Gwynn Acres Path
Dorsey’s Search Loop Trail (eBird hotspot)
Columbia Road, Ellicott City Maryland 21042
Size: Open space east of the Little Patuxent River with an entrance on Columbia Road opposite Rams Horn Row and another at the end of Larkspring Row.
Habitat: Young to mature deciduous floodplain forest.
Best Months: Pleasant walk most of the year; best birding mid-April through May; September, early October.
Coverage Time: 1–2 hours.
Trails/Paths: An 8,800 foot paved path near the river is the main trail. An unmarked short dirt trail goes west 50 feet north of the Columbia Road entrance. It leads shortly to a small wooden observation platform. Occasional deer paths from the main trail into the floodplain may be worth investigating.
Notable Birds: Winter Wren, Connecticut Warbler, Mourning Warbler, Rusty Blackbird.
Amenities: Two benches, one near either end of the path.
Handicapped Access: Generally easy walking although moderately hilly near Larkspring Row. Avoid this path during wet weather, especially fall. The six wooden
bridges are slanted at one or both ends so footing can be treacherous when leaves blanket the boards.
Operation and Hours: Howard County open space. Dawn to dusk.
Special Attractions: Within the first few hundred yards, there is a tulip-tree on the east side of the path. Even in its drastically pruned condition, it is an imposing example of Maryland’s old-growth timber. A succession of spring wildflowers bloom along this path from mid-April to mid-May.
Nearby Sites: Plumtree Path, Centennial Park, Meadowbrook Park.
Compiler: Joanne Solem
