Avalon Super Loop - Patapsco State Park

Nearby Destinations

Patapsco Valley State Park

Other guides in Patapsco State Park - Top Secret Ruins Hike

Mckeldin Area - Patapsco State Park

view the Patapsco State Park - Top Secret Ruins Hike guide bundle

Nearby Guides

Viewed 9807 times

(2 votes, 2 reviews)

Difficulty: Difficult
Length: 12.7 miles / 20.4 km
Duration: Full day

Family Friendly • Dog Friendly

Download to Phone

View Large Map

View Photos

Overview: Do the entire Avalon Patapsco state park in 1 day!

This loop covers the majority of the Avalon area, with multiple ruins, waterfalls and other artifacts to find along the way.

Starting at the parking lot, you hike up the road a ways to the Ridge trail sign.

The next leg is the maintenace loop which has an old old tractor to look at and some other artifacts.

After that we head into a good wildlife viewing area where deer is commonly spotted.

Next is a popular offroad biking spot with some water aquaducts to view that are rather dated.

Returning, and going through a nice open field brings us to some rock formations, then settler homes (two of them) one with a dated gas pump 1930-140's era.

Before going through some small switchbacks on the next leg, we see two old possible outhouses that are probably state park buildings (old ones).

Then we continue through the switchbacks, taking us along the Cascade falls area to view some of the best falls in the state! The falls are in a valley area and very secluded. A side hike loop is added for length, and adds some more ruins for some old piping fixtures and a barrel.

Going over the swinging bridge we find the ruins of the "superlative" company along the railroad tracks. More artifacts along the side of the road, as we head back.

Plenty of railroad bridges, tunnels, and aquaducts dot the trip back, and 1 more set of building ruins make for a ruins filled trip.

Have lunch along the benches on the Patapsco river as you head back or have a bbq picnic in the parking lot area with ample facilities.

Tips:

bring a hiking pole for steep areas
bring plenty of water and food, backpack
lunch along the river by the benches on the way back
picnic area for bbq in parking lot
get trail map from ranger station $6 to add more distance
park entrance fee $4

Points of Interest

map

parking lot

good place to park, you have to hike up the road a little bit to the ridge trailhead sign (about a 1/4 mile)

map

ridge trailhead

this is the ridge trail sign.

the hike goes along several loops and different trails, best to bring a GPS wish fresh batteries.

you can skip sections of the loop as necessary.

also buy a map at the ranger station for $6 dollars.

map

ridge trail view

this is a view of the ridge trail

there ARE deer here!

seen one today that wasnt that scared and walked away slowly.

map

maintenance area

this is a sidetrail to the maintenance area.

there is an old tractor here that looks quite dated!!

some old artifacts too.

can skip this if you dont want to see it.

map

common deer area

deer are common to this area

heres a pic of one looking at me

map

sidetrail with a stream

this is a short sidetrail with a stream.

can skip if you want to save time.

there are some artifacts here, namely stone steps from long ago, and some wrought iron fences.

map

wrought iron fences

here are the wrought iron fences, a few of them.

also the stream that runs along this small sidetrail.

the areas on either side are private property.

map

sidetrail with some drainage structures

this sidetrail has some drainage structures and is very popular with offroad bikers.

map

drainage structures

some old drainage boxes, of unknown date.

pipe artifacts.

map

old blocks and assorted pans

old cement blocks and assorted pans aligned on trees.

"the pan forest"

map

road to next return trail entry

road to return trail entry, be careful of cars here

small road.

map

flat trail easy going, rock formations

flat trail, very easy going, some small rock formations for a chance to take a breather

map

walk along the field

walk along the open field here, with some private houses off in the distance

map

old house ruins - unstable

unstable old house ruins, do not enter it.

lots of artifacts (do not take them)

old dated shoes etc.

map

old house ruins - unstable

old house ruins, unstable so beware!

a great old gas pump too, circa 1930-1940's.... there is a tank but i think its too small for this gas pump... possibly the gas pump is from a house that is further by the fields.... the tank is very small.

map

2 building ruins

hmmm this looks like very old (NPS like) buildings in this state park....

2 outhouse buildings?

good guess.

the entry ways have the open entry as was the usual building method.

map

road

hike down the road a little bit to the next entry point

map

old piping and machinery

old piping mounts and machinery, barrel.

map

old building

a not too old building, very small.

map

cascade falls in a valley

a must see!

2 great falls here, the upper cascade falls and the lower one is smaller.

in a valley, very secluded setting.

map

swinging bridge over the Patapsco river

this is the swinging bridge we take for our return hike across the Patapsco river.

map

building ruins, superlative

"old superlative" company building ruins right next to the train tracks

map

artifacts on the side of the trail

some artifacts on the side of the trail, metal artifacts (not river side)

map

well crafted auquaduct

they dont make them like this anymore :-)

map

benches for lunch, river view

great spot for lunch and river views

some benches

map

small train bridge

small train bridge, nice picture spot

yep thats an active train running over it!

map

optional trail entry through tunnel

optional trail entry through tunnel if you need to add more length to this GPS track.

this trail is a loop and adds another 2 miles or so.

check the trail map that you bought at the ranger station.

map

building ruins

unknown building ruins

map

well crafted auqaducts

well crafted auqaducts!

map

cross over bridge to return to parking lot

cross over the bridge to get back to the parking lot

great fishing spot here also

Pictures in this guide taken by: indiana_jones

How does this work?

There is some really nice variety on this hike, both in terms of physical challenge and scenery. I recommend bypassing the first park of the hike, "the maintenance area", as the trail's poster suggests you can. Starting off surrounded by discarded appliances and other trash does not seem like much of a getaway to me, but the rest was great. Thanks for much submitting it to EveryTrail!
Visited on Oct 05, 2011

by tinamonika on Oct 14, 2011 at 11:20:41 am

5 stars for tons of ruins, great waterfalls, and artifacts!
Visited on May 13, 2011

by indiana_jones on May 15, 2011 at 04:17:35 pm