Current Activities

As a part of the Explore Patapsco 2026 recreation & stewardship series, Patapsco Heritage Greenway & Friends of Patapsco Valley State Park are celebrating National Trails Day with a morning of hikes and environmental education & exploration around the McKeldin Area, starting at Shelter 576!

Park entry fee $3 per person for MD plates, $5 pp for out-of state. Beyond the Trail program & giveaways free of cost.

Program:

10am-12pm: Beginner/Intermediate Birding Hike with Baltimore Bird Club & Howard County Bird Club

11am-12pm: PHG Native Foraging & Species ID Walk

11am-12pm: Nature Worx Mindfulness Workshop

12pm-2pm: Beginner/Intermediate Birding Hike with Baltimore Bird Club

1pm-2pm: PHG Native Foraging & Species ID Walk

Each hike has a separate registration link. Please sign up for any you plan to attend & your group size.

Non-perishable snacks, Explore Patapsco 2026 water bottle, and Beyond the Trail event sticker available for all participants. PVSP Mobile Visitors Center will also be present!

Financial and technical assistance for this project was provided by National Park Service Chesapeake Gateways. Chesapeake Gateways inspires and helps people discover, experience, and connect with the natural and cultural heritage and recreational opportunities of the Chesapeake Bay and the rivers, landscapes, and communities across its watershed.

Birding Hike Information:

Join Joe Corcoran, President of the Baltimore Bird Club, and Bonnie Ott, member of the Howard County Bird Club on a fantastic birding hike! This hike will be 2 hours along the 0.7 mile McKeldin Rapids Trail, stopping regularly for glimpses and experiences of the local bird species. Participants will also see the beautiful cascading rapid of the Patapsco River into a large, deep pool. Binoculars will be provided, beginners encouraged!

Nature Worx Workshop Information:

Join Nature Worx on a Nature Immersion walk along the 0.3 mile Medicine Tree Trail Loop. Their programs help participants slow down, reduce stress, and access inner calm–while fully basking in the beauty and restorative power of the outdoors.
Experience the restorative benefits of a guided nature saunter in the woods!

PHG Native Foraging and Species ID Hike Information:

Join Patapsco Heritage Greenway on an educational walk along the 0.7 mile Spring Glen Trail Loop, with conversations and topics focused on native (and some invasive!) species we find along the trail- and what ones we can eat! Along with a kid-friendly “nature bingo” sheet provided, PHG board members and staff will share their knowledge about our local natural environment and how you can safely forage in our wooded areas as an example of how people & nature live in harmony. Open to all ages.

Patapsco Valley State Park Mobile Visitors Center Information:

At Patapsco Valley State Park, we are dedicated to meeting the needs of our visitors wherever and however they enjoy the park. At the heart of these efforts is our Mobile Visitors Center— a versatile, four-wheel-drive sprinter van that brings park information, stewardship resources, and engaging educational activities directly to our visitors. With materials available in Spanish, Korean, and English, we’re committed to reaching and supporting our diverse community.