Trail Updates
Plan ahead: The Grist Mill Trail will be closed after Labor Day weekend while we make permanent repairs to the footbridges. The closure will last about 12 months. The trail from the Patterson Viaduct footbridge off Ilchester Road will remain open to the Buzzards Rock trail connection. Please respect the closure as it will be unsafe to walk, bike, or ride in the construction area due to heavy equipment use. There will no stream crossings. The Swinging Bridge will be open for foot traffic but not to access the Grist Mill Trail.
The Hilton Area of the park will periodically close during the next two months due to paving. Please check Twitter and the Patapsco Valley State Park website for updates.
 Interested in scheduling a private program or outing for your group?
Click here to see what we have to offer.
August is Hike United Month and Wellness Month! Hiking doesn’t need to be solitary! Come hike with us every Saturday in August as we come together to Hike United. And peruse the programs we have throughout the month to get yourself time to experience the therapeutic effects of being in nature!
Saturday, August 6: Hike United: Intro to Hiking
10:30 a.m at Hollofield 300
Do you want to get into hiking but are not sure where to start? Come hike with us and learn the basics! Wear comfortable, sturdy shoes like sneakers, bring water and sunscreen or bug spray if needed. Registration is encouraged. Groups larger than five must sign up in advance. Space is available for 20 total participants.
Thursday, August 11: Poetry in Motion
11 a.m. at McKeldin Shelter 508
Let a naturalist, who is also a certified English literature teacher, move you through the poetry of the woods! Come to hike, explore, and find the descriptive language that captures your experience. Bring home not only a unique “blackout poem” created by you, but also the experience of a lovely day on the trails of McKeldin. Bring water and wear comfortable shoes. For all ages.
Registration is encouraged. Groups larger than five must sign up in advance to ensure enough materials.
Saturday, August 13: Trail Awareness Hike
10:30 a.m. at Pickall 708
What’s that in the trees? Where do all the birds go when we hike? Come hike with us and learn the basics of hiking and how to be "trail aware!" Wear comfortable, sturdy shoes like sneakers; bring water and sunscreen or bug spray if needed. Registration is encouraged. Groups larger than five must sign up in advance.
Sunday, August 14: Beginner Fishing
11 a.m. at the McKeldin Rapids
Want to learn something new? Not sure where to start and don’t want to spend a lot of money to learn? Come learn the basics of fishing! Limited equipment is available to borrow. Recommended for ages seven and up! Registration encouraged. Groups larger than five must sign up in advance. Spots for 20 participants. Rain cancels program.
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Friday, August 19: Canoe and Paint
10 a.m - noon in the Daniels Area
Join us to canoe the Patapsco and enjoy the beauty of nature through the medium of photography. We will be on the water, so be sure to only bring things you’re willing to get wet! Bring a camera or even your phone! Registration required by Aug. 17. Recommended for ages 10 and up. $15 per person. Rain cancels. Maximum 20 participants.
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Saturday, August 20: Discovering History Hike
10:30 a.m. at Avalon 106
Learn about the park’s history! Come hike with us on a walk through time! Wear comfortable, sturdy shoes like sneakers; bring water and sunscreen or bug spray if needed. Registration encouraged. Groups larger than five must sign up in advance. Spots for 20 total participants. Arrive early before the park fills and see what sites you can find.
Saturday, August 27: Bark Rangers: Hiking with Dogs
10:30 a.m. at McKeldin 576
The woods calls and you and your pup will answer! Come hike with us through the McKeldin woods and learn best practices for taking your furry friend into nature. Wear comfortable, sturdy shoes like sneakers; bring water and sunscreen or bug spray if needed. Registration encouraged. Groups larger than five must sign up in advance. Space is available for 20 total participants.
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Sunday, August 28: Meet a Herp, Paint a Herp
3-5 p.m. at Soldiers Delight Visitor Center
Join a naturalist at Soldiers Delight for a hands-on, step-by-step paint night. We’ll start the night by getting an up-close look at the subject of the painting, one of the Scales & Tales reptiles! All materials provided. Beginners encouraged! $10. Advance registration is encouraged. Groups larger than five must sign up in advance to ensure enough materials. Recommended for ages 10 and up!
Join Us for Park Quest 2022: Parks for Pollinators!
Park Quest, available at state parks all over Maryland, is an opportunity to learn about our natural resources by participating in interactive theme-based activities at different parks. Patapsco’s Park Quest location is Soldiers Delight Natural Environment Area, and is available on the patio behind the Visitor Center when the park is open. Complete 12 or more Park Quest activities before Oct. 31 and you will be entered into the Park Quest prize drawing. Learn more on the Park Quest website.
Meet our new staff member! Excited to be back in the parks and working for an agency that she is truly passionate about, Jennifer Magers is the new LTC Administrative Specialist III at Patapsco Valley State Park Headquarters.
Jen was born and raised in Pennsylvania and graduated from Slippery Rock University with a degree in Parks and Resource Management. She worked for the National Park Service at Mount Rainier and Great Smoky Mountains, worked for concessions at Denali National Park, and then settled in Whitefish Montana for 4 years. While there, Jen married her college crush, Chris, and had a son, Kavan, in 2004. The family then moved to Durango, Colorado, where Jen drove for UPS for 8 years.
In 2015, the Magers family moved to Eldersburg, Maryland and Jen vowed to return to the parks as soon as her son graduated high school. The timing has worked out, and Jen could not be happier working for Patapsco Valley. Jen enjoys hiking, biking, kayaking, camping, live music, and running with their dog Maya. Welcome to the team, Jen!
Patapsco Heritage Greenway worked with 4 volunteers to perform maintenance on 44 newly planted trees in the Pickall area in June.
On July 29 from 9 a.m. until noon they will be taking care of more newly planted trees and could use your help! Register online. Visit www.patapsco.org to learn more about PHG.
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Friends of Patapsco Valley State Park
July has been another busy month with both Adaptive Paddling and Cycling events!
These events quickly fill to capacity and have proven immensely popular with park visitors. Friends have recently received support from the Chesapeake Bay Trust, The Kahlert Foundation, Kennedy Krieger, Specialized Bicycles, Mountain Club of Maryland, and the Cycle Mill (among others) to provide opportunities for the adaptive community to enjoy the park!
Next up for the Friends of Patapsco Valley State Park: Cocktails for Trails! Learn more about our annual fundraiser online.
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We Want to Hear YOUR Story!
Do you have a favorite photo, memory, or story of what the park means to you? Share them with us at pvsptoyou@gmail.com and your story may be featured here!
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Favorite Photos from Last Month
 To be featured in next month's favorite photos please send your photos to alyssa.myers@maryland.gov
 Click on the image to see our aviary donation requests list.
The Maryland Natural Resource Photo Contest Deadline is August 1!
The department is accepting entries for its annual photo contest until 5 p.m. on August 1. Photographers, novice or professional, can enter for the chance to win cash, park passes, and other great prizes. Winning entries will be posted online, featured in the quarterly Maryland Natural Resource magazine, and placed in the next DNR wall calendar.
Unless otherwise noted, events are held rain or shine, free and fun for all ages; donations are always welcome. Children under 10 must be accompanied by an adult.
Dress for the weather/activity, wear sunscreen and insect repellent, bring plenty of water and snacks, and remember to check for ticks.
Please call 410-461-5005 for additional information or to register.
Patapsco Valley staff also manages Soldiers Delight Natural Environment Area.
Donate to Maryland's State Parks! Your donation will support butterfly and bumblebee habitat and education in state parks.
Donations in any amount are a helpful way to make a difference. Thank you!
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 Annual Pass Available for Purchase
$75 for Marylanders; $100 for out-of-state visitors
Our annual State Parks and Trails Passport grants unlimited day-use admission and boat launching at state parks, and a 10 percent discount on state-operated concessions and boat rentals.
To enhance convenience and value, this year's pass will arrive in a self-contained packet with a detachable hang-tag, and will be valid for a full year from the month of purchase.
Our network of 75 state parks include more than 900 miles of trails for biking, hiking and horseback riding, as well as unique water access and camping facilities.
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