Beautiful park with hiking trail. Parking is cheap and available. Make sure you are there for entire day. The tunnel is scary but fun but the creek is fun to hike along.

Good outing. Only 4 trails available. Fall colors have not yet come out fully. But nice places for good photos. The train track is beautiful

Really fun and somewhat challenging trails! Some of the trails were paved which was a nice break from the steeper, rocky ones. Trail maps were easy to read and posted about every mile (maybe even less). Its a $2 dollar donation to get in but worth it (and it goes back to the park).

Such a beautiful park! I cant wait to ride every inch of the trail system!The park is getting new trail head signs and trail markers which will make it much harder to get lost... For some people.

Had a very scenic walk on the River Ridge Trail. Started at the signed trailhead from the parking lot, near the park gate. It goes downhill and parallels the road to the campground (Park Drive), eventually crossing it. Followed this down to the train tracks and turned left (northward) for the short walk along the tracks (and River) to the picturesque Route 40 bridge. After taking some photos, we headed up the steep trail, which is directly over the train tunnel. This takes you back up to the parking lot, which is only a short walk back to the beginning trailhead, making this a wonderful hour-long loop hike. It is definitely quite steep in spots, though.

Nice short walking trial. Very steep.Need to be careful while going down.Not much crowd on Sunday .With children you should be careful with steep.

We had a great time with our 19-month-old visiting Patapsco valley State Park. We parked in the Hilton area, hiked downhill a little over 1 mile on the Forest Glen trail. It took us to a tunnel which popped us out by the patapsco River. We then walked about 400 m to the swinging bridge, be sure to wear a mask when youre on the bridge during the weekend because many people dont. Would love to come back and see the Cascade falls. The Avalon area of the river was very shallow and great for waiting and splashing. Bring a mat and towels for a picnic on the beach. The Hilton area also has two large playgrounds which was a fun place to stop on our way out.

It is wonderful. A nice hike but not too difficult for little ones, lots of places to throw rocks into the river (if you have little kids, you know!) And the train tracks and tunnel are great! Trains do come through once in a while and it is a great experience to see them up close (they go v slowly). Tunnel is not too long so a fun adventure. Highly recommended.

The park is stunningly beautiful and well maintained. The trails are nice and easy with few elevation changes.There is no shortage of photo ops, and in fact, last time I was there, I saw several families taking professional pictures.The park staff are friendly and knowledgeable. Glad to have a park of this caliber nearby.

This trail was lovely. We werent sure what to expect because we were first driving through a community to get to the trail head.The trail had many diverse sceneries which ultimately led to some train tracks. There were many different paths to take and even paths down to the water to fish or swim.This is definitely a dog friendly trail to take your pup for a swim. I would highly suggest this trail to anyone, it is a fairly easy hike with just a few inclines.

A wonderful place to enjoy the outdoors. Families often swimming and hiking around. Weekend are busy, weekday mornings are very chill. Some trails are difficult navigating with the amount of rocks but its a wonderful workout. Be prepared for an entry fee up to $5.00 for out of state plates, muddy trails, and slippery rocks.

I had an awesome time with my camping neighbors being awesome. The staff were kind and explained things well. If you havent camped before this spot is recommended. The area was nice and there are plenty of stores in the vicinity if u need to get something.

Its a beautiful park. My little girl loved the trail we visited. Its nice that they make a point of stopping by to personally welcome visitors and to tell all of the visitors not to plan on playing loud music. The area we reserved was clean and easy to access. The bathrooms were well kept.

Always a new path to find. I especially love hiking in the fall and winter with my dog. The park is well maintained and quite big. The weekends get super crowded and the park closes by 10am a lot, especially in the summer.

I went camping here for one night. Booking my reservation was very easy. When I got there, the staff was great and very helpful. My campsite was very clean and other campsites that I drove passed also looked clean. I felt that I was able to relax and enjoy my time there. I would absolutely recommend this facility to my friends.

Very large park. I recommend the trails going down to the water only if you are careful and have strong ankles and good shoes - its a great workout for legs and cardio! But it can be very rocky. Drink plenty of water and make sure youve eaten well beforehand. Use common sense.Has a medium sized playground and a smaller one not far from the entrance where you pay a small fee (weekdays are cheaper, as expected).There are supposed to be waterfalls, but with high temperatures, limited time (and consequently, not a lot of exploring), I was unable to find any very far from the parking lot.I will need to return again once I do a little more advance research...

Really nice trails but finding parking is biggest headache! Not much trash on trails & people are respecting the mask rule or keeping their distance! Some trails may be a bit challenging for little kids so be prepared!

This park is a hidden gem, with really nice hiking trails and scenic creek and river views. The trails are well maintained while still staying a bit wild. I did a 6 mile hike with my daughter, son-in-law, and Australian Cattle Dog. There was about 900 feet of elevation change (total uphill, not deducting downhill). So nothing really challenging, but not a flat path either. The suspension bridge over the river is really nice. I was looking for poison ivy, but did not see any at all, which is a plus. Put on your hiking boots, take water and a first aid kit and youll have a great time!

Absolutely love this interesting distinct State Park. The trails are plentiful, easily accessible for everyone from the experienced hiker to the mountain bike enthusiasts, families travelling with children and/or dogs. Dogs remain on a leash, but once you get to the water, will enjoy playing in it. Some trails are a bit muddy, so I wouldnt recommend going after a rainfall. Parking is a little challenging, but worth the challenge once you experience the trails.

Very good and green park and nice place to taking photo~~ having so much fun with my cousins in the stream. Taking good photo On the Bridge, the train track.. There are some pavilions and playground nearby the stream. Due to the time limit, I don’t have chance to see other beautiful views.. Will coming back soon~~ PS: parking fee only charge $2 for whole day ....

Very nice state park, well kept. No water hook up but there is a water station close by. Lots of hiking trails ... surrounded by nature. We saw squirrels, chipmunks and deer. Worth checking out.

Had my wedding here Aug 22 2020, its was perfect for about 50-60 people and the staff are super helpful and friendly.

Nice park. There is a $3 per person entrance fee. I as a 30 y/o male had little trouble with the trails but they were Rocky and could potentially be slippery under certain conditions. There were quite a few people so our group wore masks as the trails are also narrow.

I love this Park!! At times it can get pretty crowded (mainly weekends & holidays) but its beautiful and people come here to find peace. So much to do if you like to be outdoors in nature. You can walk the various trails. You can also bike other trails. Some trails are hiking ONLY! I love this because it keeps people safe from unnecessary accidents on trails. There is a playground for children. The many different pavilions are available for rental to host parties. The different setups offer tables, grills & some have overhead shelter which protects your group from the sun. The trees offer so much shade on the trails which makes it easier to endure on hotter days. Some trails are paved which make skating/roller blading an option. There are public restrooms on the premises. This park is well maintained & patrolled daily. The park rangers can be friendly while others not so much but thats human nature. Its best to have cash to pay the reasonable entry/parking fees. Its worth the money it keeps the park open & accessible. Theres a train track near one of the trails its so cool to see & hear the train passing by if your lucky enough to be in the area. Overall this park brings me immense joy every time I visit. This place has been my sanctuary of peace during this Covid season.

You will see lol but it has a huge waterfall. Dont be like everyone else and leave trash. Lleva tu basura todos los dias

Patapasco park is one of Marylands gems. From hiking to biking to swimming and fishing. Picnics, tubing, kayaking. If you are into nature and want something to do with the family head there. Its one of those places where you keep going back and finding new spots, yest you will always have your favorites! ENJOY!!

While I understand the importance of funding out parks I didnt realize it was a pay to play park. Only $3 which isnt a big deal but I wish I new before checking it out.Went on a Saturday AM and got there right as the park opened at 9am and there was a line from just off the highway. So if you plan on going during the weekend get there early. They were turning away cars when I left around noon.In the park there are plenty of trails and a couple of public picnic areas with charcoal grills so I could see it being a good place to bring the kids and chill by the river for a day.Trail was okay in marking. But there was a wash-out erosion on one side of the river so that park of the trail was all sun and new trees but overall it was beautiful and not too crowded!Recommend going during the off season or a week day more than a summer weekend.

Visited the park for a planned event. There is an entrance fee for both in and out of state guest. This entrance (Hollofield) to the park has a limited day use area. Mostly large group pavilion and small clusters of picnic tables. The event was in shelter 300. It has a great stone fire place and patio. A large kitchen and grill area to serve a group of about 100. All that and a great view of the Patapsco River Valley.

Its provides a great feeling of adventure. It feels good going this this valley if you love challenging yourself to climbing hills to get joy from nature and physical fitness. One thing you must do is ensure you watch for yourselves to not miss a step on the Stones.

Nice local place, good trails etc. Camping is hit or miss based on the staff and what agendas they want to push. If you just want to get away for the weekend it’s great. If you want the wilderness experience you’re better off going to the federal forests.

Beautiful view. Great access. Friendly staff

Either you guys have a serious parking issue, or we have bad luck. Tried the Ruins trail for the second time today, couldn’t park in only 10 spots already taken, went down the road, maybe 8 spots physically, all taken.Tried to go to the main park afterward for the literal fourth time, park filled to capacity again! Get more parking

The camp host was so helpful at providing advice for having a good fire in the somewhat damp conditions. The facilities and park are well-maintained and comfortable. Coming back for another visit soon!

Patapsco Valley State Park is considered Marylands first state park and its where the end scenes for the popular movie The Blair Witch Project were filmed. The park is 32 miles long so you cant see it in one or even two days. There are different entry points throughout and some take you to swinging bridges, train tunnels, waterfalls and river swimming.We drove and parked (for $3 per person) at the Hollofield Area, where people can camp. Theres trails that take you to the river where people can be found swimming and picnicking. Our toddler LOVED the river.

You can go swimming, cook your lunch, and they have a very nice playground for the young kids play on. If you want to swim, the path to the water is on the steep side. Cannot take a stroller down to the water on that path. If you come during the week it is only $5.00 a car load. The weekend it is $3.00 per person.

We love hiking in Patapsco. So many beautiful areas that provide an array of diversity with scenery. Some trails are busier than others so youre able to find your preference. The public restroom Ive been in was also clean which is a bonus depending on where you hike. Great area for seeing an abundance of wildlife! Great bird watching!

Love it here! It’s great for kayaking, fishing, and swimming(even though you’re apparently not supposed to swim). The only problem is they need more parking. There are no parking signs about every 10 yards on the road, but everyone still parks there anyway.

Beautiful, shaded, sparsely populated and well maintained trails. The scenery is incredible, and the train going thru was cool, but loud. We went down the Rocky Ridge trail, about 7 miles total.

I love this park! Beautiful scenery. River, waterfalls, wading areas for the kids. Biking, hiking and walking trails. You can even catch glimpses of some large birds and butterflies. Great park for photography! $2 to enter per vehicle on weekdays for in state residents.

Really great park! Tons of trails (paved and non paved). Great, easy walk all along the river if you want or you can dip off on one of the loop trails through the woods. You even get to walk through a tunnel on one trail! Multiple spots to park and hike in. Also have a playground for kids! Would recommend to anyone looking for a day out in the sunshine!

Had a great time camping. Awesome rangers, facilities and campsites. Felt very safe. 40 was super loud until about 11pm, but apart from that it was a blast on the trails and by the fire.

Great short trail with water, hills and train tracks. Also has play places, gazebos and activity areas

I love this park when the Park personnel control access and prevent overcrowding, especially from large groups walking in on Ellicott City side. There has a been huge improvement in the park environment and cleanliness this year. Prior to the Bloede Dam Removal, huge crowds were parking illegally on E.C. side; bringing in grills, boom box music and overtaking that area that is not a designated picnic area. The noise and litter were outrageous.I applaud the Park Personnel for all the hard work they are doing to maintain this beautiful park. Thank You ! P.S. Please encourage people to 1) take their trash out with them and 2) wear masks when cross the Swinging Bridge or on the trails.

This park would be really nice if there wasn’t so much trash on the trails. You have everything from bottles, trash bags, diapers and etc.So sad, the price of the park should be increased to the price of entry per individual. Maybe a leave DNA or finger print behind? There has to be a mechanism to protect these parks.

Great little hideaway minutes away from downtown Baltimore. The hiking trails are well groomed and there are places to dip your feet in the river. You can even camp and/or have a picnic with friends and family

So fun went tubing down the river after laying in the waterfall area. This is such a great park I have always enjoyed it. Parks, trails, swimming, fishing its great was only three dollars to get in today and was well worth it beautiful setting.

This is a fantastic park....there are trails for running and biking everywhere (I run here regularly), reasonably nice family car camping spots, and a great river with fishing and wading options. Our only real disappointment was the amount of trash at the rivers edge, from people wanting to drink beer. Im fine with that but wish they would have picked up after themselves.

Nice park, with rather underdeveloped trails. The highlights are the railroad tunnel (careful, there can be trains), river bank and great overlook (especially in autumn)

This is a hard one to rate, the natural scenery is spectacular, river is accessible and has a beauty all its own. But, the park signage is woefully inadequate! Parking is almost non- existent. Good luck trying to find Daniels Ruins, the Daniels Damm, and other specific sites. Multiple park entrances, multiple areas poorly identified made it quite frustrating to navigate. Yet, mother nature is at her best in natural beauty.

Picnic tables and grills in a nice wooded setting. There is a trail called union dam that is steep and leads to the water. Its only a half a mile but too challenging for those with limitations. There is a river with a current but if you go before mini rapids its clear and calm and can swim. There is an active railroad track that you have to pass to get to trail that takes you to an overlook. Watch out for train!!!! Very steep and also challenging for a short trail. That trail is better in the winter after the leaves fall. Can see bottom but in summer only see trees. Each trail is like a mile roundtrip. But can add more to it if walk upstream.

Most beautiful place ever to be Nothing but the sounds of moving water and nature. By far the best place to take your family

Really cool place to kill 4 hours. Water, trails, bridges, tunnels, traintracks, rocks, dirt. It’s all there. -1 star for the trash tho c’mon show some effort

Nice park with a couple of trails. Great place for a BBQ. Downside is that it costs money to enter. If youre in state its $3 per person, $5 for out of state.

Good luck trying to find parking at any of the trailheads.. too busy, not enough parking, horribly maintained by our inept government...Edit: to add, since I cannot reply to the copy and pasted response post below, I drove around for over an hour to 4 different trailheads. Finding them is not the issue, parking at them is. We drove down many long and wide roads with no parking signs every 10 feet, to end up at a lot with spaces for no more than 10 cars.. And at the cascade falls trailhead, which is a popular one, everyone was lined up on the side of the road with a cop there writing tickets. No thanks! Please provide parking for us so we can actually go out and enjoy the huge park!!

Beautiful hike along the creek in the cool woods. Had to cross the creek a couple of times which was a little challenging stepping on the rocks. Most people put on their masks when passing or coming upon us (we did) but some did not.

Had an awesome time! Could not wait to share with friends and family! Thank you for this great experience!

I’ve been to this park twice. The first time was great, loved everything about it. The second time I was treated poorly by the park ranger when I arrived. He asked if I had a reservation, which I did not and he told me to keep going. I asked if I can ask him a question and he said no he is not there to answer questions and to keep going. Park rangers should be more informative and helpful to the park visitors so that they are well informed for future visits.

The bathrooms to the campsite was clean and the campsite itself, it was g a very good experience. There is one thing though to future guest, please dont leave trash and if you see trash on the trails please discard it.

Grist mill is a beautiful paved trail along Patapsco river. Note that many of the small bridges are out so you will likely have to walk across some rocks/water to traverse but not a huge deal. My 11 year old did it no problem. Younger kids may need help.

Very nice place to hike with hilly trails and a beautiful clear river.

My sons wedding was there at the Avalon area. Very pretty with 2 large pavilions. Minutes from the BWI Hotels.

I love PVSP because there are so many trails and vistas along the Patapsco River to explore. Many adventures to be had.

Its always a great place to have b-day partys, alot for the kiddos to do and actually not have a screen in there face..

Visiting Patapsco Park in mid-September during the week with low humidity and temperatures was a good way to spend a day off with my spouse. We parked and walked down to the falls. On the way to the parking lot we saw a fawn crossing the road. The large Koi fish that was in the water swam too fast for me to snap a photo. Along the walk there were areas for families to picnic and grill food and enjoy nature. Walking down to falls did require a sure foot and good balance but offered an excellent view. It costs $2 per car during the week and $3 on weekends. I highly recommend visiting.

This park is my favorite hands down, for hiking and biking its absolutely amazing. The park is kept nice and clean as well. Just remember to keep it that way and take all trash with you.

It was a great park, clean and pleasant with trails of different intensities. I recommend to check the entrance you go to and that it matches your desired path before going. The more difficult trails are t suitable for a casual walk but there are easier ones that would suffice. Ask the helpful staff for more details. Entrance fee of $2 per vehicle for the day, definitely worth it!

Very quiet park, lots of wood area for hiking but beware, part of the park is hunting ground. Also it very humid.

I love Patapsco. Its not very big or filled with amazing features, but its close and well maintained.

Nice local park. Pretty sites, plenty of parking. Nice trails.

Nice walk on the river trail steep at the bottom but fun for the whole family.

Beautiful location. Recently upgrade bathrooms. Friendly staff. Money well spent

We started in the Daniels area and set our kayak in the water above the dam. From there up the river it is calm and easy to paddle. There are trails on both sides of the river to hike and bike. The fishing would seem to be good as there were several people doing just that and we could see fish in the water. At least one would jump up occasionally after insects in a shady area.

Great trails for riding you mtb-- flowy sections with a one techy rocky descents and lots of short killer climbs up.

We came he for fish an there wasnt any fish and there wasnt any guide ethier to guide us nothing but hiking and swimming if you like that then i will strongly recommend this place because we didnt like it...

Wonderful state park in Marriottsville MD. Plenty of parking. Many facilities for picnics and outings. Multiple hiking trails. The trails range from short and easy to up to a 5 mile loop (the Switchback Trail with the extension to the Rapids Trail). Most trails are multi use (hike, bike or horse). There is a small, very steep portion of Switchback that is hiker only). Trails are very well maintained and well marked. About a 250 ft vertical over the 5 miles. Great local park.

So beautiful and relaxing, I’ve only been down one of the trails, and have had cookouts here with family. Definitely wouldn’t suggest coming with younger kids unless they are prepared to walk, it’s about a 15 minute walk down to the stream and coming back is all uphill. Scenery is so beautiful!

Nice park with 2 dollars entrance fee per car. Limited number of parking slot. Go to the back end of the park that has the still bridge. Kids playground are small.

Probably one of best places I have been to. Nice trails for both hiking and mountain biking. Great place to relax and have some water fun in the river

Great campsites. We stayed in Hollofield and would highly recommend the outer loop without electric which has more privacy, but is further from the bathroom. The bathrooms seemed to get dirty quickly. We ventured over to the Hilton Loop to explore the creek and their bathrooms were much cleaner.

Excellent park. Very limited parking. Outdoor restrooms were clean and stocked. Park employees were friendly and helpful especially since my grandfather fall on the trail and scared his elbow. The trail was nice but had alot of vines and gapped steps not really fit for even active senior citizens.

Beautiful place! Absolutely love it! It is my fav park. I actually got in the river on a hot summer day, it was chilly and refreshing! The hike down to the river is steep, but well worth it! The bathrooms and pavilion areas are always clean. The staff is friendly. I can’t wait to discover more of this HUGE fantastic park.

Went hiking here & it was a blast. Beautiful area! The terrain was awesome. Very rocky & hills in some areas. Recommend this place for a great day trip!

It was a lovely experience, downhill hike to the river and enjoyed the water. Very good outdoor space for kids

Great place for a day out and fun activities. I recently visited this place while my visit to Maryland and was amazed and amused to see natural beauty of the area. This park is a huge one consisting of acres and acres. There is a lot of space for BBQ and it has a hiking trail as well. The parking is sufficient and kids play area is good enough to keep kids busy.

A great outing for the whole family. Many trails for hours of fun.

Has trails of all distances! Had a great time hiking.

Great place was here recently to attend a birthday party the Pavillion was clean benches in good shape and all ectrical outlets worked

Well managed, ear road signs & places to park, areas for swimming (designated) playgrounds, venues you can rent for bbqs & parties, great hiking trails

Great park and pretty campground. I would like to rate this much higher. Bathhouse is in bad shape, badly in need of renovation.

Great camping spots in a wooded area with good separation. The bathrooms are kept clean and the staff is all very pleasant.

One of favorite places to go for a walk/hike in Maryland, especially in the fall. We try to get to the park as soon as it opens, some days the parking lot is full and other days, its hardly full. Regardless, the walks are beautiful, I love that there are several trails that branch off, not just one path. It makes the walks more interesting.

These pictures were taken on the back side of the Chevrolet Loop Trail. The starting point is near the Woodstock Inn. Ive done the hike in early fall and again in late fall. Both were great. It is nice to have trails like this close to Baltimore. It is a 6.8 mile hike, not too difficult, and takes about 2.5 hours to 3 hours to complete. The old Chevy is updated periodically. Thanks for whoever maintains the remains.Update:I have added a few more pictures of the trail in early summer.

We went to the park today around noon, but it was full to capacity. Bummer, but I do understand. The parking attendants were waving us through although I did stop briefly to ask a question about any other parks in the area. No cars were behind me. The big man was incredibly rude and condescending to us and the other guy was nice to answer our one brief question. I have never had park staff treat me with such disregard.

Great park to go hiking, swimming or just a relaxing family day

Beautiful scenery and a great place to work out. I will be visiting again.

Tavern in a historic building. Nice bar menu, good beer selection. Waiter had some good food recommendations. Parking in big lot across the street.

My favorite summertime spot get there early or you wont find parking

We only explored one trail. From one of the parking lots to the river. We wanted to see if we could tube but it would have been too far to walk with the tubes and young kids. We plan to return to hike more of the trails though!

Love having new places to explore. Lots of areas to check out and see parts of MD history. Wish some areas had more parking but other than that, really enjoy exploring the vast areas of the park. Pics attached are of the Daniels area

Beautiful park with waterfalls and beautiful view, dog and kids friendly good for everyone!!!