Jones Falls Trail: Mt. Washington to Inner Harbor (option to train ride back)

**Check back to see if the date or start time has changed. This ride could be postponed if the chance of rain is above 49%, or wind speed is above 15 mph or wind gusts are above 20 mph, or temperature is too hot and humid (per AccuWeather) **

Thanks to “Duct tape” Mike for helping us to get the details for this route.

A FRIENDLY REMINDER
This isn't a free bike touring organization. It's supposed to be a social biking group where everyone makes an effort to help out (offer suggestions, offer to organize or help lead a ride, help a rider, welcome new participants, etc.) and take time to get to know each other a little at the "regroup" stops.

PARKING
The Jones Falls Trail's NW endpoint at Greenspring Avenue and Cross Country Blvd and Pimlico Road does not have a dedicated parking area. However, there are free street parking options nearby, particularly along Cross Country Blvd.

MOUNT WASHINGTON TRAIN STATION
Mount Washington Light Rail Station (1.38 miles away)
5701 Smith Ave
Baltimore, MD 21209

MEETING SPOT & CHECK-IN
Meet us at the trailhead: Greenspring Ave and Cross Country Blvd (Baltimore City). After everyone is checked-in, we will form an oval to do an ice-breaker question.

SKILL LEVEL: Intermediate. You should be fit enough to bike up gentle inclines. Be prepared to bike a hill at the start. You should be able to maintain an avg. bike speed of at least 10 mph on a flat trail, for at least 10 miles, during spring weather, to keep up (we bike slower when it's above 85*). We stop for about five minutes to regroup every 2-4 miles so people can catch up. If you don't catch up at the regroup stops, you will need to use a nav app to guide you. You have the option to bail out and use a Light Rail train to go back to the start along the way.

DISTANCE OPTIONS
Participants can return at any time they feel like. These are just suggestions:

OPTION A: ~10 miles. Bike down to Druid Hill Park’s Lake, go around it, then return the same way.
OPTION B: ~13 miles one way. [The organizers plan to do this option] After biking to the Inner Harbor and possibly riding around the full paved harbor area, we will bike over to the Inner Harbor Light Rail Station to take the train back. Address: W. Pratt St, Baltimore, MD 21201.

A one-way ride on the Light Rail costs $1.60 and we can bring our bikes on the train, unless the train car is too crowded (according to Google Copilot). You can pay with cash at the fare boxes on board, or use the CharmPass mobile app for added convenience

OPTION C: ~26 miles total, +/-1410 ft. Bike the full distance of the trail down to the Inner Harbor and stop at or near the Federal Hill Park and then bike back.

OPTION D: You can add miles by hopping on the Gwynn Falls Trail or meandering through the city.

BATHROOMS
Baltimore Visitor Center, Inner Harbor
BIKE RENTALS
Baltimore Bicycle Works
BIKE REPAIR
Baltimore Bicycle Works
Joe’s Bike Shop
5813 Falls Rd, Mt. Washington, MD.

BIKE ROUTE SUMMARY
Trail Link Summary: See this Trail Link page: Jones Falls Trail | Maryland Trails | TrailLink
Baltimore County Department of Recreation trail information webpage: Jones Falls Trail | Department of Recreation & Parks

The trail spans ~ 12.4 miles one way along the Jones Falls Stream Valley connecting the Mount Washington Light Rail Station with the Inner Harbor. It offers a mix of urban and natural environments, with various amenities and scenic spots where you can take a break. It is generally well-marked with clear signs at key points, such as trail junctions and road crossings. It has a mix of flat and hilly terrain. The steepest segment is near Cylburn Arboretum with an elevation gain of about 236 feet over 2.9 miles.

We will regroup and socialize at these locations:

1. Northwest Park. ~1.5 miles from the start.
2. Cylburn Arboretum. ~2.9 miles from the start. Located along the trail, this arboretum provides a peaceful wooded area and scenic views
3. Druid Hill Park: ~4.5 miles from the start.
4. Round Falls (James W. Rouse Memorial Deck - overlook). After crossing the train tracks and turning right, there will be a spur trail we need to take to get to the falls.
   Optional Points of Interest as we ride south:
5. Ma & Pa Railroad Roundhouse (on the left)
6. Baltimore Streetcar Museum (on the left)
7. Penn Station (on the left after turning right on St. Paul Street)
   Then we need to turn left on E. Mt. Royal Ave
   Optional quick stop to see nearby Fallsway Fountain (on the right after passing Biddle St.) Built in 1915 by the famous sculptor Hans Schuler, in neoclassical style. See a vintage photo here.
8. Get on the Fallsway Cycle Track. A 2.6-mile protected bike lane in Baltimore, MD. It runs along Maryland Avenue and Cathedral Street, providing a two-way cycling path on the east side of the road. The track is separated from traffic by a painted buffer, flex-posts, and a row of parked cars, making it safer for cyclists.
9. Quick stop on the trail to see the nearby Pheonix Shot Tower (on the left). It was built in 1828 and was once the tallest building in the USA.
10. We need to make about five directional turns after this.
11. Go to the Baltimore Visitor Center, Inner Harbor, to cool off and use restrooms.
12. Meander around the harbor to opposite of Federal Hill.

OPTION TO SOCIALIZE BEFORE BIKING OR TRAIN RIDING BACK Bring your suggestions.

RECOMMENDATIONS
Bring: Water bottles, snacks, biking gloves, bike bell, bike lock, helmet visor, sunglasses, bike tube, pump, patch, first aid kit, mobile phone with nav app installed (e.g. Google maps, we use RidewithGPS). If you get leg cramps during or after a ride, take electrolytes before and during your ride (or add salt and magnesium to your water). A change of clothes for your ride home or a car seat cover to absorb sweat.
Clothing: Wear biking gloves and durable clothing so that if you do fall, your skin is protected. Avoid wearing all black, all dark grey, all dark brown, or all dark blue, which blends in with pavement, especially while riding through a shady segment. Consider wearing something light to help others notice you.
REQUIREMENTS
Be proactive to avoid a fall/crash and minimize injury:
· Keep a distance between yourself and other bikers. If the biker ahead of you suddenly stops, you should be able to avoid hitting them.
· Don’t make stops on the trail. Pull over to the side and use hand gestures to let people know you’re slowing down to make a stop.
· Yelling out “Passing on your left” and/or ringing a bike bell as you approach people ahead of you, so they don’t inadvertently move in your line of travel.
· Slowing down to wait, rather than speeding up when trying to pass people at the same time walkers/bikers are approaching you from the opposite direction.
· Avoid potholes and debris and slow down when approaching bumps
· When approaching road crossings and iffy situations, triple-check before crossing and don’t let yourself be distracted by talking, etc.
· Ensure your helmet is tightly secured so that it won’t move if you hit the ground.

MEETUP POLICIES
Participants should understand that biking is an inherently dangerous activity, and an accident could happen at any time. Participation is at your own risk.
An RSVP of “Yes” to an event is your digital signature acknowledging that you have read, understood, and agree with Meetup’s and MD Rail Trail Biking’s policies, esp. section 6 “Release” and section 8.2 ” Limitation of Liability,” found at https://www.meetup.com/terms/
You should not hold the organizers, leaders, and other participants accountable for any injury that occurs during a meetup event.