Bacon Ridge Natural Area South: A 7 or 9.4 Mile Moderate Hike
Details
Bacon Ridge Natural Area South: A 7 or 9.4 Mile Moderate Hike
The Bacon Ridge Natural Area, spanning over 900 acres in Crownsville, Maryland, offers a blend of ecological beauty and historical significance. Managed by Anne Arundel County’s Department of Recreation and Parks, this preserved space features expansive marshlands, mature forests, and, at its heart, the meandering Bacon Ridge Branch.
Bacon Ridge Natural Area’s landscape is steeped in local history and legend. According to local folklore, the central waterway—Bacon Ridge Branch—derives its name from a hog farm that once operated in the area over a century ago. Portions of the park were formerly part of the Crownsville Hospital property. Established in 1911, the Crownsville Hospital provided psychiatric care to African American patients, and today, a hospital cemetery remains within the natural area, home to more than 1,800 patient graves, each marked only by a number. Note that the former hospital grounds remain closed to the public.
The primary route for this hike is a 7-mile double loop trail, which includes 585 feet of elevation gain. This moderately challenging hike takes you across diverse terrain, looping through the forests and marshes, and returns you to the trailhead.
For those seeking a longer adventure, an additional 2.4-mile extension is available, bringing the total hike distance to 9.4 miles and the elevation gain to about 870 feet. The extended route traverses further into the scenic woodlands, giving hikers a deeper immersion into the area’s natural beauty.
Time to Meet:
Please meet at 9:45 for introductions and sign in. We will start hiking promptly at 10:00
Contact Information:
Please use the comments feature for routine comments and questions. The hike is Tim (202-744-0289). Call or text as needed.
Directions to Trailhead:
The address is 1700 Hawkins Road, Annapolis, MD. This is an approximate address. Look carefully at the map for precise location. The GPS coordinates are correct.
The GPS coordinates are 39.0064, -76.60844
Details
Rating: Moderate
Distance: 7 or 9.4 miles (your choice)
Elevation Gain: 585 feet for the 7-mile hike, 870 for the 9.4-mile hike
Pace: 2.0 to 2.5 miles per hour
Facilities: Bathroom at trailhead:
Fees: no 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 8:00 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.