Contact: 410-461-5005
Baltimore County
Soldiers Delight Natural Environment Area
5100 Deer Park Road
Owings Mills MD 21117
Open: 9 a.m. to Sunset
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Heat advisory Soldiers Delight NEA! Sunny days on the Serpentine Barren raise the temperature of the trail beyond that of the air. Hiking at Soldiers Delight NEA is not recommended during periods of extreme heat. Heat related illness and dehydration can and have occurred. Hiking with your pet without protected paws risks serious burns and evacuation on sensitive, protected ground. On June 22, 2024, the air temperature was 98*F and the surface of the trail was 132*F. Please recreate responsibly in this rare ecosystem and visit on cooler, cloudy days or early in the morning after sunrise.
Soldiers Delight Natural Environment Area (NEA) is comprised of 1,900 acres of serpentine barren. The area has over 39 rare, threatened, or endangered plant species as well as rare insects, rocks and minerals. There are seven miles of marked hiking trails. Equestrians and cyclists are prohibited due to the sensitive nature of the area.
Rare grassland plant species are threatened by invasion of Virginia Pines. Currently, a five-year effort of removing 1,000 acres of pines and prescribed burning is underway to return the area to natural serpentine habitat. Click here to learn more about the
Soldiers Delight Natural Area.
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