Okay, walking buddies, are you ready for our three-mile walks this week? I guess we better be! I’m feeling pretty motivated this week. I think last week was the hardest one to get through just to get started.
The only thing I am struggling with this week is finding the time to make sure I get my walk in for the day. The nice thing is your walks can be on any four days out of the week. Yesterday, I didn’t finish my homework until it was dark outside, but it’s okay because I can make it up this weekend. It’s always okay to alter your walking routine if you don’t have the time or don’t feel up to it one day. Don’t be too hard on yourself! This challenge is supposed to make you feel good, not stressed.
This week I am going to change it up a bit. I have been walking in my neighborhood every day and it’s starting to get a little boring. I don’t want that to curb my motivation. Near my house, I have a lot of different hiking spots and parks that I am checking out this week. If you are starting to get bored of your route too, but don’t have any trails or parks nearby, don’t worry! You can change up your route simply by doing it backward or going one street over for a change. Simple changes are enough to spice up your routine.
Great Spots for Walking
This week, I explored Merryman’s Mill Trail and the Glen Ellen Loop Trail to change up my scenery. Below I have included those two and other options that I have been to in the past or want to try out during the rest of this challenge. If you live in Maryland, I recommend checking out these spots if you’re looking to find a new path to explore!
Merryman’s Mill Trail in Phoenix, MD
On Monday, I went to this trail with my dad and our two dogs. I don’t think it is the best-kept trail because it is not thoroughly monitored, but it is still beautiful. It is very long, but I chose to walk 1.5 miles in and 1.5 miles back to my car to complete the three-mile walk for this week. It is a great place to take your dog swimming because it has direct access to the Loch Raven Reservoir. There are quite a few steep inclines.
Distance: 10.9 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Parking: Free, but very limited space on the side of a busy road. It is most popular on weekends, so aim for weekdays or early morning.
Glen Ellen Trail Short Loop in Phoenix, MD
On Tuesday, I went solo on this trail. Of the full 9.7 mile loop, this is a quicker and easier route to take. The Loch Raven Reservoir provides beautiful scenery. In my opinion, I always prefer hiking with views of bodies of water. There are lots of paths branching off from the trail so you can explore different twists and turns each time you visit.
Distance: 2.8 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Parking: No clear parking lot, park along Seminary Road
Billy Goat Trail in Potomac, MD
This trail is definitely the hardest of the trails I have listed here. It is separated by sections A, B, and C. It has a lot of steep inclines and rocky terrain, but if you’re looking to push yourself it is worth the visit. The amazing views make up for its difficulty as well.
Distance: 7.8 miles
Difficulty: Hard
Parking: Free with different parking areas for each section
King and Queen’s Chair Loop in Pylesville, MD
I have visited this trail in Rocks State Park many times. It can be difficult to climb some of the steep sections of the trail, but the view at the top is certainly fit for a king and queen, hence the name! The rock cliff juts out 190 feet above Deer Creek and makes for some great pictures!
Distance: 3.2 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Parking: $3/vehicle to park during the summer
Torrey C. Brown Rail Trail in Phoenix, MD
This is a trail that I visit often because of how convenient it is. The total length is about 20 miles, but with the trail’s many access points, it is customizable to the distance you want to walk. It’s perfect for summertime because it is shaded in most areas and you can just hop in the Gunpowder River if you need to cool down. Across from the parking lot, there is a bike and tube rental making it easy to try out other activities here!
Distance: 20 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Parking: Free and spacious
Sweet Air Park in Phoenix, MD
This is a really low-impact paved walking path. It has small hills for a taste of incline, but nothing extreme. Four laps around the loop is one mile like a traditional track. This is a path that is easy for all skill levels and is a good choice for a day when you are trying to take it easy.
Distance: 1/4 mile
Difficulty: Easy
Parking Free and spacious
Loggers and Lake Trail Loop at Oregon Ridge Park in Cockeysville, MD
Oregon Ridge offers five different trails and historic attractions as you hike. On Loggers and Lake Trail Loop, you can see painted trees along your hike. The terrain is mostly flat.
Distance: 2.3 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Parking: Free
Lake Roland Park Red Trail in Towson, MD
I grew up kayaking in Lake Roland Park. Views of Lake Roland peak through the trees that border this dirt trail. Among the many other color-coded trails at Lake Roland, there are lots of dogs and people to encounter here. Most of the trails are dirt, but some have built wooden platforms to walk on.
Distance: 2.7 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Parking: Free and spacious
Meadowood Regional Park in Timonium, MD
I grew up playing soccer at this park. Here, you can either take the inner route around the soccer fields that is much flatter or continue onto the path that circles the turf field for a challenge.
Distance: .8 miles total
Difficulty: Easy on lower loop, moderate on the upper loop
Parking: Free and spacious
Avalon Loop Trail in Ellicott City, MD
I have not yet gotten the chance to check out this trail in all my time living in Maryland. It is described in the reviews as being very popular and a great place to go hiking. Next time I visit my cousins in Ellicott City, I am gonna make a trip to the Avalon Loop.
Distance: 20 miles total
Difficulty: Moderate
Parking: Rates vary depending on the season or day of the week
Check out this Google Map I made for the locations of these spots!
Thanks for tuning in again! I’d love to know how you’re doing so far with your walks! Have you explored any new routes? What are your favorite spots in Maryland to check out? Let me know in the comments or send me an email!
And don’t forget to keep up with the tips from my previous blog post so you’re feeling your best as we increase the distances of our walks! Good luck!