Newbie Friendly Easy 4 Mile Sneaker Hike!

No.9 Trolley Trail, Banneker Park, Museum, Optional Lunch at The Trolley Stop with Optional Post Meal 2.5 Mile Walking Tour of Old Ellicott City!

Come and enjoy this social hike, the interesting museum, and then lunch with your hiking friends! Take in historic sites with a big dose of nature. After the hike, feel free to enjoy a good meal and shopping in Ellicott City. Additionally, after the meal, join us for a post meal 2.5 mile hike to enjoy the very quaint Old Ellicott City dowtown. You can bailout any time ii you join us after lunch for the guided history tour.

Benjamin Banneker, the foremost African-American man of science in the early years of the United States, lived his entire life on the land where the museum now sits. Open since 1998, the museum and park continue to grow and develop. Recently the “Molly Bannaky House,” a circa 1850 stone farmhouse, has been fully restored and now houses a library and meeting room. Other structures of interest on the property include an archaeological dig area, a nursery, the Banneker “Ice Pond,” and the Lee Family Farm Ruin. Banneker was born a free black in 1731 and lived until 1806. His life’s accomplishments included constructing a wooden striking clock and a projection of a solar eclipse, helping in the land survey for Washington, D.C., publishing six almanacs, and exchanging correspondence concerning opposition to slavery with Thomas Jefferson. The museum does an excellent job of illuminating the life and contributions of this underappreciated figure in American history, and it is definitely worth a long visit.

This is an easy trek and newbie friendly. Most paths are paved or wooden platforms/boardwalk - you could wear sneakers and is considered family friendly.

Hike Pace
The pace will be that of the average hiker which is about 2.5 mph.

Trail Information

Nearby City: Ellicott City
Length: 4 total miles
Trail Type: Out-and-Back

Scenery:Historic sites, Cooper Branch, and abundant birdlife
Trail surface: Packed dirt at Banneker and asphalt on the old trolley line
Skill Level: Very Easy Social Hike and Newbie Friendly Sneaker Hike
Duration: 1 to 1.5 hours plus Lunch (Take note that this is a short duration hike but enjoy the museum and our optional meal after the sneaker hike for a nice half day with the group! Plus, you can stick around and enjoy the quaint downtown Ellicott City as this is all located a very short jaunt from downtown. The Trolley Stop where we are lunching is part of downtown. )
Season: Year-round
Facilities: Restroom, Water, and Phone at the museum which is open until 4PM to check out before or after our trek.
Trailhead Elev: 280 feet
Top Elev: 400 feet

Note to Hike Leaders:This hike is hike number 14 from 60 Hikes within 60 Hikes of Baltimore. Please let me know if you do not have the book so I can purchase one for you. You MUST use the newer 2nd edition (Our Trails.com subscription only has hikes from the 1st Edition and WILL get you lost).  I also have a scanned in .pdf version in case there is not time for the book to arrive via Amazon shipping. Lastly, for those of you who prefer Everytrail on your smartphone to paper, it is available on our groups page on Everytrail.

Weather Information
We hike rain or shine! Click here for up to the minute weather information for the trailhead

Carpool Information

If you can drive or want to carpool from any locations such as the DC area, please post your location in the comment section below. For those who need a ride, reach out to the drivers. Make friends, and support the environment - by just offering a ride!

Directions to the Trailhead

Click Here for Directions to where we meet for this hike

Hike Step Off Time is at 10:00 a.m. Sharp!

I encourage you to plan to arrive a litle early just to make certain that you arrive on time, for this most pleasant hike.

Optional Post Hike Meal

The nearby Trolley Stop Restaurant is a nice post hike place to grab a bite to eat following the walk for those interested in some great food and more camaraderie with your fellow hikers, and is near where we are hiking today, yay! We will ask for a show of hands during a break in the hike and give them a ring and let them know how many of us to expect at [masked]. Click here for more information about the restaurant, it's menu and prices.

Optional Post Meal 2.5 Mile Historical Tour of Old Ellicot City!

Please remember we are a social hiking group that values fellowship and camaraderie and practice good hike etiquette. We take breaks as necessary and have at least one guide in the front in addition to a "sweeper" in the back which helps to ensure that no hiker is left behind. If you get upset because someone has to rest at the top of a hill etc. then please find another group! We are very supportive, encouraging, and focus on safety while getting or staying fit on the trail and practicing Leave No Trace outdoor ethics.

A Leashed Fido is Welcome on this Hike

Please take the hike leaders number(s) with you just and case!

Keith: [masked]