Gorman Stream Valley Natural Resource Area
Eden Brook Drive, Columbia Maryland 21046
Kindler Road, Laurel Marylayd 20723
Gorman Stream Valley Natural Resource Area lies along the Middle Patuxent River between Old Columbia Road to the west and Murry Hill Road to the east. On the south side of the river, it includes 215 Howard County acres and 70 acres of Columbia Association (CA) property, and on the north side, several hundred acres of CA open space. In this guide they will be distinguished as Gorman—Eden Brook (North) and Gorman–Kindler (South).
Amenities: Most parking is within sight of gates (marked “Do Not Block”) at the dead-ends of Eden Brook Rd. and Kindler Rd.; in addition, small gravel areas for a few cars exist on the south side of the river along both Old Columbia Road and Murray Hill Road. No facilities on either side. In addition to paved paths on the north side, there are interconnecting narrow trails (some steep) on both sides. Trails in the floodplain may be flooded or just muddy; steep paths may be slippery. A sewer line runs along the river for part of the Kindler section. To the east, both sections are cut by a powerline right-of-way; to the west, trails cross telephone and gas line rights-of-way. Trout are stocked in this section of the river. Howard County Parks and Recreation conducts managed hunting during the fall in portions of the south side in the upland forest; look for signs detailing the dates of the hunts or check on line.
Handicapped Access: Limited, except where segments of old roads and paved CA paths exist (north only). Long sloping paved remnant pieces of Eden Brook Drive and Kindler Road descend to the river from higher ground. Passage may be impeded on both by large branches, windrows of leaves, or downed trees. Some of the paved CA paths have steep grades. Unpaved trails on both sides of the river are generally not advised for the mobility impaired. All wooden bridges along CA’s paved paths are slippery when wet and should be navigated with caution!
Habitat: In addition to the river and multiple tributaries, both sides contain mainly maturing deciduous trees with scattered conifers. There are both upland and floodplain areas, a limited number of stormwater management ponds, a small, swampy wetland (Kindler), a few rocky outcroppings, and extensive grasslands under the powerlines.
Layout: Gorman–Kindler (South).
While it is possible to traverse the length of the south side of the Gorman area from Old Columbia Road at the west to Murray Hill Road on the east, the easiest access to the river bottomlands along the river is via the northern end of Kindler Road. After descending the hill on the remnants of paved road, at the river the foot trail leads upstream (~1/4 mile) and downstream (~1 mile) along the sewer line. This section of the Gorman area is good during spring migration, particularly for warblers and thrushes. The upland forest above the river bottom can be accessed by several trails that branch off from the sewer line trail or from the path down the hill from Kindler Road, but there is no signage to indicate where the paths are or where they lead. A smart phone app such as AllTrails (requires registration but is free; has a paid subscription option) which combines GPS and trail maps is recommended if you want to wander away from the sewer line.
At the east end of the bottomlands, the river is bordered on the south side by a steep escarpment, and the path somewhat precariously leads east up the escarpment and then through a stretch of upland forest to the power lines (about a mile). Here, too, are a number of paths, created by horse riders riding from the CA horse facility on Gorman Rd. Unfortunately, the all-too-numerous deer have all but eliminated any undergrowth in this section of the woods, but the hemlock which grow on the very steep north-facing slopes down to the river provide some habitat where migrating thrushes can be found.
The power line provides another habitat to explore, and the western border between the power line cut and the woods in particular is a good spot to catch an early morning flock of migrating warblers feeding in the first rays of the morning, or a flock of sparrows in the late fall and winter. Access is best from the small parking area on Murray Hill Rd. from which the trail leads uphill to the left and on through a maturing forest about ¼ mile to the power line cut. Head to the left (south) to check out the border between the woods and the grassland, or turn to the right (north, toward the river) to explore the river’s edge. Check the power pylons for perched raptors; it’s a favored hangout for several species. There are several paths that lead west from the power line into the woods and eventually connect to the sewer line in the river bottom; use AllTrails to find the entrances to the paths, which can be hard to find unless you are familiar with them.
Layout: Gorman—Eden Brook (North).
Access to the north side of the Gorman Area is easiest either at the south end of Eden Brook Drive, at the many points where the Columbia Association’s network of paved paths intersects a street, or from Murray Hill Rd on the east. (Access from Old Columbia Road on the west is blocked by a piece of private property.) From the south end of Eden Brook, follow the old road south down to the river. There, a trail leads to the left (downstream) or to the right (upstream). To the right, the trail is pinched between the hillside and the river, but then opens up into an area that can be productive for spring warblers. To the left, the trail goes for ¼ mile until the bottomland is crowded out by a high rocky ridge rising from the river. The unpaved trail rises up and over the ridge and then joins up with a paved CA path at a tot lot.
The paved path network can be accessed from Broadcloth Way, Red Cravat Court, Water Lily Way, or New Grace Mews in the village of Kings Contrivance, and the network can be seen on Google Maps or in the AllTrails app. Of particular note is the sediment pond and small marshy area located south of Red Cravat Court and Water Lily Way, where herons and kingfishers can be seen in season, and migrant warblers in the spring and fall. An unpaved path leads from the pond’s dam down towards the river (on your right as you face away from the pond), where thrushes are often found during migration or even in winter. The path leads to a small section of river bottom, and one can work one’s way downstream to meet up with the paved path network at the point where the path runs closest to the river, just 10 feet away.
Further to the east, the path goes through woods where the sounds of woodland species can be heard in the spring and early summer, coming out at the power line cut. The stream that runs down the cut provides good cover for rare wintering species such as mimids. The grasslands that extend south to the river is an excellent location for some habitat-specific butterflies. The small area at the base of the steep incline at the river’s edge under the power lines is sheltered, and so is a favorite for wintering sparrows. Between the power line cut and Murray Hill Road, the path passes through a small area where wintering sparrows can be found.
Compilers: John McKitterick and Joanne Solem.
