Long Corner
Patuxent River State Park
Long Corner Road, Mount Airy Maryland 21771
One of the most attractive and productive sections of 6,700 acre Patuxent River State Park.
Amenities: Small dirt parking lot with space for half a dozen vehicles on the south side of Long Corner Road 100 yards east of the bridge. If the lot is full (a rare event), there is space close to the trailhead for a few cars on either side of the road—a less safe option. No facilities. A wide, mostly flat old farm road not far from the river on the north side of the road is the main trail; short portions may be muddy even in dry weather. Fishing and horseback riding are major uses. Hunting is permitted in season.
Handicapped Access: Limited access. Although the first section of the trail is flat, wet and muddy sections pose problems (steep hillside on one side and drop-off on the other).
Habitat: The thin, acidic soils of the steep slopes along the first portion of the trail are covered with oak-hickory and some Mountain Laurel with an occasional Virginia Pine. In the mixed deciduous woods beyond the pond, American Beech predominates. In both areas, the understory is largely open, although heavily invaded with Multiflora Rose in many spots. The narrow Patuxent River is a trout stream that clears quickly after rains. Beavers come and go in the pond—the water level rises when the dam is intact. Just north of the pond, the floodplain is a little wider and the slopes a bit more gentle. Here and there, a collapsed outbuilding or some domestic plantings betray the site of an old homestead. There are openings along the gas and telephone rights-of-way.
Layout: From the small parking lot east of the bridge on the south side of Long Corner Road, walk toward the bridge. Before reaching the river, cross the road to enter the unmarked trail on the north side. This wide flat path heads north on an old road embankment. The Patuxent River or a main tributary remains in sight on the left (west) along portions of the trail. At several points, there will be 20-foot muddy sections or even standing water in all except the driest weather. The trail crosses a gas line and soon continues around a pond, one of the few in PRSP. Near the north end of the pond, the trail crosses a small stream you can step across; a muddy place on the west side of the stream usually has sticks and logs you can cross on. The trail continues left (west). (There is no trail that allows circumnavigation of the pond.) There are several small side trails going down to the river or up the steep hills (mainly used by horseback riders and hunters) that can easily confuse you and should be avoided. Follow the wide trail west for a mile or more to a telephone right-of-way. At this point, either turn and retrace your steps or turn right up the hill and follow the right-of-way. If you turn right up the steep slope, follow it until it is blocked by fallen trees; at that point it heads down a steep hill to the small stream above the pond. Before the downfall, look for a trail to the right that goes downhill. When you reach the pond, join the main trail and return to the parking lot.
This section of the park is best known for woodland species. A variety of flycatchers, thrushes, and warblers nest here. The haunting song of the Veery is a special feature at dawn and dusk.
Compilers: Mary Prowell and Joanne Solem
