Gunpowder Falls Park: Lost Pond! An Easy-Side-of-Moderate 4 Miles

Gunpowder Falls State Park: Lost Pond Area Trails! An Easy Side of Moderate 4.3 Miles

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Seasonal Note: There is a swimming hole right near the end of the hike! After a hike on a hot day let's cool off with a dip in the Little Gunpowder River. Bring a bathing suit, towel, beach chair or beach blanket, and a picnic lunch and let's relax after the hike and continue the camaraderie and good times from the trail!

Hike through the most beautiful floodplain along Gunpowder River and then traverse upland forest to the sight of an abandoned millpond, now lost to the forest floor. The trail is mostly single-track, dirt surface; with varied terrain, and most really a fantastic get-away-from-it-all hike. It follows the floodplain (level) then climbs some hills to loop back for its return.

There are minor stream crossings on this hike so some might prefer to wear water shoes in the summer, although there are stepping stones for getting across and the water is usually not even over the ankle and I have never seen it above my calf. Levels are lower to non-existent in the winter.

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Trail Information

Nearby City: Perry Hall
Length: 4.3 total miles
Trail Type: Lollipop Configuration
Scenery: Gunpowder River, Upland Forest and lot of interesting rocks, including pot rocks (see natural features below)
Exposure: Mostly Shade
Traffic: Light to Moderate
Trail Surface: Packed Dirt
Skill Level: Easy to moderate
Season: Year-round
Trailhead Elev: 110 feet
Top Elev: 140 feet
Local Contacts: Gunpowder Falls State Park
Natural Features: Piedmont RiverValley gorge along the Big Gunpowder Falls, beech hardwood forest, trail crosses the Broad Run, a large scenic tributary. A rapids section along the river is nicknamed "Pot Rocks," due to deep potholes created in the river bedrock from water action/erosion.Historic/Cultural Features: A nearby trail passes the site of the Carroll Sawmill ruins and mill race c. 1833. The Lost Pond Trail visits an abandoned mill pond. The trail passes Long Calm, a fort on the Big Gunpowder Falls used before 1692. In 1754 a ferry was used to cross the river at this spot. Lafayette with his troops camped at Long Calm while passing through during the American Revolution.

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Park Entry Fee
There is no park entrance fee.

Gear Suggestions
Click Here (http://midatlantichikinggroup.org/gear-information.html) for suggestions regarding what to wear and what not to wear for hiking the trails.

Weather Information
We hike rain or shine. Click Here (http://www.weather.com/outlook/recreation/outdoors/local/USMD0309?lswe=Perry%20Hall,%20MD&lwsa=Weather36HourOutdoorsCommand&from=searchbox_typeahead) to view the forecast for the area where we will be hiking.

Hike Pace
The goal for this hike is to maintain an average moving pace of ~ 2.5 mph. This speed is frequently used in popular hiking publications to represent the pace of an average hiker. We welcome you to please sign up for another hike if you know that this is not a comfortable pace for you. We strive to offer a variety of hikes and pace options so we can always have something for everyone no matter their interest and ability.

Our RSVP and Group Etiquette
Click Here (https://www.meetup.com/Maryland-Hiking/pages/RSVP_Rules_and_Etiquette/) to review our RSVP policies and group etiquette.

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Carpool Suggestions and Information

Note that you are responsible for knowing how to get from carpool locations to the venue. Mid-Atlantic Hiking Group is not responsible for transportation to and from events or carpools. Suggested carpool times and locations are provided as a courtesy because many members are either new to the area or unfamiliar with a particular hike or venues location. Please use the Comments section below, or reach out via e-mail to make arrangements for carpooling needs and/or offerings.

Baltimore Area Carpool Suggestion - Savage Station
To carpool or caravan from the Baltimore area, people can arrange to meet at Savage Station. Click Here (https://www.meetup.com/Maryland-Hiking/pages/Carpool_Directions_for_Savage_Station/) for directions and additional information regarding carpooling from the suggested Savage Station location.

If you can drive or want to carpool from any particular location, please post your offer to help those in need of a ride, and those looking for a ride, in the comment section below. Click Here (https://www.meetup.com/Mid-Atlantic-Hiking-Group/pages/Suggested_Carpool_Locations/?name=Suggested_Carpool_Locations) for a list of suggested carpool locations, each complete with a physical address, GPS coordinates, driving directions and additional carpool information.

For those who need a ride, reach out to the drivers. Make friends, and support the environment — by just offering a ride!

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Directions to the Trailhead
Click Here (http://midatlantichikinggroup.org/gunpowder---belair-rd.html) for Directions to Where We Meet for this Hike

Meet & Greet and Sign-In — 9:45-9:55 a.m.

The Hike is at 10:00 a.m.

Carpool Time from Savage Station —8:30 a.m.

Mid-Atlantic Hiking Group (MAHG) values fellowship, camaraderie and practicing good hike etiquette (http://midatlantichikinggroup.org/hike-and-trail-etiquette.html)and Leave No Trace (http://midatlantichikinggroup.org/leave-no-trace.html) principles. As a member-focused and mission-driven charitable organization, our hikes are led by generous, dedicated, and qualified MAHG members who volunteer as hike leaders for MAHG's leadership team. Hikes also have a volunteer “sweeper”, to help ensure that no hiker is left behind. Our volunteers and members are very supportive, encouraging, and always focus on safety, all while enjoying excellent camaraderie, the many health benefits of hiking, and unplugging from the stress of day to day life. Sharing what we know and learning from each other is an important part of our core values, as is our dedication to the conservation of our natural resources and our commitment to Mid-Atlantic Hiking Group’s mission (http://midatlantichikinggroup.org/). All MAHG events serve as micro-fundraisers to help support our mission. Mid-Atlantic Hiking Group is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit charity, and donations are tax deductible.

A Well-Mannered, Leashed Fido is Welcome on this Hike!

Let’s have fun out on the trails and see you there!

Mary: 410.782.5646

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