Description
The Grist Mill Trail at Patapsco Valley State Park course for 2.5 miles through the heavily wooded park between Ilchester Road and Lost Lake. The trail is gentle and wheelchair accessible. It passes by the Swinging Bridge and Bloede's Dam. The bridge crosses the Patapsco at Orange Grove and allowed locals to cross the river to work in the Orange Grove Flour Mill. The mill burned in 1905, but you can cross the bridge to view the ruins. Bloede's Dam, on the National Register of Historic Places, is said to be the world's first submerged electrical generating plant, which was housed under water inside dam. You may not come within 300 feet of it both above and below the dam.
Patapsco Valley State Park was created in 1907 and is one of Maryland's oldest state parks. As a consequence, the area has many historic sites and also preserves a valuable greenway in this urban area. Railroad remnants can also be seen, like that of the Baltimore and Ohio (B&O) Railroad, which ran between Baltimore and Ellicott City.
Parking and Trail Access
To get to the Avalon Area of Patapsco Valley State Park from the Baltimore Beltway (I-695), take Route 1 (Exit 12A) south toward Arbutus. Follow Route 1 for approximately 3 miles to South Street. Turn right. The park entrance is on the left.
To get to the park from I-95 east, head toward BWI Airport. Take Route 1 (Exit 3) south toward Elkridge. Turn right onto South Street. The park entrance is on the left.
Short walk along the river
By
jacquesl
in
January, 2013
Some interesting ruins along the way.
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Rebutal to Blackplate Stop paving river trails
By
ward00
in
April, 2012
Blackplate doesn't want to give the Grist Mill Trail a 5-star rating because it's paved and that it should have been left in a 'gravel' state. It's the only trail in this part of Patapsco Valley State Park that is paved. The only reason that the Grist ...
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A paved trail
By
aredneck92
in
March, 2012
Since this is the only trail that is listed for Patapsco Valley State Park in the Elkridge/Ellicott City area I am going to comment on this and about the park. First the Grist Mill Trail is very short and paved not really for Mountain Biking. However, ...
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