When it was constructed in 1984 along the abandoned North-Central Railroad, the Torrey C. Brown Rail Trail was one of the first rails-to-trails projects in the Mid-Atlantic Region. Local residents who had initially opposed the project changed their minds once they realized that hikers, cyclists and horseback riders did not pose a threat to their communities, and, to the contrary, presented new small business opportunities. Today, the trail, in conjunction with the York County Heritage Rail Trail north of the Mason Dixon Line, forms the southern half of a multi-use greenway connecting downtown York with the northern Baltimore suburb of Hunt Valley. Aside from the first mile or so near the southern end, which is dominated by suburban subidivisions, most of the trail passes through scenic, rural countryside, though dense woodlands, sleepy hamlets witn names like Phoenix, Monkton, White Hall, Bee Tree and Freeland, as well as a coupleslightly larger towns like Parkton. While the railroad itself is long-gone (unlike the York County Heritage Rail Trail, which closely parallels a rail line that is technically still active, but has seen little use south of York city in recent years), relics of its existance, including old signal towers, mileposts, warning markers and train stations can still be seen at points all along the route. Amenities, including benches, picnic tables and interpretive signage are also plentiful. Cycling or hiking the Torrey Brown Rail Trail is a must for any trail lover who lives in north-central Maryland or south-central Pennsylvania.

My son and I just finished riding the entire trail. We started in York, PA at mile marker 17 along the Heritage trail and rode all the way down to Hunt Valley, MD. It took us five hours one way (37 miles - not bad for a thirty-something and his 9-year old son!). After spending the night in Hunt Valley we rode back, taking us just under 5 hours. The MD trail is quite nice. It's hard to compare it to the Heritage trail. If you are expecting this trail to be like the Heritage trail you are in for a surprise. The variation of the trail is nice. From thick canopy to several open runs, it keeps your interest as you ride along. There is about a three-mile down hill immediately after crossing the PA/MD line. We enjoyed it south-bound and survived it north-bound. The picnic tables every several miles are nice places to snack and rest. The trail ranges from a 10-ft wide path with a grass strip in the middle to a nice 20+ ft compact stone path. Since it was the 4th of July weekend, it was quite crowded but never difficult to navigate. There were the normal assortment of athletes and non-athletes with tubing folks carrying their tubes to various inputs along the creek that runs parallel. I think this will be an annual tradition!

This trail is one of the very best Rails to Trails that I have redden. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources has done a great job of maintenance, from mowing the sides of the trail to picnic tables about every half miles, mile markers and at every crossroad it tells you the distance to the next two roads. I road from Cockeysville to Bentley Springs about 32 miles round trip. About 90% was under a tree canopy and that made the ride for me. The high light of the trip was the old Railroad Station at Monkton, it is like going back into the early thirty's. I did the trip on a mountain bike but you could do it on a road bike. This is a family friendly trail.

I just tried this trail out today actually. I use a Trek Road Bike, and must say, I'm a bit disappointed. The trail was very unpaved and uncomfortable for a road bike. For a mountain bike, I'm sure that this trail is sufficient enough. But being a road bike, it started getting very uncomfortable around mile 5. There were a few spots that seemed very smooth so I'd greatly enjoy those spots. But for the most part, it was like riding a road bike on a mountain bike trail.

The trail itself is very flat, which makes long distance riding fairly easy. A few inclines here, a few declines there. But none of which were the toll-taking kind. I think the terrain took it's tole more-so than the hills.

It's a pretty narrow path too, and in some spots wet due to the tubers. I felt like there really was very little room to pass.

There's no trails near White Marsh, Maryland, and it's private and the scenery is beautiful, so I can't exactly crucify it. It provided a long-distanced ride where I didn't have to worry about traffic. So for a road bike, I think 3 stars is deserving for my experience.

My son and I got our first taste of the North Central Railroad Trail on October 17th, riding the last five miles out and back on the trail after starting 1.5 miles North of the Mason-Dixon line at New Freedom on the York Heritage Trail. I would HATE to rate any functioning rail trail at less than four stars, as they are all wonderful by their very nature. and a trail like the NRCT, at 20+ miles, and connected to a 21 mile trail in Pennsylvania, is exceptional. That said, the NCRT is getting a bit long in the tooth, at least at the Northern end. The surface is hard as rock, which makes it fast but bumpy, even on a hybrid bike with front fork and seat shock absorbers. Also the brush is too close to the trail, and the trail itself has narrowed considerably over time and is pretty much reduced to two 24" tracks separated by 24" of grass/stone and 24" of grass on each side. That makes passing cyclists OK, but I would not like to come across a horse around some of the bends. My eleven year old son had an interesting comment on the NRCT trail...he said it is "mysterious". When I aked him what he meant, he said he never knew what was coming around the corner, and there were a lot of corners ;-}. The NRCT appears rougher still because of its proximity to the much younger York Heritage Rail Trail, which is stellar in its wide, smooth, well groomed bike/pedestrian path with horse lane for much of its length. The cafes, restaurants, taverns, B&B's, and well appointed parking areas, many with bathrooms, make for a very enjoyable experience. We are hoping that the lower 2/3 of the NRCT are nicer than the Northern third.

My husband and I are new to biking. We are in our late 50's. Picked this trail because it was flat and went for a number of miles. We went on Sunday of Labor Day weekend. What a wonderful experience. We saw all sorts of bikers - all ages and sizes- and walkers and joggers. Everyone was very friendly. The views were beautiful of the woods and water. Would recommend going north first, very slight incline, but makes the return trip even better!

Rode a portion of this trail with scouts a few years ago.
-- Was planning to revisit and consider doing the entire trail ...
-- However, learned that Pennsylvania picked up and/or completed the trail from New Freedom all the way up to York
-- Learned from PA visitor center (from a brochure printed in 1999) that PA was also going the extend the trail farther North from York to park or State Park farther North.
-- Seeking more current information on the complete "line" from MD through PA

The Torrey C. Brown Rail Trail, which is more commonly known by its old name, the North Central Rail Trail, comprises the southern half of the greenway that connects downtown York (and is currently being extended further north to Rudy County Park) to Hunt Valley. Although the tracks that parallel the Heritage Rail Trail end at the Maryland line, old whistle posts, abandoned signal towers and numerous train stations serve as testiments to the trail's railroad heritage. The picturesque combination of lush woodlands, bucolic farms and intimate small towns that makes the Heritage Trail so appealing also dominates the Maryland portion almost to Hunt Valley. Plans to eventually join the trail to the East Coast Greenway and the Jones Falls Trail will ensure its popularity for the foreseeable future.

My wife and I have return to our first love--bike riding. We are empty nesters now. We had not realize what this 'Rail to Trail' thing was until this year. We use to ride on the streets of Baltimore. The bike rack stays on the car all summer. We take our bikes to whatever state we travel. This is our favorite trail because we live twenty minutes away from the Ashton trailhead (did'nt even know what a Trailhead was 6 months ago). We're still building up stamina. Today we rode from Ashton to Monkton. I understand thats approximately 71/2 miles. We learn to detect when we were getting near an excess point because the trail became busier with joggers, families etc. We people watched in Monkton. Oh and bike watched because I'm in the market for a new bike now. I was a little surprise when I went into the eatery at Monkton (7 miles works up an appitite) and ask for a large burger and found they only served veggie foods. I tried it but it didn't do well for my hunger. My wife had brought a granola bar with her. Ordinarily I would'nt eat those but----. The trail was great. Temperature was just right today. Came close to being dump by some fast little critters deciding to cross the trail just as I reach that point. All total we spent about 4 hours out. We know we can do 15 to 20 miles easily now. Broke in a new bike and we hate to see winter arrive just when we're starting to have fun. By the way we're seniors so judging by the way we feel we'll be hitting the bed early. "Happy Trails"

I've ridden this trail dozens of times from the MD end into PA. The MD side starts fairly flat, then is a moderate but steady incline up to the PA border. In PA the trail is generally downhill for 10-15 miles, but again only moderately. The PA side is very consistent crushed stone, and quite easy to ride on even with a road bike. The terrain on the MD side varies quite a bit, but is generally packed dirt. Some lengths of the trail also have a spattering of crush stone, but nothing consistent like the PA side. The MD side gets quite muddy following any type of rain. The MD side is pretty well shaded, so it is a good ride on hot days. In fall, it tends to be overly cool. The PA side is roughly half shaded. The trail in MD has limited scenery as the trail tends to be more like a hiking trail with woods close by on each side, while PA is more open, allowing some better views. The southern end of the trail in MD can be crowded, esp. on weekends, unless you get there early (the crowd dies down substantially once you get past the range station at mile marker 7). The PA side of the trail seldom is very crowded, so it makes a nice ride. Both sides of the trail have numerous road crossings, with metal gates blocking the trail except for narrow pass thru's, which tend to get a bit annoying for cycling since you are forced to slow down at each one.

"I have cycled the combined North Central Railroad (NCR) Trail and York County Heritage (YCH) Trail many times both in sections and the entire length, up and back. It is a well maintained trail and a fantastic resource for walkers, joggers, cyclist, horseback riders and others. I generally begin my rides at the south terminus (Ashland) and cycle north. The trail is fairly flat until you reach MP15 where the grade increases to the MD-PA border. After crossing the state line, near New Freedom, the grade declines all the way to York, PA. It is not bad but is noticeable. In general, I find the MD NCR, which parallels the Gunpowder Falls River, to be more scenic, shadier and with a quieter surface than the PA YCH which seems to focus more on the historic. The trail can get crowded near the trailheads on weekends and holidays but is for the most part peaceful. There are many places to access the trail and plenty of places to stop for a bite to eat along the way. Recommended."

"Whether you go from the south to the north, or the other way, the NCR provides one of the best bike rides/hikes of any Rail to Trail. Hurray for all who make this one possible!"

"I started riding this trail in June of 2003 and I must say that I really have grown to love it. My favorite ride is from Parkton to Hanover Station (about 37-38 miles round trip). The trail is maintained fairly well and 99 percent of the users obey the ""road rules"" pretty well. My only wish is that there were more larger porta-potties (like the one at Bentley Springs) where you can take your bike in with you, as I always travel alone and have no one to watch my bike for me.

In my opinion, the Maryland side of the trail is much nicer than the Pennsylvania side simply because in Maryland most of the trail is in heavily wooded areas and the trees seem to envelop you as you ride - and I like that!

Overall, I really love the whole trail and I highly recommend it. Happy cycling everyone!!"

"I did a portion of this trail, accessing the trail in Freeland where I parked in the paved lot. It appears that most access lots have at least one pay phone (nice touch). Restrooms at this access are also nearby (of the recycling kind, sort of nasty).

The surface is very smooth (stone dust). I rode 6.5 miles to the Parkton access and back again. A good portion of this section runs through very wild, natural areas. I did it at sunset when it was getting dark; it was almost spooky riding through those woods.

This trail comes under the auspices of Gunpowder Falls State Park and convieniences (restroms, benches, drinking water) are located along the trail, though some show signs of wear and age.

Overall it was a very nice ride -- just do it. "

"After purchasing my Trek 4900 Mountain Bike I started out to find a trail to ride so I put my computer to work and came up on a trail called the Northern Central Railroad Trail.

The scenery was breathtaking and the trail was surrounded by beautiful trees, running water falls, and lots of wildlife.

I would highly recommend this trail to all levels of riders. "

"On the last Sunday in April a friend and I rode this trail from Ashland to the Mason-Dixon line and then on to York on the Heritage Trail. All in all the trail rates an A for overall condition with an A+ for the parking lot at Ashton.

As with all such public use areas it is important that users know and respect the rules and have patience for those who may not.

All in all, a WONDERFUL 82 mile roundtrip on a trail that epitomizes the rails-to-trails concept.

Enjoy!"

"Having ridden this trail since it opened I still find it to be a great ride. The only problem is on weekends when people don't obey the ""rules of the road.""

While some riders do ""skinny up"" when other riders approach, far too many do not. They continue to ride side by side creating a potential situation for an accident.

We all can have a lot of fun if we just remember we're not the only one on the trail and we don't own it."

The new parking lot that was built on Paper Mill Road is great. Some of the parking along the road has been lost but the new spaces more than compensate. The trail was resurfaced in late summer of 2002.

"We drove from Fairfax, Virginia, to ride this trail, and it was one of the nicest we've ridden. We read that parking at Ashland was limited, so we headed for Phoenix, but the road was closed. The Sparks lot was filled, but just west of it, before you cross the river on Sparks Road, there is an old park with an abandoned building. The building of course is off limits, but the parking lot is apparently legal. There's room for at least 10 cars. The ride from the trail back up to the lot is a steep but very short climb. "

"Very well maintained trail with great scenery! As of 9/8/02, the trail has been resurfaced. Today I rode from Bentley Springs to Monkton and back, and I must say, this trail is super smooth!"

"I did 42 miles on the NCR, and I thought that the trail was extremely well maintained. (There was one tree down from a recent storm.) Enjoy!"

"This trail from Ashland to the Mason-Dixon Line is a beautiful, scenic trail. Adequate facilities and parking areas spread out along the full 21 miles. There are no eating facilities or any place to pick up a snack, except a coke machine at the Monkton Station. Monkton Station is closed during the winter months except for bathroom facilities. Summer it's open from Wednesday through Sunday. Spring & Fall Sporadically.

The biggest problem with this trail is maintance. The surface has potholes, very rough sections on the northern part where the original ballast is working its way to the surface and forget about riding it after a rain, or be prepared to get very muddy and gritty. Watch for the blackberry branches that hit you in the face as you pedal along. It is my understanding that the entire trail is to be ditched, graded and widened, then resurfaced sometime this summer. Lets see if the DNR can come through and restore this gem of a trail. "

"Pretty scenery, all downhill from New Freedom, in PA, trail surface not always the greatest, some spots muddy after rain, but basically it's a nice trail."

"We covered this trail and also 1.5 miles of the York County Heritage trail which connects to the NCR in PA. The trail is fairly wide and surface is good for hybrid bikes and mountain bikes, although a road bike probably could do most parts of this trail as well. The trail has good restroom and water facilities. The converted train station at Monkton serves as the trail headquarters and has good services for hikers and bikers. You can purchase items geared towards the trail here and get information about upcoming rides/events. After this, facilities with food are rather sparse until PA. The trail goes up hill at Parkton (and you feel it) all the way to New Freedom PA. There is good scenary along the trail as it follows Gunpowder Falls River where tubers can be seen (we didn't the day we rode, though). At the PA border is a map of the entire trail which is split in two by the Mason Dixon line. At New Freedom PA, there's a dinner excursion train which runs by the trail into PA. Also at New Freedom, there's the Trail Mix restaurant and it caters to bikers with good soup, snacks, drinks, muffins, bagels, etc. There seemed to be other places to grab a bite as well but this one was at our turn around point as right along the trail. If the trail gets wet, be prepared for really cleaning your bike and yourself thoroughly. It rained when we were on it and everyone had a stripe down their back from the mud and grit. Legs were covered in it. When the weather's nice, this trail has many groups of all skill levels on it. Be prepared to use verbal signals to pass or to stop. Cross car traffic wasn't much of a problem on this trail. Hopefully, can report more on the YCH in another review. Feel free to email if you have questions."

"This is a fabulous trail. It's pretty, well-maintained and excellent riding. One could do it on a road bike, though wider tires will be appreciated. "

"I just recently started to ride my bike on this trail. It is wonderful, and my husband and I have been on it several times already. Parkton is as far as we made it. "