AMC Outdoors, July/August 2008
Baltimore: Middle Branch Park
What you can do there: This pocket park extends 6 miles along an area known to some as Baltimore’s “other waterfront”—the Middle Branch of the Patapsco River. With a hard-working history, the 150-acre Middle Branch Park–created by the city in the late 1970s–may be less an idyllic escape than a pushing-off point. But it offers a clear view of the city skyline, as well as a wildlife observatory area and boardwalk. From the park, you can also try sculling with the Baltimore Rowing Club, take a paddle in your own craft, or test your luck with recreational fishing or crabbing. And you can hop on the Gwynns Falls Trail, biking or walking 14 miles west toward Leakin Park or 1 mile north to the city’s rejuvenated Inner Harbor.
If you have your fun here, you may be among the first to discover an up-and-coming Baltimore playground. The Middle Branch area has recently caught the eye of developers eager to spruce it up, and city planners have undertaken an ambitious master plan to ensure that its natural resources are restored along with any development that takes place. In the future, greenway proponents hope to connect Middle Branch Park to Patapsco Valley State Park, a sprawling, 14,000-acre recreation area that lies 10 miles to the west.
Fun fact: Now the largest expanse of natural shoreline in Baltimore Harbor, this park was once an auto junkyard.
How to get there: Baltimore’s light rail has nearby stops at Cherry Hill and Westport, and local buses also run nearby. For details, see www.mtamaryland.com.
For more info: Baltimore Recreation and Parks (city park info and events): 410-396-0440, www.baltimorecity.gov/government/recnparks; Baltimore Rowing Club: 410-355-5649, www.baltimorerowing.org; Gwynns Falls Trail Council: 410-448-5663 ext. 135, www.gwynnsfallstrail.org.
Philadelphia: Wissahickon Valley Park
What you can do there: This 1,400-acre river gorge is no secret to locals, and has long been a favorite of AMC Delaware Valley Chapter leaders. It has also provided inspiration to artists of every stripe; wrote Edgar Allan Poe in 1844, “the Wissahiccon is of so remarkable a loveliness that, were it flowing in England, it would be the theme of every bard, and the common topic of every tongue, if, indeed, its banks were not parceled off in lots, at an exorbitant price, as building-sites for the villas of the opulent.” Happily, no such parceling has occurred: the lush gorge is protected as part of Philadelphia’s sprawling Fairmount Park system.
Those who venture there will find 57 miles of hiking and walking trails; rugged adventures for mountain bikers (a permit is required on some trails); and opportunities for rock climbing, birdwatching, and paddling. Swimming is not advised, although the aptly named Devil’s Pool is an attraction for those willing to take the risk. An environmental center at the north end of the park features an aquarium, exhibits, and summer programs for toddlers to teens.
Fun fact: Fairmount Park is within walking distance of every single resident of Philadelphia—that’s because it’s actually a network of 63 parks covering 9,200 acres.
How to get there: The SEPTA R6 and R8 trains will drop you near different areas of the park, as will various local buses. Use SEPTA.com’s “Plan My Trip” feature to help find your way.
For more info: Wissahickon Valley Park: 215-683-0200, www.fairmountpark.org/WissahickonValleyPark.asp; Friends of the Wissahickon: 215-247-0417, www.fow.org. See trips.outdoors.org for Delaware Valley Chapter outings.
Washington, D.C.: Anacostia Park and Anacostia Tributary Trail System
What you can do there: Most people have heard of Washington, D.C.’s famed Potomac River, but fewer know that a second major waterway courses through the nation’s capital: the Anacostia. Two recreation areas—one in the city and one just across the border in Maryland—can help get you up close and personal with this underappreciated natural resource.
First, Washington’s 1,200-plus-acre Anacostia Park provides a place for visitors to ride bikes, watch for wildlife, and paddle. Among its other draws, the park is home to the Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, the only national park to display cultivated aquatic plants; the gardens are accessible by trail and by water.
Outside the city, the free, Metro-accessible Anacostia Tributary Trail System (overseen by the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission) offers family-friendly hiking, paddling, birdwatching, and biking. It also provides access to many historical sites.
Both areas are part of a watershed whose recreation potential has been discovered only relatively recently; those who enjoy the abundant natural and historic features of the parks will find plenty of ways to give back. “This is an area that needs attention, to clean it up and involve the local population in environmental awareness and outdoor recreation,” says D.C. Chapter trip leader Carl Lohmann.
Fun fact: Bladensburg, Md., at the southern end of the Anacostia Tributary Trail System, is home to a dueling grounds where more than 50 duels occurred during the first half of the 19th century. Because dueling was illegal in Washington, D.C., people would sneak across the border just to settle their disputes.
How to get there: To get to Anacostia Park, take the Metro Green Line to Anacostia station; the Anacostia Tributary Trail System is accessible via several Metro stops. For details, see the Tributary Trail System site or www.wmata.com.
For more info: Anacostia Park: 202-472-3873, www.nps.gov/anac; Anacostia Tributary Trail System: 301-699-2255, www.pgparks.com/places/parks/anacostia.html; Anacostia Watershed Society (river tours, cleanup events, and other programs): 301-699-6204, www.anacostiaws.org.
Katharine Wroth is a former co-editor of AMC Outdoors who edited White Mountain Guide: A Centennial Retrospective. She is currently a senior editor at Grist.org.
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