This small creek is the very beginning of the mainstem of the Susquehanna River that will travel some 444 miles south, growing in width, depth and velocity, joining with hundreds of tributaries to eventually feed into the Chesapeake Bay.
Some people see chilly winter days as a reason to stay inside, but given the right conditions, hibernal hikes at places like King and Queen Seat, Eden Mill Park, and Kilgore Falls can be extraordinary. A little snow and ice can change a wooded trail into a winter wonderland, while a waterfall can transform into a magnificent glacial sculpture.
This is a wonderful place to visit – especially if you enjoy history, appreciate inclusion, and enjoy outdoor programming.
One of my favorite local destinations for outdoor recreation is the Daniels Area of Patapsco Valley State Park in Maryland. Rich in history, its network of hiking trails in both Howard and Baltimore counties are centered around the ~27-foot-high Daniels Dam.
With binoculars we could see flocks of snow geese and tundra swans in the distance, and Canada geese flying in formation overhead, along with a pair of young eagles cavorting about.
Potomac State Forest in Garrett County, Maryland seems to have something for almost every outdoor enthusiast, and makes a very worthwhile winter hiking destination.
It could be said that Savage River State Forest is so big that it couldn’t all fit in a single watershed…so it straddles two.
Pine Grove Furnace State Park is the halfway point of the Appalachian Trail and home to the Appalachian Trail Museum. The park has great hiking, remains of an historic charcoal-fired iron furnace to explore, two lakes for swimming, and great trout fishing.
Traveling through this park whether by foot, horse, mountain bike, or skis, you feel a sense of gratitude to those who preserved the beauty of this natural environment. Expect to be amazed, delighted, and awestruck!
Within this gorgeous park’s 6,000 acres, visitors can enjoy hiking and horseback riding, fishing and boating at two lakes (one featuring an expansive white sand beach), mountain biking, a stunning mountaintop overlook, game courts, geocaching, a nature center, rental cabins, a lodge, and one of the top 130 best-designed golf courses in the country.
Once in the water, the paddle took on a leisurely pace, gliding smoothly along the shoreline and marshland. Our guide animatedly discussed the fascinating history and ecology of the area.
Black Moshannon State Park rests high in the mountains of the Allegheny Forest, and is a site of picturesque and fascinating bogs, swamps, and marshes.
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