Mid-Atlantic Hiking Group - 501(c)3 Nonprofit Charitable Org
#OptOutside Black Friday: Something for Everyone Hike in Patapsco State Park! Swinging Bridge, Cascade Falls, and Bloedes Dam with Choices Ranging from a Newbie/Very Easy 2 Miles Up to 8.5 Moderate Miles
We Call This a"Something for Everyone" Hike Because You Can Choose from Several Distance and Difficulty Options for a Customized Hike!
See waterfalls, rivers, streams, upland forest, historic structures, and entire herds of deer in our groups customized hike. This is a fantastic social hike with a distance and difficulty for everyone since we have so many options in one hike without backtracking at all!
If you pause during your trek through the forest, you are likely to see rabbits, gray squirrels, beavers, white-tailed deer and red fox. Listen for the beautiful songs of warblers or the whistle of a red-tailed hawk soaring overhead. Along the banks of the river, bird watchers will spot Canada geese, green herons, kingfishers, mallards and wood ducks year-round. Although rarely seen, screech owls, barred owls, great-horned owls, kestrels and wild turkeys also inhabit the forest.
Orange Grove is one of the most scenic areas of Patapsco, once the home of the village of Orange Grove, a mill town that supported the flour mill on the Baltimore County side of the river. A swinging bridge similar to the one that spanned the river in the 1800’s and early 1900’s crosses the river today connecting guests to the popular Grist Mill Trail, which we will be on for about a mile of our hike for the first leg.
A short walk on a path after the swinging bridge for the second leg follows along the river to the site of Bloedes Dam. Bloedes Dam was an engineering feet of the 20th century. It is the first hydroelectric dam in the U.S. where the turbines were located inside the hollow core of the dam. Today, this dam no longer generates electricity, and its interior turbines have been removed.
Distance Options and Descriptions
Distance Option 1: The hike begins with a trek on a 'parts paved and parts natural' surface trails (2.5mi very easy and newbie friendly) and explores the hidden pond in the Avalon area, the swinging bridge, and some fascinating ruins.
Distance Option 2: The second leg is on a paved path (additional 1.25 very easy and flat miles) and takes us to the world's first internally housed hydroelectric dam, Bloedes Dam, and back for a total hiking distance of 3.75 if you end your hike after completing this leg.
Distance Option 3: The third leg (0.5 moderate miles) is out and back on packed dirt, hilly, and rocky path leading up to Cascade Falls and is not to miss! Completing this leg will bring your total hiking mileage for this hike to 4.25 miles.
Distance Option 4: Ready to explore beyond the falls? Join us for our fourth and final leg (3.25 very moderate mile ending very near where our cars are parked) for a hike of several combined trails with several minor stream crossings (Very shallow and have stepping stones and often are not present in winter).
This brings our total hike distance to 8.5 miles if you complete all four legs of this hike!
Trail Information
Length: Varies as described above but 2.5-8.5 with three bailouts.
Trail Type: Modified Loop
Skill Level: Varies from Very Easy, paved and flat to Moderate only due to length and some rolling hills on rocky terrain.
Duration: Options ranging from 1 to about 4 hours depending on your options
Trailhead Elev: Options ranging from 20 feet to 300 feet depending on your options.
Park Fee
November-March:7 Days Per Week: $2/vehicle for in-state and $4/vehicle out-of-state residents
April-October:
Weekdays: $2/vehicle for in-state and $4/vehicle for out-of-state residents.
Weekends: $3/person in-state and $5/person for out out-of-state residents.
Gear Suggestions
Click Here for suggestions regarding what to wear and what not to wear for hiking the trails.
Weather Information
We hike rain or shine. Click Here to view the forecast for the area where we will be hiking.
Hike Pace
The goal for this hike is to maintain an average moving pace of ~2.5 mph. This is the pace used in many hiking publications to represent the pace of an average hiker.
Our RSVP Policies and Group Etiquette
Click Here to review our RSVP policies and group etiquette.
Carpool Suggestions and Information
Note that you are responsible for knowing how to get from carpool locations to the venue. Mid-Atlantic Hiking Group is not responsible for transportation to and from events or carpools. Suggested carpool times and locations are provided as a courtesy because many members are either new to the area or unfamiliar with a particular hike or venues location. Please use the Comments section below, or reach out via e-mail to make arrangements for carpooling needs and offerings.
Baltimore Area Carpool Suggestion - Savage Station
To carpool or caravan from the Baltimore area, people can arrange to meet at Savage Station. Click Here for directions and additional information regarding carpooling from the suggested Savage Station location.
Annapolis Area Carpool Suggestion - Starbucks
To carpool or caravan from the Annapolis area, people can arrange to meet at the Harbour Center Mall Starbucks. Click Here for directions and additional information regarding carpooling from the suggested Annapolis area carpool location.
(Metro) VA East Area Carpool Suggestion - Vienna/Fairfax Area METRO Station
To carpool or caravan from Vienna/Fairfax area, people can arrange to meet at the Fairfax Area METRO Station. Click Here for directions and additional information regarding carpooling from the suggested Vienna/Fairfax Metro Station location.
If you can drive or want to carpool from any particular location, please post your offer to help those in need of a ride, and those looking for a ride, in the comment section below. Click Here for a list of suggested carpool locations, each complete with a physical address, GPS coordinates, driving directions and additional carpool information.
For those who need a ride, reach out to the drivers. Make friends, and support the environment — by just offering a ride!
Directions to the Trailhead
Click Here for Directions to Where We Meet for this Hike
Hike Sign-In, Meet and Greet Time 9:45 - 9:55
Step-Off Time 10:00 a.m.
Carpool meetup time at Savage Station and Ride is 9:30 a.m.
Time for carpooling from Vienna METRO is 9:00 a.m.
Carpool Time for Annapolis Area is 9:15 a.m.
Mid-Atlantic Hiking Group (MAHG) values fellowship, camaraderie and practicing good hike etiquette and Leave No Trace principles. As a member-focused and mission-driven charitable organization, our hikes are led by generous, dedicated, and qualified MAHG members who volunteer as hike leaders for MAHG's leadership team. Hikes also have a volunteer “sweeper”, to help ensure that no hiker is left behind. Our volunteers and members are very supportive, encouraging, and always focus on safety, all while enjoying excellent camaraderie, the many health benefits of hiking, and unplugging from the stress of day to day life. Sharing what we know and learning from each other is an important part of our core values, as is our dedication to the conservation of our natural resources and our commitment to Mid-Atlantic Hiking Group’s mission. All MAHG events serve as micro-fundraisers to help support our mission. Mid-Atlantic Hiking Group is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit charity, and donations are tax deductible.
A Well-Mannered, Leashed Fido is Welcome on this Hike!
Let’s have fun out on the trails and see you there!
Mike:
• Please Click Here and Chip-In to Help Mid-Atlantic Hiking Group in Serving our Mission.
• Donations to Mid-Atlantic Hiking Group are Tax Deductible: Tax ID 47-5141831. Mid-Atlantic Hiking Group is a 501(c)(3) non-profit public charitable organization.
• Click Here to Learn more about Mid-Atlantic Hiking Group’s Mission.
• 100% of Every Dollar Goes Directly to the Expenses of Meeting our Mission.
Elkridge, MD - USA
Friday, November 25 at 10:00 AM
12
Price: 3.00 USD
https://www.meetup.com/Mid-Atlantic-Hiking-Group/events/235301900/