Parks, trails & fields

4.6 miles of trails through a large Highland park, plus equestrian rings, ball fields, a cricket field and a fenced playground.

Rail-trail following the old Patuxent Branch line between Savage Park and Lake Elkhorn — crosses the Bollman Truss Bridge, mostly flat and shaded along the river.

1,021-acre preserve with five and a half miles of hiking trails through meadow and forest, and over 150 recorded bird species. Passive recreation only — foot traffic, no bikes. Dogs are welcome on a leash.

A 37-acre Columbia Association lake in Owen Brown with a 1.9-mile paved and boardwalk loop, a fishing pier and a playground. Flat, shaded and stroller-friendly.

2.8 miles of interconnecting trails along the Little Patuxent, with ball diamonds, tennis courts and a playground with inclusive features. Connects to the Patuxent Branch Trail and the historic Bollman Truss Bridge.

A 2.7-acre Columbia Association dog park with separate fenced areas for small and large dogs, plus benches, water stations and waste disposal. $5 a day for residents, $6 for non-residents; proof of current rabies vaccination required.

Ball diamonds, tennis courts, multipurpose fields and playgrounds across two sections either side of Cedar Lane, linked by an eight-mile paved pathway.

Regional park with synthetic turf fields, tennis courts, bocce and croquet courts, and the "Play-for-All" inclusive ADA playground.

Howard County's signature park, built around a 54-acre lake with a 2.4-mile paved loop. Boat rental runs March to November; there are also ball fields, racquetball courts and a skate spot.

Nine miles of pathway and trails, a disc golf course, a bike skills park, pickleball courts and ball fields.

Fenced off-leash park with a main enclosure and a separate area for small, timid or elderly dogs. A permit is required — $5 for the day or $40 a year — along with proof of a current licence and rabies vaccination. Water is shut off from November to April.

Start in Edmonston, go to Ellicott city for coffee and back

The classic local hike. River-valley trails ranging from flat towpath to steep ridge climbs, plus the Swinging Bridge and Cascade Falls. Entrance fee applies.

Quieter Patapsco section with the Switchback Trail loop and rapids along the river. Fewer crowds than Avalon.

(hugs the water the entire way, very beautiful, out and back trail) Roughly 5–10 miles depending on route.

Public Beach!

Awesome mural on the trees!! Top pick so far.

Note: actually park here to enter (this is not exactly where google takes you by typing in "cromwell valley" but a little further up)

Some more involved tree crossings, excellent for a picnic. Part of Merryman's Mill trail.

Greatest view I've seen so far

Several route options. Roughly 4–18 miles depending on route.

there's always a ton of people at the falls and lake but not on the Cat Rock trail. Roughly 1–10 miles depending on route.

(one option; take the road to the orange trail, not the purple trail) (unique views, not as many of the river as one might hope. Starts with one hill and then smooth sailing)

Roughly 2–6 miles depending on route.

Looks tough, who's down?

Cool fossils here?!

Connects to the AT Roughly 4.5–11.6 miles depending on route.

Connects to Old Rag Roughly 9.5–10 miles depending on route.

Mostly for beach camping, Public Beach!

Wilderness plateau with multiple river crossings — check water levels before you go, and treat the Upper Red Creek water rather than drinking it straight.

Columbia Association's connected paved pathway network, threading between the villages, lakes and wooded buffers. Good for running, biking and stroller walks, and the easiest way to get between the lake parks on foot.

Three interconnecting ponds ringed by a boardwalk, with wildlife observation areas and fishing piers. An easy, flat outing close to home.

About 187 acres of the neighbourhood — roughly a third of it — is open space: a playground in each of the five districts, a playing field with a third-of-a-mile running track in Westside, and a fenced dog park in Midtown West. Maintained by the community association rather than the county.

Also hemlock gorge is gorgeous Roughly 4–20.5 miles depending on route.

Serpentine grassland preserve — rare habitat, open prairie views and a network of marked trails.

Family friendly, also beautiful. Swimming hole partway through.

Big western-county park with multipurpose fields, eight lighted pickleball courts, natural-surface trails and a playground.