Historic Ellicott City to BWI Loop Trail

**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 (per Accuweather) **

Credit goes to HJ Park for suggesting this ride and helping me develop this spectacular new route.

PARKING
Parking lot A on Oella Dr.
If you can’t find parking in lot A, find street parking, or go to one of their other free parking lots nearby (B, C, D, E, F, and G - go across the bridge up Main Street and look for the blue and white “P” signs for the lots. The courthouse lot is one block above Main St.) I recommend you arrive early so you can make sure you find parking and have time to get to the meeting spot on time.

MEETING SPOT & CHECK-IN
Meet in Lot A on Oella Dr. at 10:30, by the stairway. If the lot is crowded, look for me (Keryn), with a yellow safety vest and white helmet, on the grassy area across the street from the parking lot. After check-ins, we will form an oval and do an icebreaker.

Note: I will ask for four volunteers to lead groups of four riders across Frederick Rd and two other crossings. I'll have loaner safety vests.

BIKE ROUTE SUMMARY
This route starts in Historic Ellicott City, right off Main Street. To learn more, see Historic Sites.

There are three distance options to choose from, but participants can modify their distance at any point. These routes offer a wide variety of views - the Patapsco river, stone arch bridges, metal bridges, quiet country roads, pine tree forests, fields, and airplanes in action.

DISTANCE OPTIONS

OPTION A: 10.7 miles lollipop loop, +/- 494 ft.
A mix of low-traffic country roads and a well-maintained hiker/biker trail in Patapsco State Park (we don’t need to pay to enter). We take Frederick Rd for .6 miles (wide shoulders) then take River Rd (about 1 mile) to the park. Then take Grist Mill trail to the end, make a hairpin turn via Gun Rd onto River Rd. Take River Rd to the swinging bridge. Bathrooms are here (across from the swinging bridge). Cross the bridge and return back the same way. This loop provides close-up river views and captures the beauty of Patapsco Park. You will cross two of its bridges and enjoy the river views most of the way.
RideWithGPS map

OPTION B: 22 miles total +/- 786 ft. Steepest section is a 4% incline over .7 miles
(Keryn plans to do this option)

From the OPTION A turnaround point, this route takes you out to the BWI Loop entry point before returning. (Participants may decide to return earlier). If food is needed, you will pass a gas station on the way.

RideWithGPS map

OPTION C: 32.7 miles total, 1643 ft 3:00 hours.
-----You need to have a nav app to for this option-----There is no lead for this option at this time-----

In addition to biking the first half of Option A, and adding Option B, you will then get on the BWI Loop trail (total 10.7 miles), a well-maintained paved loop. It’s a moderately challenging route, mostly paved, with some slight grades along the way. Although, there were two short segments with some tree root bumps. This has two good stop areas to enjoy views and watch airplanes: Andover Park (picnic table and bike stand) and Friendship Park. Friendship Park has port-o-johns and bike repair stand. There is a Burger King opposite the trail loop.

RideWithGPS map

BATHROOMS
-In Historic Ellicott City: The Visitor Center (lower level -back entry near Lot D on Main St) and at retail establishments
-In Patapsco Park we will pass a couple of park bathrooms
-At the BWI airport, there is a Burger King on the southeast side and port-o-potties are at Friendship Park.
BIKE RENTALS
NA
BIKE REPAIR
The Cycle Mill
169 Frederick Rd
Ellicott City, MD

OPTION TO SOCIALIZE BEFORE AND AFTER THE RIDE
- Farmers Market on Saturday mornings in Lot D.
- There is usually live outdoor music being played in Lot D in the afternoons.
There is ample seating outside the Little Market Cafe. I plan to park my car in Lot D and sit around the fire pit area for a lunch break after completing Option B. There's many other food options and places to picnic in this town.
Things to do:
-Explore Main Street.
-Visit the Railroad Museum (right across the bridge). It has an awesome miniature train display set up in a separate building.
-Visit the visitor center (at Lot D), Firehouse Museum, historical museum, courthouse area, Patapsco Female Institude (there are usually volunteer tour guides there giving free tours), walk up Trolley Line # 9.
-Visit the town's community center and courthouse up the hill.

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, 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.
  · Slow 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/