Howard County Bird Club
Hipsley Mill Detailed Information
The Downstream Trail is among the best in the park for nesting warblers.
Habitat: Floodplain of varying width bordered on the south and west by the Patuxent River and on the north and east by hills and/or fields. The deciduous woods contain occasional openings. Seepages and small intermittent streams are found throughout the area.
Layout: The Patuxent River forms the boundary between Howard County to the north and east and Montgomery County to the south and west. Trails run both upstream and downstream on the Howard County side of the river. To access either trail system, park in the small unpaved parking area 50 feet north of the bridge on the east side of Hipsley Mill Road.
Downstream: Take the trail from the parking lot east toward the mouth of Cabin Branch. The trail roughly parallels the river. Except during extended droughts, portions of this trail will vary from muddy to a quagmire. Hand clippers can be valuable to cut the Multiflora Rose canes which are difficult to avoid. If there has been precipitation, be prepared for waist high wet vegetation in places.
At the mouth of the Cabin Branch tributary in 0.7 miles, there are three choices:
Cross the Branch and continue on the interconnecting trails (boots or even water shoes are a necessity as the water may be over ankle depth; the crossing should be attempted only when the water level is low). At this writing, it is unknown whether the trail goes all the way to the next road crossing at Howard Chaptel Road in 2.5 miles.
Turn left on the trail near the intersection and walk north along Cabin Branch. A loop can be made by turning left at the first junction in 0.5 miles and then left again at the next junction in about a hundred yards. Return south to the river by way of the field edges. Or continue north. Eventually this ends at the Hipsley Mill Road intersection with Annapolis Rock Road in about a mile. (This may be more suitable for two cars as it is then a mile back down Hipsley Mill Road to the river parking lot.)
Turn around and retrace your steps to the parking lot.
Upstream: From the parking lot, cross the road and walk uphill away from the river about 50 feet. Look for an unmarked trail entrance on the left (west) side of the road. Several metal signs (with fishing regulations) are placed on trees just inside the trail entrance. This short trail also can be quite muddy in places as it parallels the river for a hundred yards. It then turns uphill and reaches the bottom of a field that lies along Hipsley Mill Road in 0.2 miles (near the parking lot P5 described in the Annapolis Rock site). After exploring the mown trails crisscrossing the fields, either return on the trail or walk along Hipsley Mill Road. Be aware that traffic is light but high speed.
Best Time to Visit: For most birders, spring migration holds the greatest attraction as the list of possible migrants is long. Spring wildflowers are also varied. Early summer finds a fine variety of vireos, thrushes, and warblers still singing on territory and/or feeding young. Fall migration can be equally productive, but hunting dates make it difficult to bird the area without careful planning (other than Sundays when hunting is not permitted). Winter is quiet, although there are several species worth seeking.
Birding: The trails in this section of Patuxent River State Park are not heavily used by either horseback riders or fishermen. Birders are few, but there are rewards for those willing to battle the Multiflora Rose canes arching across the trail and the often soggy conditions underfoot.
Migration can produce almost any local passerine. By late spring, nesting Yellow-throated Vireos are present, Veeries can be heard, and warblers of half a dozen species (including Worm-eating, Kentucky, and Hooded along with American Redstart) are resident on the Downstream Trail. For the persistent or lucky, Cerulean Warblers are the prize downstream. They are usually found in the vicinity of the intersection with Cabin Branch which is approximately one-half mile east of Hipsley Mill Road. Surprises await as one recent birder had an American Woodcock flush adjacent to the trail. Winter birding can be slow, but Winter Wren, Hermit Thrush, various species of sparrows, and Rusty Blackbird are all possibilities.
Highlights: Migrant and breeding birds; spring and summer wildflowers.
Handicapped Access: Extremely limited. Roadside or the vicinity of the parking lot only.
Hunting: Areas on both sides of the road are managed hunting areas. Hiking on hunting days is discouraged. If you feel it necessary to walk any of the trails on a hunting day, be sure to wear some blaze orange clothing.
For information about current hunting dates, go to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and select the hunting seasons calendar.