a wooden deck supported by large cables. I'm gonna take you through my 6 favorite spots at Patapsco to consider as a location for your next photo session! Patapsco Valley State Park is a world unto its own, just a few short miles from one of the nation's largest population centers. Rockburn Branch Purple, Morning Choice, Valley View and Ridge Trail, Grist Mill Trail to Nunnery and Soapstone Trail, Vineyard Springs and Inner Soapstone Loop, Rockburn Branch, Morning Choice, and Ridge Trail Loop, Ridge Rockburn and Hop the Snake Trails Loop, Santee Branch, Pigs Run, and Forest Glen Trail Loop, Water Bars, Ridge, Belmont and Hop the Snake Loop, https://dnr.maryland.gov/Publiclands/Pages/oc.aspx. It can also fill to capacity in the summer. Prior suspension foot bridges at this location enabled residents of the Orange Grove mill community to cross the river to Baltimore County to work in the five stories high Orange Grove Flour Mill of the C.A. This is the perfect semi-trail! This mill burned May 1, 1905. Shot with the DJI Mavic Air. In addition, if it's a busy day and the parking is full, there is a Park and Ride lot across the street. Is it safe to swim in the Patapsco River? 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. xo. The Swinging Bridge will be open for foot traffic but not to access the Grist Mill Trail. Way longer of a trail than what the system says it is. The first spans the Patapsco at Orange Grove, 1.6 miles (2.6 km) northwest of Avalon following the Park Road in Howard County beyond shelters 104 and 105. Parking is available at Patapsco Valley State Park (5120 South Street, Halethorpe). September 30, 2017 . Check out this historic and scenic trek thats short and sweet, but perhaps a bit unnerving for those who are afraid of heights. November-March: $2/vehicle, out-of-state residents $4/vehicle The park caters to hikers with a number of hiking-only trails, although they offer multi-use trails for bikers and others. In Howard County, a total of 704 county residents were left homeless. very peaceful today. Very pleasant temperature for late December. 1 through Elkridge and into Baltimore County. Not the case. Really hilly and not properly marked until you hit a certain point. You can also park outside the park at the end of the Grist Mill, on Landing Road, or off of South Rolling Road across from the Park & Ride. Hike it Baby makes every effort to keep trail content up to date, but trail conditions are subject to change. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. Anders said it has been eight years since a bear was spotted in the metropolitan area. The Hilton Area of the park will periodically close during the next two months due to paving. Avalon/Glen Artney/Orange Grove/Lost Lake Areas From the Beltway (I-695) take Rt. Trail blazes are orange and the trail is clearly marked. There is no move to pave any of the other trails. To be surrounded by the buildings, traffic and noise that is the center of Baltimore (population: 614,000), you'd never guess that a mere 15-minute drive can deliver you to trail running paradise. These days it seems fall is one of the busiest times of year, especially for families. Since this is the only trail that is listed for Patapsco Valley State Park in the Elkridge/Ellicott City area I am going to comment on this and about the park. Thank you! (Herbert George). The trail is asphalt, but there are some rough spots that are quite gravely, and several raised tree root areas, so be aware. Which is the best way to cross the Swinging Bridge? For more information on the trail, call or visit the Avalon Visitor Center, 410-737-0451.