Columbia Air Center Loop Hike - Patuxent River Park

good parking lot, there is another by the boat ramp.

this hike starts along the road, although you can make this loop bigger by combining other trails.

This loop goes around the former Columbia Air Center airfield also, and makes for a nice leisurely stroll (while around the field area).

The artifacts part of the hike can get muddy and slippery.

this is the memorial at the airfield, and has some information boards.

This is one of the first African American Airfields who contributed to the Civil Air Patrol during and after WW 2.

Having approx 4 planes, the airfield ran a pilots school also.

Just looking at the pictures, you can see some very dedicated young men who loved to fly.

this is the offroad portion of the artifact trail entry point

this trail can be very muddy, can bring a walking stick.

this is an old airframe of a J-3 Piper Cub.

The legend goes it landed short of the runway and was unrecoverable, so all parts were stripped from it except for the frame and some misc parts. There were no injuries thus known. (report retrieved from online search and may not be factual)

All that remains are a partial frame and some other rusted metal parts. (no engine, controls or anything else of value)

There are no parts to salvage, or take as souvenirs.

This is a state protected area, and it is illegal to damage or remove anything here. (no artists thanks)

A picture of a J-3 Cub is uploaded too for comparison purposes.

trailview, easy going, some uphill sections on a ridgeline.

lots of creatures running along with you.

huge mixer (cement?) with gears

assorted metal items

-1 possible fender (crinkled up good)
-possible upper control piece from a j-3 Cub that goes above the window....(matched it up from a picture) but its rusted nice and good.

nothing of value here, remember it is illegal to remove items from this park.

this is the junk pile with misc items

-old tv set no tube. (did you think this was from an aircraft? heheheheh)
-alternator (from car? hmmm)
-assorted tarps etc.

nothing of value here.

remember it is illegal to remove items from this park.

very muddy area till we meet the road again

no more easy to find artifacts off the trail! (youll have to go search)

enter the field here for a walk around it.

interpretive signs teach you history as you walk around it.

Also the patuxent river is on the far side of the field.

great river views, and a gazebo for lunch!

As we cut back onto the road by the camping area and restrooms (on the right) back to the parking area by good road.