In celebration of a national movement to promote the importance of trails in the United States, Maryland State Parks have planned a series of outdoor activities on National Trails Day®, Saturday, June 4th. These family- friendly events include an array of activities, including guided hikes, trail maintenance projects, invasive plant removal, and more.
Sponsored by the American Hiking Society, National Trails Day® occurs on the first Saturday of every June and encourages people of all ages to discover and enjoy America’s vast network of trails. Trails give you the opportunity to get your heart pumping, lungs expanding, and muscles working at various levels of difficulty, thereby improving your physical and mental well-being.
Elk Neck SP Beaver Marsh Hike
10:00 AM - noon
Join a Ranger for a guided scavenger hunt along the Beaver Marsh Loop Trail. This two-mile hike will let you view the native flora, and you may see some critters along the way. Dogs on a leash are encouraged to join us! Reservations are preferred, but not required. Meet at the Rogues Harbor Upper Lot + Beaver Marsh Trailhead.
Contact: (410) 287-5333
Fees: normal fees apply
Gambrill SP Red Trail Cleanup
9:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Join park staff as they perform some TLC to the park's Red Trail linking the Rock Run and High Knob areas. Tasks include clipping back intruding brush and some finishing/cleanup of some utility repairs the local electric company did along the trail corridor. Meet at Gambrill's Rock Run Area near the intersection of Gambrill Park and Shookstown Roads.
Contact: (301) 271-7574
Fees: normal fees apply
Gunpowder Falls SP / Hereford Area Hemlock Hike
11:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Join a Gunpowder Ranger on a hike to take in the hemocks at the park's Hereford Area near Prettyboy Reservoir. This will be a longer hike, starting at the Camp Wood and hopping onto the Mingo Forks trail. Loop is approx 3.5 miles long and will be done at a moderate hike. Camp Wood is located at the bottom of Bunker Hill Road in Parkton.
Contact: (410) 592-2897
Fees: free of charge
Gunpowder Falls SP / Sweathouse Branch Wildlands Exploring
10:00 AM to noon
Attendees be led on a guided hike starting on the Stocksdale trail (blue), hopping onto the Wildlands (pink) trail, and back onto the Stocksdale trail to finish. This hike is easy to moderate and will be about 2.5 miles long. Meet at the Big Gunpowder parking area along US-1 (Belair Rd) in Kingsville.
Contact: (410) 592-2897
Fees: free of charge
Martinak SP "Competitive" Plogging
9:00 AM - 1:30 PM
Plogging the Trails! “Plogging” is a combination of jogging and picking up litter. Stop by the Nature Center at Martinak on June 4, to pick up your plogging materials from 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM and compete in our trash weigh-in.
Contact: 410-490-4901
Fees: free of charge
American Hiking Society’s National Trails Day® is a nationally recognized trail awareness program that occurs annually on the first Saturday of June and inspires the public to discover, learn about, and celebrate trails while participating in outdoor activities, clinics, and trail stewardship projects. National Trails Day® is a registered trademark of American Hiking Society.
