Patapsco Valley State Park
Encyclopedia
Patapsco Valley State Park is located in Maryland
, USA and extends along 32 miles (51 km) of the Patapsco River
, encompassing 16043 acres (65 km²) and five developed recreation
al areas. Recreational opportunities include hiking
, fishing
, camping
, canoeing
, horseback riding and mountain bike
trails, as well as picnic
king for individuals or large groups in the park's many popular pavilions. The valley
and its natural resources have been enjoyed by the Native Americans
, explorers, settlers and present-day citizens. With its source in Frederick
and Carroll
counties, the Patapsco serves the Port of Baltimore, and empties into the Chesapeake Bay
. The Avalon Visitor Center houses exhibits spanning over 300 years of history
along the Patapsco River
. Housed in a 19th century stone dwelling
in the Avalon Area, the center includes a re-creation
of a 1930's forest warden
's office.
Patapsco Valley State Park is operated and maintained by the Maryland Park Service under the authority of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources
, which sets a high priority on environment conservation and protection. It was Maryland's first state park. Efforts to set aside the Patapsco Valley and to protect it from development stretch back into the early 20th century. Patapsco Valley State Park (originally Patapsco State Forest Reserve) was established in 1907 to protect valley's forest and water resources. During its early years, the river was a source for both hydro-electricity and drinking water. Since then, the Patapsco River has become a vital resource for fish that swim its waters and the wildlife that lives on its shores. The first land parcel to be saved was located in the present day Hilton Area, which was donated to the State of Maryland by philanthropist John Mark Glenn. Keeping the shores and hillsides vegetated minimized erosion
, thus minimizing the amount of silt
that could clog the turbine
s of Bloede's Dam which generated electricity for many of the surrounding communities. Other sections along the river were soon added making the Patapsco Valley State Park is one of the largest parks in the state of Maryland
.
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. Gambrill Manufacturing Company. This mill burned May 1, 1905. Visitors can cross the bridge to discover ruins of this large mill site that extended from the railroad tracks to the Swinging Bridge
abutment
.
The newest and second swinging bridge opened November 4, 2006. It is located at the end of the Grist Mill Trail and crosses the Patapsco River to connect with Ilchester Road. This new bridge allows easy entry for residents living in Ellicott City
and Catonsville
for the first time since Hurricane Agnes
struck in 1972.
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
, USA and extends along 32 miles (51 km) of the Patapsco River
Patapsco River
The Patapsco River is a river in central Maryland which flows into Chesapeake Bay. The river's tidal portion forms the harbor for the city of Baltimore...
, encompassing 16043 acres (65 km²) and five developed recreation
Recreation
Recreation is an activity of leisure, leisure being discretionary time. The "need to do something for recreation" is an essential element of human biology and psychology. Recreational activities are often done for enjoyment, amusement, or pleasure and are considered to be "fun"...
al areas. Recreational opportunities include hiking
Hiking
Hiking is an outdoor activity which consists of walking in natural environments, often in mountainous or other scenic terrain. People often hike on hiking trails. It is such a popular activity that there are numerous hiking organizations worldwide. The health benefits of different types of hiking...
, fishing
Fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
, camping
Camping
Camping is an outdoor recreational activity. The participants leave urban areas, their home region, or civilization and enjoy nature while spending one or several nights outdoors, usually at a campsite. Camping may involve the use of a tent, caravan, motorhome, cabin, a primitive structure, or no...
, canoeing
Canoeing
Canoeing is an outdoor activity that involves a special kind of canoe.Open canoes may be 'poled' , sailed, 'lined and tracked' or even 'gunnel-bobbed'....
, horseback riding and mountain bike
Mountain bike
A mountain bike or mountain bicycle is a bicycle created for off-road cycling. This activity includes traversing of rocks and washouts, and steep declines,...
trails, as well as picnic
Picnic
In contemporary usage, a picnic can be defined simply as a pleasure excursion at which a meal is eaten outdoors , ideally taking place in a beautiful landscape such as a park, beside a lake or with an interesting view and possibly at a public event such as before an open air theatre performance,...
king for individuals or large groups in the park's many popular pavilions. The valley
Valley
In geology, a valley or dale is a depression with predominant extent in one direction. A very deep river valley may be called a canyon or gorge.The terms U-shaped and V-shaped are descriptive terms of geography to characterize the form of valleys...
and its natural resources have been enjoyed by the Native Americans
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
, explorers, settlers and present-day citizens. With its source in Frederick
Frederick County, Maryland
Frederick County is a county located in the western part of the U.S. state of Maryland, bordering the southern border of Pennsylvania and the northeastern border of Virginia. As of the 2010 Census, the population was 233,385....
and Carroll
Carroll County, Maryland
Carroll County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maryland. In 2010, its population was 167,134. It was named for Charles Carroll of Carrollton , signer of the American Declaration of Independence. Its county seat is Westminster....
counties, the Patapsco serves the Port of Baltimore, and empties into the Chesapeake Bay
Chesapeake Bay
The Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the United States. It lies off the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by Maryland and Virginia. The Chesapeake Bay's drainage basin covers in the District of Columbia and parts of six states: New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and West...
. The Avalon Visitor Center houses exhibits spanning over 300 years of history
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
along the Patapsco River
Patapsco River
The Patapsco River is a river in central Maryland which flows into Chesapeake Bay. The river's tidal portion forms the harbor for the city of Baltimore...
. Housed in a 19th century stone dwelling
Dwelling
Dwelling, as well as being a term for a house, or for living somewhere, or for lingering somewhere, is a philosophical concept which was developed by Martin Heidegger. Dwelling is about making yourself at home where the home itself is a building that is a house...
in the Avalon Area, the center includes a re-creation
Re-creation
A re-creation is a reenactment, typically used to solve a crime or determine a mode of failure or cause of death. This may either be an actual reenactment, or a virtual reality one done on a computer...
of a 1930's forest warden
Game warden
A game warden is an employee who has the role of protecting wildlife. Game wardens may also be referred to as conservation officers or wildlife officers...
's office.
Patapsco Valley State Park is operated and maintained by the Maryland Park Service under the authority of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources
Maryland Department of Natural Resources
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is a government agency in the state of Maryland charged with maintaining natural resources such as the 66 state parks, public lands, state forests, state waterways, wildlife and recreation areas....
, which sets a high priority on environment conservation and protection. It was Maryland's first state park. Efforts to set aside the Patapsco Valley and to protect it from development stretch back into the early 20th century. Patapsco Valley State Park (originally Patapsco State Forest Reserve) was established in 1907 to protect valley's forest and water resources. During its early years, the river was a source for both hydro-electricity and drinking water. Since then, the Patapsco River has become a vital resource for fish that swim its waters and the wildlife that lives on its shores. The first land parcel to be saved was located in the present day Hilton Area, which was donated to the State of Maryland by philanthropist John Mark Glenn. Keeping the shores and hillsides vegetated minimized erosion
Erosion
Erosion is when materials are removed from the surface and changed into something else. It only works by hydraulic actions and transport of solids in the natural environment, and leads to the deposition of these materials elsewhere...
, thus minimizing the amount of silt
Silt
Silt is granular material of a size somewhere between sand and clay whose mineral origin is quartz and feldspar. Silt may occur as a soil or as suspended sediment in a surface water body...
that could clog the turbine
Turbine
A turbine is a rotary engine that extracts energy from a fluid flow and converts it into useful work.The simplest turbines have one moving part, a rotor assembly, which is a shaft or drum with blades attached. Moving fluid acts on the blades, or the blades react to the flow, so that they move and...
s of Bloede's Dam which generated electricity for many of the surrounding communities. Other sections along the river were soon added making the Patapsco Valley State Park is one of the largest parks in the state of Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
.
Park Areas
- Hollofield Area
- Daniels Area
- Pickall Area
- Hilton Area
- Avalon-Glen Artney-Orange Grove ("Avalon Area")
- McKeldin Area
Swinging Bridges
There are two swinging bridges that cross the Patapsco River. 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. Prior suspension foot bridgesSuspension bridge
A suspension bridge is a type of bridge in which the deck is hung below suspension cables on vertical suspenders. Outside Tibet and Bhutan, where the first examples of this type of bridge were built in the 15th century, this type of bridge dates from the early 19th century...
at this location enabled residents of the Orange Grove mill community to cross the river to Baltimore County
Baltimore County, Maryland
Baltimore County is a county located in the northern part of the US state of Maryland. In 2010, its population was 805,029. It is part of the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area. Its county seat is Towson. The name of the county was derived from the barony of the Proprietor of the Maryland...
to work in the five stories
Storey
A storey or story is any level part of a building that could be used by people...
high Orange Grove Flour Mill of the C.A. Gambrill Manufacturing Company. This mill burned May 1, 1905. Visitors can cross the bridge to discover ruins of this large mill site that extended from the railroad tracks to the Swinging Bridge
Patapsco Swinging Bridge
The Patapsco Swinging bridge is located in the Avalon / Orange Grove area of the park, it is a Suspension Bridge consisting of a wooden deck supported by large cables. The Patapsco Valley has a history of swinging bridges built for pedestrian travel from one side of the river to the other. The...
abutment
Abutment
An abutment is, generally, the point where two structures or objects meet. This word comes from the verb abut, which means adjoin or having common boundary. An abutment is an engineering term that describes a structure located at the ends of a bridge, where the bridge slab adjoins the approaching...
.
The newest and second swinging bridge opened November 4, 2006. It is located at the end of the Grist Mill Trail and crosses the Patapsco River to connect with Ilchester Road. This new bridge allows easy entry for residents living in Ellicott City
Ellicott City, Maryland
Ellicott City is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in Howard County, Maryland, United States. It is part of the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area. The population was 65,834 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Howard County...
and Catonsville
Catonsville, Maryland
According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of , all of it land.-Demographics:In 2010 Catonsville had a population of 41,567...
for the first time since Hurricane Agnes
Hurricane Agnes
Hurricane Agnes was the first tropical storm and first hurricane of the 1972 Atlantic hurricane season. A rare June hurricane, it made landfall on the Florida Panhandle before moving northeastward and ravaging the Mid-Atlantic region as a tropical storm...
struck in 1972.
Cascade Falls
This waterfall gently cascades down a 10–15 ft (3–4.6 m) foot face. It is located in the Orange Grove area of the park, and can be hiked to from a marked trail at the last parking lot in the Orange Grove area.See also
- Thomas ViaductThomas ViaductThe Thomas Viaduct spans the Patapsco River and Patapsco Valley between Relay and Elkridge, Maryland, USA. It is the first multi-span masonry railroad bridge in the United States to be built on a curve...
- Bloede's Dam
- List of Maryland state parks
- Henryton State HospitalHenryton State HospitalHenryton State Hospital is a now-closed hospital complex in Marriottsville, in southern Carroll County, Maryland, just across the Howard County line. The complex is located within Patapsco Valley State Park and along its southern end runs CSX's Old Main Line Subdivision and is very close to the...