Bacon Ridge Natural Area: Hiker Choice of a Moderate 6.5 Mi or 8.5 Mi Hike

Bacon Ridge Natural Area: Hiker Choice of a Moderate 6.5 Mi or 8.5 Mi Hike

The 900+ acre Bacon Ridge Natural Area is a true natural treasure with expansive marshes, mature forests, and, at the center, its namesake creek, Bacon Ridge Branch. Located in Crownsville and the headwaters of the South River, Bacon Ridge Natural Area is owned by Anne Arundel County and managed by the County’s Department of Recreation and Parks.

Local folklore claims that the creek that runs through the heart of the natural area is named Bacon Ridge Branch because there was a hog farm in the center of the area over a century ago. Portions of the Bacon Ridge Natural Area were once part of the Crownsville Hospital property. The Crownsville Hospital opened in 1911 to serve African American patients needing psychiatric care. Additionally, Bacon Ridge includes the remains of the Charles S. Waters Mill. The mill race and many foundations are still visible. The County’s Cultural Resources Division has documented 16 discrete archaeological sites with intact evidence of prehistoric or Native American campsites, 18th, 19th, and 20th-century structural foundations, and artifact scatters within Bacon Ridge.

Our hike will cover much of Bacon Ridge. The main portion of the hike is a 6.5-mile double-loop trek with about 600 feet of elevation. Areas may be muddy, especially after a rain, so please wear appropriate boots. The hike will end where it began. For those who wish to join us for more, we will explore park areas for an additional 2 miles as an out and back, still returning to the original start and finish area.

Bring a snack or lunch which we will enjoy after the end of the first hike.

Please note there are no toilet facilities on this hike.

Time to Meet:
Please meet at 9:45 for introductions and sign in. We will start hiking promptly at 10:00

Directions to Trailhead:
The GPS Coordinates are 39.03186, -76.61684
The Street address is 1350 Bacon Ridge Road, Crownsville, MD. The parking lot is on the right. Do not go past the sign that reads "Private Road. No Trail Access."

Contact Information:
Please use the comments feature for routine comments and questions. The hike Leader is Tim; 202-744-0289. Call or text as needed.

Details
Rating: Moderate to easy side of difficult
Distance: 6.5 or 8.5 miles (your choice)
Elevation Gain: 560 feet for the 6.5-mile hike, 860 feet for the 8.5-mile hike
Pace: 2.0 to 2.5 miles per hour
Facilities: There are no toilet facilities on this hike
Fees: No entrance fees

Cancellation:
In the unlikely event that the hike needs to be cancelled, it may be cancelled up to the evening before the hike. Hikers will be notified through comments on this posting.

Weather:
The weather for this location can be found here.

Notes:
-Please note, you must sign up at by 9:00 PM the day before the hike.
-Please do not show up unregistered.
-Please keep this a fragrance free event.
-To find out more about PATC, click here.
-Consider becoming a member of PATC. To join, click here.