Patapsco Valley State Park, Ellicott City

Great place to ride a mountain bike. A lot of really well maintained trails. Not sure if they hire more in the summer but I was impressed with the amount of park workers I saw there actually working and not just driving around. The people who go to parks and the people who work at parks make the culture at a park what it is. I drove three hours to ride my bike here on a Monday morning. Awesome park.

For me this was a best kept secret. I took my family for a walk through this huge state park. The park was clean, the scenery was beautiful, and the trails were visible. We even stumbled across a waterfall. There was a cooking area and a play area for children. I would definitely visit again and take my family and friends. I highly recommend. Oh and it was free for military.

Beautiful park. There are miles of trails for all levels of hikers. Generally the closer you hike toward the river the more challenging the hike will be, with the exception of the wonderful paved trail that runs parallel to the river in the Hilton area. I suggest planning your hikes with a topographical map that is on the parks website. There are many hidden gems that are tucked away in this park and stumbling across them is very exciting.

Beautiful park with lots of options. Great hike trails, bike paths, and places to wade (or swim) in the water. Rangers are very nice, and the park is well maintained. Have had no issues here. Also, price is unbelievably affordable. Much better price than many surrounding parks, but offers more and at a better quality. Must visit by any park goers.

Nice park on the edge of the city. Bigger and more rustic than one would expect this close to a major east coast city (like a mile from beltway in a pretty high density area). Great neighborhood so no concerns there.