Patapsco Valley State Park (PVSP) Avalon/Orange Grove
5120 South Street, Halethorpe MD 21227
Amenities: Visitor center, restrooms, picnic shelters, playgrounds.
Handicapped Access: Paved parking lots and accessible restrooms. Several miles of level paved trails along the river; other trails are dirt with moderate to steep slopes.
Special Attractions: Wide variety of warblers in spring, summer, and fall. Waterfalls and rock outcroppings, two pedestrian bridges across the river, historic structures and railroad artifacts including the Thomas Viaduct, and numerous historical informational signs all add interest.
Size: This section of Patapsco Valley State Park (PVSP) south of Ellicott City extends downstream from the pedestrian bridge crossing at Ilchester Road almost four miles to the Patapsco River at US 1 on both sides of the river in Howard and Baltimore counties.
Habitat: Floodplain and upland deciduous woods, forested stream valleys, mowed and meadow areas.
Trails/Paths: More than eight miles of trails along the river and in upland forest in the Avalon and Orange Grove areas in Howard County west of the river. Another nine miles of trails in Baltimore County on the east side in the Hilton and Glen Artney areas.
Compilers: Scott Berglund and Steve Schwemmer.
