60 Hikes Within 60 Miles: Baltimore: Including Anne Arundel, Carroll, Harford, and Howard Counties - Softcover

Balkan, Evan L.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0897326237 ISBN 13: 9780897326230

Publisher: Menasha Ridge Press, 2006

Synopsis

Within an hour's drive of Maryland's largest city, an abundance of natural and scenic places remain. From hikes within the city, including a new 14-mile greenway running through the largest unbroken urban forest in the United States, to the solitude of rural Carroll and northwest Baltimore Counties, 60 Hikes Within 60 Miles: Baltimore is a guide to great hikes in the area. Not only are the big state parks and reservoirs covered, but readers will also find hidden treasures throughout the city and six surrounding counties, from vigorous day hikes to pleasant strolls. Walk along beaches, rivers, rolling farmland, waterfalls, mixed forests, the Chesapeake Bay -- even a prairie; areas rich in history and wildlife await the Baltimore area hiker. This book tells readers how to get there and what to see once they are there.

About this title

About the Author

Evan L. Balkan teaches writing and literature at the Community College of Baltimore County in Maryland. His fiction and nonfiction, mostly in the areas of travel and outdoor recreation, have appeared in many publications throughout the United States, as well as Canada, England, and Australia. He lives in Baltimore with his wife Shelly and daughter Amelia.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Gunpowder Falls State Park: Sweet Air Area
It's almost a crime that this exceedingly beautiful 1,250-acre section of Gunpowder Falls State Park is so lightly used. But what a treat it is for hikers seeking solitude.
From the trailhead, follow the path as it merges into a wide farm road. You'll soon pass an open field to the left. There's a cornfield straight ahead where, at 0.1 mile, you'll come to the first split. Head left to stay on the yellow-blazed Barley Pond Loop. Follow the tree line around the cornfield, turning right at a "You are here" sign at 0.3 miles and reaching the edge of the woods at 0.6 miles. There's a wooden sign here reading, "The woods were made for the hunter of dreams." There are many spots along the hike where similar signs have been painted with inspirational, nature-oriented quotations. There's a certain irony here: though the quotations are pleasant, this hike is so beautiful that it's the last place that needs any embellishment. The views are plenty to inspire grand thoughts.

About this edition

• Publisher: Menasha Ridge Press
• Publication date: 2006
• ISBN 10: 0897326237
• ISBN 13: 9780897326230
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 304