Number Nine Trolley Trail, Ellicot City, MD, 12/27/20

Drove to historic Ellicott City, MD,  to meet my daughter's mother-in-law, Helen, for walk along the #9 Trolley Trail that runs from the Trolley Stop Restaurant (closed) to Catonsville.  The heavily used 1.25-mile in-and-out trail starts with a boardwalk and is paved all the way. Passed a bakery half way up the trail, closed of course. 

Helen brought both Mylee and Suna. Above,  Jim, Mylee and Helen.  Jim and Mylee are buddies and kept a steady pace.

 

South Branch Patapsco River Trail, MD, 12/13/20

 

Today's hike marks another first since we moved to Columbia in September: 

a family hike with my daughter, two granddaughters, their "other" grandmother, an elderly dog and a puppy. 

The trail let us to the south area of the state park we hiked last week, and followed the Patapsco river most of the time. 

                                                                                       

                        

McKelvin Area Loop, Patapsco Valley State Park, MD, 12.6.20

Decided very last minute on this cold but sunny Sunday to go for a hike.  

Selected a river hike from our Falcon Hiking Maryland and Delaware, packed lunch, and set off. 

To our delight, we are discovering a number of worthwhile hikes within 30 minutes of Columbia, this one to the west of Baltimore. 

The trail follows the Patapsco river most of the way, starting with the impressive rapids at the trailhead, to the confluence of the south and north branches of the river. 

Along the north branch, the river, strewn with boulders, slows to a lazy current showing off beautiful glassy surfaces reflecting the surrounding trees and sky. 

The return, heading south along Tall Poplar trail, led us through a narrow wooded valley. 

Total distance: 3.5 miles, elevation ~300 feet.