High Ridge Park
10100 Superior Avenue, Laurel, MD 20723
Eighty-eight-acre High Ridge Park is adjacent to the Patuxent River along the Fall Line below I-95 and Rocky Gorge Dam. It consists of forested uplands, steep slopes, and a narrow floodplain.
Amenities: Paved parking. Restrooms/portable toilets. Paved one-mile path. A few unmarked trails. Prominent floral display of mountain laurel the last 10 days of May.
Handicapped Access: Wide paved path with gentle grades. Trails not accessible.
Habitat: Mixed deciduous/coniferous forest transitioning to oak/hickory/tulip tree. Despite the rapid decline in numbers of Virginia pine, a strong acidic shrub understory remains–a byproduct of the diverse soil formation processes of the upper Coastal Plain. Here deep, well-drained Chillum loam, with its loess overburden dropped by glacial winds, and ocean-born Sassafras loam (Maryland’s State Soil), cap the high ridges. The eroded remnants of the once mighty Appalachians are the parent material for these extremely acidic soils. In several locations, these sediments have eroded away as the ancient Patuxent and its tributaries slowly cut downward exposing the underlying gneiss of the Piedmont bedrock. With both alluvial Coastal Plain and residual Piedmont parent materials adjacent to the deeply cut Patuxent River Valley, the geological position on the Fall Line gives the park a complex soil environment with many natural features shaping a diverse wildlife habitat including some unusual plant and insect communities. The portion of the park that is visible from the paved path contains an open understory. Fortunately, invasive plants have made little impact here.
Layout: At the request of local residents, most of the park remains undeveloped. Active recreational facilities are clustered around the parking lot near the park entrance at the west end of Superior Avenue. This area also provides the best (although limited) view of the sky. A one-mile paved path encircles the developed section of the park. A wooden gazebo with benches is set at the edge of a wooded steep slope above the Patuxent River. A small sediment pond on the east side below the pavilion contains a fluctuating amount of water. The catch basin (rain garden) in the center of the parking lot not only helps to reduce runoff but also the flowers attract butterflies and an occasional Ruby-throated Hummingbird.
Birding: This park’s location on the Fall Line, its mostly wooded and edge habitats, and the paved loop trail combine for an easy walk and a variety of birds. If there is water in the sediment pond, there are likely birds nearby. The opening around the gazebo is often productive, especially during migration. The westernmost section of the path parallels a stream valley where woodland species can be heard. Much of the land was owned by the county for decades before it became a public park, so neighbors who walked regularly beat multiple trails. Although many are still visible and useable, their use is strictly informal. They offer, however, access to additional habitats and wildlife variety.
Howard County Recreation and Parks information
Compilers: Joanne Solem and Wes Earp (soils)
