This is a beautiful trail with great views but we had to turn back It was too challenging for our group. The trail is primarily used for hiking and nature trips and is accessible year-round. ... Prettyboy and Liberty reservoirs. Get Directions. If you just do the in and back from the bridge parking to the dam you just stay along the river but I like to do loops so this one included part of the road back to the parking lot. Tubing is popular on the river and there are several "swimming holes" to cool off in the summer. Check flight prices and hotel availability for your visit. Start checking them out and you'll be out on the trail in no time! Get directions, maps, and traffic for Prettyboy, MD. Prettyboy Dam – Viewed from the trail The image was taken during a three mile walk on a trail around Prettyboy Reservoir. Hiking downstream is an easier, more relaxing hike. Very pretty scenery. Overall Great hike! Mostly flat and follows stream while way. The reservoir offers largemouth and smallmouth bass, crappie, sunfish, perch, and carp. You can then return by heading upstream on the Gunpowder South Trail or continue downstream for a longer hike. The Lake Roland dam … The reservoir has many hiking trails around it, but the most popular hiking trails are downstream from the dam in Gunpowder Falls State Park. The trail is primarily used for hiking, walPrettyboy Reservoir Fire Road is a 7.1 kilometer moderately trafficked out and back trail located near Manchester, Maryland that features beautiful wild flowers and is rated as moderate. Parts of the Gunpowder River, along with those of its smaller, neighboring Chesapeake Bay tributary, the Little Gunpowder River, also serve as a State Park. This didn't include the hike up to the top of the dam. Great trail! You can walk across the dam and look down into the deep canyon. Located in the northwest corner of Baltimore County, Prettyboy Reservoir watershed extends about seven miles from east to west and about 10 miles from north to south. When the leaves fill out the view of the dam is no longer available from this … Good hiking footwear a must and it is definitely a clamber not a stroll. Very doable though if you’re not afraid of rocks. Lake Hollywood Reservoir from Mulholland Dam. Kid friendly Hiking Nature trips Forest Lake River Views Wildflowers Wildlife. Visit Website. It was one of the prettiest places, quite rocky and rugged, I had not seen the dam from that perspective in over 40 years. Help. Because of the views of the lake, this makes a nice winter hike, although it would be pretty any time of the year. Quite muddy but walking along the river with it's crisp air is so worth it getting to the dam. With an elevation gain of just over 300 feet, this is an easy trail and a fun way to spend a few hours enjoying the woods and the Prettyboy Reservoir itself. Great hike.. There is also a trail which will take you down into the canyon and Gunpowder River. Prettyboy Reservoir Dam is a 2.6 mile moderately trafficked out and back trail located near Parkton, Maryland that features a lake and is rated as moderate. In the hot summer months this is a hidden gem as it is shaded, and it’s north of the Reservoir so no 55 degree bottom water temps! Download the map before you go. Bing Maps has a collection of great trails with directions to trail heads as well as photos. That Dam TT is the only road race in Baltimore County. We started at the parking lot just past the bridge on Falls Rd, so our hike was actually 3.5 miles with a few off shoots to get closer to the river. give it a 4 out of 5 only because the trail is not marked very well there's only a handful of blazes that you see usually at big junction points but otherwise you really kind of have to just try and hope you stay on the trail and the trail is very narrow it's winter time now and there is still a lot of branches and brush and thorns that are hanging into the trail and I mean it's one person wide for sure I would recommend that you track yourself on this app that way you can make sure you don't pass the junction point to get back to the parking area / main road I missed it on the way back. There are picnic areas above the dam and on the river in Gunpowder Falls … Rocky and some hills. We also explored a stream that intersects the Prettyboy Trail for a bit too. The race is a challenging time trial around the Prettyboy Reservoir watershed. Prettyboy Reservoir sits behind Prettyboy Dam on the Gunpowder River, which flows into the northwestern Chesapeake Bay. You can walk across the dam and look down into the deep canyon. It wasn’t the steepness it was the mud, roots and rocks that made us decide to turn around. Legend says that a farmer bought his daughter a colt with a beautiful silken coat. Be careful for slick, mossy rocks. I had to piggy-back my 4 yr old for most of it, but my 7 yr old daughter and her older siblings were champs and handled the entire hike. Eventually, you will turn left and cross the thousand foot long dam at the south end of the reservoir. It's very rocky, so enough to be interesting and can he a bit slick after rain. Be sure to take a walking stick and good boots due to los of tricky footing. Prettyboy Reservoir Dam is a 4.2 kilometer moderately trafficked out and back trail located near Parkton, Maryland that features a lake and is rated as moderate. There is a parking area on Falls Road that gives access to the Highland Hiking Trail which is recognized by the blue blazes, as well as to the river and a hiking trail that follows the river either upstream to the dam or down stream. The trail is reached via Traceys Store Road in Northern Baltimore County Maryland. Discover trails like Prettyboy Reservoir Hemlock Trail Maryland, find information like trail length, elevation, difficulty, activities, and nearby businesses. Great hike. Going upstream to the dam is a scenic but strenuous hike. The reservoir is also managed for warm, cool, and cold water fish species and offers fishing opportunities. We ended up doing 3.6 miles. Follow the trail north along the east side of Franklin Canyon Lake, passing through the brush, reeds, and trees that encircle the reservoir. Legal. Visit Gunpowder Falls State Park, where a trout stream, surrounding greenway and trail network provide a natural place to escape and unwind. Wear good hiking shoes with grip. There are picnic areas above the dam and on the river in Gunpowder Falls State Park. would have been 5 stars but little to no trail markers. Boating permits for Loch Raven Reservoir are issued through the Baltimore County … Prettyboy Reservoir Maps and Hunting Info. Baltimore City Dept of Public Works © 2021 All Rights Reserved. I’m new to AT app but was surprised this was a “moderate” trail. The beautifully constructed Mulholland Dam was built in 1924 with 172,000 cubic yards of concrete. Prettyboy Reservoir is a 206.5 km) of water. Boating season at Liberty and Prettyboy runs from March 1 through December 31, weather permitting. Baltimore City Department of Public Works Director Rudolph S. Chow, P.E., today announced that boaters can now apply for their 2019 Watercraft Permit for Liberty and Prettyboy Reservoirs. Prettyboy Trail is a 20.5 mile moderately trafficked out and back trail located near Hampstead, Maryland that features a lake and is rated as moderate. In the Prettyboy Reservoir there are several side roads you can take that are beautiful. Hiking trails that range from easy to difficult. Host: Baltimore Bird Club Leader: Kevin Graff, keyweststyle2001@gmail.com or 410-967-5896 (text only). Continuing downstream will take you through some very nice habitat for birdwatching, wildflowers (especially in the spring) and wildlife. The trails shown in these maps and .gpx files were plotted in the winter and spring of 2009, and the fall and winter of 2009-10. There are some mild hills plus climbing over the rocks made you feel like you were getting in a pretty good workout. Date of experience: September 2019 Ask Ranger145 about Prettyboy Reservoir Park for a spectacular view of the Prettyboy Dam and there is a nice nature trail there. After about half of a mile, the trail turns slightly away from the water and up the hill into the Masemore Hemlock Ravines Natural Area. Tubing is popular on the river and there are several “swimming holes” to cool off in the summer. You can make it shorter or longer depending on where you park. This is a great bowhunting area with lots of access to the Beautiful Fall Colors Visited here during the fall colors and loved the historical old dam! The 7,380-acre Prettyboy Reservoir CWMA is owned by the City of Baltimore and is managed to protect the reservoir. It is named after Prettyboy Creek, which is a located in a section of Baltimore County known as “Devils Backbone”. Absolutely stunning and little rainforest by the river even in winter. Other notable features include pristine lakes, jagged peaks and mysteriously smoking fumaroles. The reservoir has many hiking trails around it, but the most popular hiking trails are downstream from the dam in Gunpowder Falls State Park. Length 2.6 miElevation gain 272 ftRoute type Out & back. Best Views Trails in Prettyboy Reservoir Park. Look for the Prettyboy Dam Rd. Awesome trail. We enjoyed it, but this is not "a bit rocky in places" as some reviews say - it is ALL rocks and when the river is high, as it was today, there is no path as such - it's about carefully picking your way across the boulders. Beautiful hike along the river up to the Pretty Boy Dam. Visited here during the fall colors and loved the historical old dam! This route is not too remote so you'll find gas stations and place to eat in the various towns you pass through. There is also a trail which will take you down into the canyon and Gunpowder River. Prettyboy Reservoir spreads out over 1,500 acres in northern Baltimore County, Maryland. We suggest traveling the Highland Hiking Trail southeast (downstream) until it meets the Gunpowder South Trail (white blazes) about a mile from the Masemore road picnic area. Water was pretty. Published 19 Nov 20 2020 Slideshow. The area is open to hiking, rowing or paddle boating, bird watching, horseback riding and nature photography year-round, and for archery hunting during a regulated season. moderate (48) Length: 1.7 mi • Est. tons of bright green moss, fernss, lichen covered rocks and mountain laurel. Description: We’ll look for breeding warblers, vireos […] The view up top is worth it. Lots of scrambles and good work out for the legs. 2020 Slideshow. Must do hike in Maryland. The reservoir area serves as land for hiking, mountain biking, road cycling, fishing, and boating. Prettyboy Reservoir occupies 79.7 sq mi of northern Baltimore County, Maryland, also known as the Hereford Zone. These are a few of the maps I have used to get familiar with the layout the area. There's a quick hill to climb, then 198 steps up a set of concrete stairs to get to the top... leg burner! So green and lush in January. #5 - Hemlock Gorge from Gunpowder Road Alternate Route. Historical Weather. The full size video is in my Slideshows Gallery here (best viewed full size on a… Continue reading … Prettyboy Reservoir Dam. Hemlocks along the ravine near the trail junction. The trail bends and curves like the shore of the lake. Users have reported that parts of this trail have tricky footing, so be sure to wear proper shoes/boots. Landscapes. There are several walk-in camping areas in this park, but reservations can be made at the Summit Lake location, a location that will position you right in the middle of the park and at the epicenter of several hiking trails. Length: 3.8 mi • Est. But extremely rocky. The trail is primarily used for hiking and nature trips and is accessible year-round. Here’s a vid using a ken burns effect on an image of Prettyboy Dam. With the exception of a few trails immediately behind the Prettyboy Watershed headquarters at the corner of Spooks Hill and Prettyboy Dam Roads, ALL of these trails were hiked on foot and recorded on a DeLorme PN-20 GPS receiver. The scenery is amazing in autumn. 51 m. This trail is beautiful, especially on the section just south of Walker Run. Definitely be careful with younger ones on the rocks, and there are a few spots that can be muddy and slippery. The Prettyboy Reservoir watershed is the second largest and the most remote of the three area reservoir watersheds. The trail takes you over the Mingo Branch which you can cross (only a few inches deep) by stepping on some exposed rocks. Below are weather averages from 1971 to 2000 according to data gathered from the nearest official weather station. The water from Prettyboy Reservoir is transferred to Loch Raven Reservoir via Gunpowder Falls rather than directly to Baltimore. 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