Howard County Bird Club
Daniels Road Detailed Information
The level trail running west for several miles combines floodplain to the north and steep wooded slopes to the south. These habitats provide fine birding during much of the year. Neutral soils also support an array of plants uncommon elsewhere in the county.
Habitat: Most of the Daniels area is wooded floodplain forest along the Patapsco River or upland deciduous forest on steep hillsides. There is a stream valley with mature trees adjacent to the paved parking area and additional small stream valleys upriver. A limited amount of open lawn and brush area around the dam and historic church provides diversity.
Layout: Daniels Road winds down from Old Frederick Road and dead ends at the Patapsco River. Here the river forms the boundary between Howard County and Baltimore County. There is no river crossing. A dam creates a two mile slack water stretch upstream.
There are several shoulder parking areas along Daniels Road and two parking lots at the river. The first lot (on the left) is a small paved one of six spaces. Farther along around a narrow corner is a second large gravel parking area on both sides of the road near the dam and fish ladder. There are active businesses at the end of the road and an historic church. The main trail along the river is broad and shaded and is a pleasant walk in all seasons.
Best Time to Visit: Spring, summer, and fall. Because some Neotropical species breed here, it can be worth a late spring or early summer visit. The area is popular with walkers, fishermen, and canoeists.
State park hours are 8:00 a.m. till dusk. This is not a fee area. For information, call park headquarters M-F 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. at 410-461-5005. To report problems, call the headquarters or Park Watch at 1-800-825-PARK.
Birding: The Daniels section offers county birders a secluded yet easily accessible birding locale. Well-known for a variety of warblers, both resident and migratory, it also offers other interesting birds and many uncommon plants.
Species commonly sighted here during appropriate seasons include Green and Great Blue herons, Wood Duck, Solitary and Spotted sandpipers, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Belted Kingfisher, Pileated Woodpecker, Great Crested Flycatcher, Blue-headed Vireo, Golden-crowned Kinglet, most of the thrushes, and Kentucky, Canada, Blue-winged, and Hooded warblers. Breeders include Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Wood Thrush, Red-eyed, Yellow-throated, and White-eyed vireos, Scarlet Tanager, Baltimore Oriole, and the following warblers: Northern Parula, Yellow, Black-and-white, American Redstart, Worm-eating, Ovenbird, Louisiana Waterthrush, and Common Yellowthroat.
Shortly after the turn from Old Frederick Road onto Daniels Road you will enter the woods. Listen for forest birds, including Worm-eating Warbler. If you stop, pull completely off the road as there is a surprising amount of traffic, including heavy trucks, from the businesses at the end of the road. Near the bottom on the left, you will pass a gravel road entrance and several shoulder parking pullouts prior to a six-space paved parking lot, also on the left. Park here if there is space. In the spring, listen for Worm-eating Warblers and sometimes Black-and-white Warblers in the mountain laurel on the steep hillside across from the lot. If there are no spaces available, use the shoulder pullouts or continue around the corner where there is ample parking.
If the sun has not yet reached the trees in the small parking lot area, you may wish to check the vicinity around the dam and church farther along the road as these areas will get the first sun. Be cautious of traffic when walking along the narrow section of road connecting the first lot to the larger parking lots in the dam area. The open area
near the fish ladder can have Eastern Phoebes and other flycatchers. Walk along the road to the church area scanning the fringe of trees along the river bank for warblers and orioles. Watch the sky for raptors and vultures. A few Broad-winged Hawk flights have been reported, mostly in the fall. Red-tailed Hawks and Ospreys are observed frequently. Black and Turkey vultures sometimes roost and hunt in the area. Listen for Barred Owls and Eastern Screech-Owls at dawn and dusk.
After birding the dam and church area, walk back up Daniels Road (the way you drove in) birding the trees and undergrowth along the stream. There will be activity here before it starts on the main trail.
Enter the gated gravel road heading west a few hundred feet up Daniels Road from the small parking lot. Within 50 feet after crossing the main stream, turn left on a narrow path (Camel’s Den Trail) that goes uphill along the right side of the stream. This stream valley can have nesting Louisiana Waterthrushes. Watch and listen for Barred Owls, Pileated Woodpeckers, and other forest birds. Most birders explore a short way up this side stream and then return to the main trail. Do not be in a hurry to leave this section (just south of the small parking lot) as birds can be found anywhere here. From this point to where the trail reaches the river is only a short distance; however, it is often an especially productive location on sunny mornings during migration. Be sure to check the stream area and boggy floodplain for migrant Northern Waterthrushes and breeding Louisiana Waterthrushes.
Upstream Trails – Follow the gravel road upstream (which is to the left when facing the river). The morning sun will be at your back. The river here is slack water for almost two miles above the dam. Ospreys and even Bald Eagles are possible here. The road often has muddy areas which are usually easily skirted. Listen again for Worm-eating Warblers on the steep slope to the left. The road at first runs along the water, but soon the floodplain widens, and a dirt path leads off to the right along the water. The trees at the water’s edge along this path may have the most activity in the morning sun. This area can have a diversity of birds including Yellow-billed Cuckoo. The riverside path rejoins the road and becomes the main trail about one-half mile from Daniels Road. A spur that veers to the left at this point leads to abandoned buildings.
Beyond a gate blocking vehicles, the trail narrows and continues along the river. It is generally level and dry, but there are occasional permanently muddy spots which must be bypassed where water seeps from the hillside. The path runs west for several miles within sight of the river, terminating at the Davis railroad tunnel. Most birders bird the main trail as far as desired or as time permits and then return along the river. If you took the riverside path on the way upstream before reaching the gate, try the gravel road on the way back as the steep hillside can give food views up into the interior forest for species such as Ovenbird. Another option at 0.9 miles upstream is to take a trail that leads upslope away from the river. This interior trail makes a 1.2 mile loop through the upland deciduous forest, emerging at the stream near the small parking lot. There are several trail junctions along the way that can be confusing. A compass and/or GPS device and a PVSP complete trail map are recommended for travel away from the river. The professionally produced PVSP “Complete Trail Map” is recommended.
Downstream Trails – Downstream trails cannot be reached from the parking lots by walking along the river below the dam as private property at the end of Daniels Road blocks access. To continue on downstream trails, walk back up (south) along Daniels Road about 0.3 miles until a trail takes off to the left (east). It is about 0.6 miles up moderate grades around the shoulder of the hill to an overlook under the power lines. To the right of the overlook a short, but steep and rough, trail follows a stream bed down to the river. From that point, it is approximately 0.8 miles level walking farther downstream to the Old Frederick Road access point.
Highlights: In addition to birds, special plants, and dragonflies, the Daniels section of PVSP was once an industrial area where the river was used to power textile mills. The Gary Memorial United Methodist Church (still active) and the dam are among the few remnants of this era. An informational sign below the church gives more
details about the community that once existed here. There is a fish ladder adjacent to the dam (the dam and the fish ladder are to be removed that currently have an informational sign. For the wildflower enthusiast, spring brings Dutchman’s breeches, various species of violets, early saxifrage, wild columbine, miterwort, Greek valerian, nodding trillium, and showy orchis along with others. Witch hazel blooms near the end of October.
Handicapped Access: There is good birding from the parking lots. The small parking lot is paved and has a view of the river, a stream, and wooded slope. The main gravel/dirt parking lot farther down the road is also level and has a view of open areas and a fringe of floodplain forest.
The main trail upstream is accessed by either crossing a small stream or walking back up the road to a gated gravel road. This level, gravel or dirt road forms the main trail and runs along the river for several miles. Muddy spots along the first half mile can usually be avoided easily. Beyond the second gate, the trail narrows and some of the muddy sections are harder to navigate.