Gorman Stream Valley Natural Resource Area
Eden Brook Drive, Columbia Maryland 21046
Kindler Road, Laurel Marylayd 20723
Name: Most published maps show much of this site as “Gorman Park” which is not the current designation. Since Gorman Stream Valley Natural Resource Area is an unwieldy name, it will be shortened in this site guide to Gorman NRA, designating one side as Gorman–Eden Brook (North) and the other as Gorman–Kindler (South).
The site description includes both county open space and Columbia Association (CA) open space.
Size: 215 acres of county land and several hundred acres of CA open space. Paths exist on both sides of the Middle Patuxent River between Old Columbia Road and Murray Hill Road.
Habitat: Mixed deciduous upland and floodplain forests along both sides of the Middle Patuxent River; south side features a small swamp as well as hemlock groves and mountain laurel along palisades; north side has a sediment pond and pine stand, as well as grass and shrub areas under transmission lines.
Best Months: Early April to early June; September to mid-October.
Coverage Time: One hour for short forays to four hours or more.
Trails/Paths: Dirt paths (some rutted) on county parkland; paved only on short old sections of roads (Eden Brook Drive and Kindler Road). Connections on north side to paved Columbia Association (CA) path system. There are fishing trails, horse trails (south side), deer trails, and utility line rights-of-way crisscrossing the park. Both sides contain steep sections; boots may be required for stream crossings except during extended dry periods.
Notable Birds: Wild Turkey, Northern Bobwhite, American Bittern, Black-crowned Night-Heron, Merlin, Black-billed Cuckoo, Red-headed Woodpecker, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, Least Flycatcher, Philadelphia Vireo, Gray-cheeked Thrush, Golden-winged Warbler, Prothonotary Warbler, Connecticut Warbler, Mourning Warbler, Summer Tanager, Lincoln’s Sparrow.
Amenities: No facilities. Although there are several CA tot lots along the asphalt path on the north side of the river, the trails are not recommended for small children.
Handicapped Access: The remnant pieces of Eden Brook Drive (north) and Kindler Road (south) are paved, and descend to the river from higher ground. Although Eden Brook is in better condition, either may contain dead branches, windrows of leaves, or downed trees. On the north side, a few CA paved paths have steep grades. The unpaved trails along both sides of the river are inaccessible.
Operation and Hours: Howard County parkland, dawn to dusk or as posted; CA: open space 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Special Attractions: Migrant warblers on both sides; thrushes during migration; and palisades with hemlock grove on south side. The many riffles are good for dragonfly and damselfly riverine species. Despite deer depredation, there is still a nice diversity of spring wildflowers.
Nearby Sites: Savage Park, Savage Mill Trail, Wincopin Trail, Patuxent Branch Trail,
High Ridge Park.
Compiler: John McKitterick
