Patapsco Valley State Park Glen Artney Area
Managed by Maryland Park Service
738 acres12.9 mi of trail
SoapstoneSantee Branch TrailCollege LoopVineyard Spring Trail+1
Dogs on leash
Directionsto the parking lotWebsite ↗
Catonsville Historic District, Old · Photo: Pubdog · Public domainB+Outdoors
Outdoors in Catonsville
Catonsville has 54 miles of mapped trails, 3.8 for every square mile of land
The biggest trail networks: Patapsco Valley State Park Glen Artney Area (12.9 mi), Patapsco Valley State Park Hilton Area (11 mi), Patapsco Valley State Park Rockhaven Area (7.1 mi). 284 acres are parks and preserves, 6.6 per 1,000 residents. 77% of residents live within a half mile of a park.
Ahead of 67% of U.S. towns · #142 of 261 in Maryland. What drives it
Conserved land
3%
268 acres · of 14.0 sq mi of land
Trails
54 mi
3.8 per sq mi of land
Park land
284 ac
6.6 acres per 1,000 residents
Near a park
77%
of residents within ½ mile
Bike routes
13 mi
4.8 mi lanes · 4.3 mi paths
Lakes & rivers
6
What kind of outdoors town is Catonsville?
Read from the map. The page puts what stands out first.
Outdoors grade
How much outdoors does Catonsville have?
On conserved land, trails, park land and how close residents live to a park, Catonsville is ahead of 67% of U.S. towns, #142 of 261 in Maryland. Trail miles hold the grade up; park acres per resident pull it down.
B+
OutdoorsA character grade: shown, never part of Catonsville’s overall grade.
Conserved land3% of the land · typical MD town 9% · U.S. 4%B−Trails3.8 miles of mapped trail per square mile of land (54 mi) · MD 0.5 · U.S. 0.4A+Park land6.6 acres of park per 1,000 residents (284 acres) · MD 9 · U.S. 13C+Parks close to home77% of residents within a half mile of a park · MD 87% · U.S. 72%B
All U.S. towns we grade (21,298)Ahead of 67%
LessMore
Maryland towns of 2,500+ (261)Ahead of 46%
Maryland towns conserve more land than most (a typical one, 9%; the U.S., 4%), so Catonsville’s 3% is ahead of 13% of Maryland towns, while its trails per square mile lead 99% of them.
How sure. Graded on any three of the four inputs instead, the letter would range from C+ to A−. Trails and many small parks come from OpenStreetMap, mapped by volunteers, so coverage varies from town to town; the half mile is a straight line from each census block, so a river or highway in the way isn’t counted against it.
PAD-US, OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors), Census 2025 Gazetteer and 2020 blocks; details in Sources below. How TownRatings grades the outdoors →
The map
Conserved land, trails & bike routes
Tap a number to zoom to a park. Tap a layer to hide it.
Easements protect land from building but are usually private.© OpenStreetMap contributors · USGS PAD-US
Places to walk
Pick a walk
The longest trail network is Patapsco Valley State Park Glen Artney Area, with 12.9 miles. Directions go to the nearest trailhead or public parking.
Patapsco Valley State Park Hilton Area
Managed by Maryland Park Service
437 acres11 mi of trail
Buzzards Rock TrailSantee Branch TrailSawmill Branch TrailBuzzards Rock Reroute+1
Dogs on leash
Directionsto the parking lotWebsite ↗
Patapsco Valley State Park Rockhaven Area
Managed by Maryland Park Service
300 acres7.1 mi of trail
Rockhaven TrailMill Race TrailJaneNew Rocks+1
Dogs on leash
Directionsto the parking lotWebsite ↗
Patapsco Valley State Park Gray's Mill Area
Managed by Maryland Park Service
233 acres4 mi of trail
Gray's Mill TrailHillTop ConnectorFarm Connector Trail
Dogs on leash
Directionsto the parking lotWebsite ↗
Benjamin Banneker Historical Park and Museum
Managed by Baltimore County Department of Recreation and Parks
127 acres3.9 mi of trail
Red TrailBlue Powerline LoopYellow TrailStory Path+1
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lotWebsite ↗
Conservation and Research Areas of UMBC
Nature preserve
66 acres1 mi of trail
CERA Trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lotWebsite ↗
Catonsville Park
Park
41 acres0.8 mi of trail
Catonsville Park Nature Trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
All 17 parks & preserves
Patapsco Valley State Park Glen Artney Area738 acres · 12.9 mi of trail · Maryland Park Service
DirectionsPatapsco Valley State Park Hilton Area437 acres · 11 mi of trail · Maryland Park Service
DirectionsPatapsco Valley State Park Rockhaven Area300 acres · 7.1 mi of trail · Maryland Park Service
DirectionsPatapsco Valley State Park Gray's Mill Area233 acres · 4 mi of trail · Maryland Park Service
DirectionsBenjamin Banneker Historical Park and Museum127 acres · 3.9 mi of trail · Baltimore County Department of Recreation and Parks
DirectionsConservation and Research Areas of UMBC66 acres · 1 mi of trail
DirectionsCatonsville Park41 acres · 0.8 mi of trail
DirectionsBanneker Community Center29 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
DirectionsTrolley Line #9 Trail15 acres · 0.1 mi of trail · Baltimore County Department of Recreation and Parks
DirectionsScenic Easement5 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
Spring Grove Park9 acres · Baltimore County Department of Recreation and Parks
PVSP Hollofield Area6 acres · Maryland Park Service
DirectionsWestchester Woods Local Opens Space5 acres · Baltimore County Department of Recreation and Parks
Erickson Field3 acres
DirectionsRockwell Estates Local Open Space2 acres · Baltimore County Department of Recreation and Parks
DirectionsJoseph Beuys Sculpture Park2 acres
DirectionsTrue Grit Plaza1 acres
DirectionsWho protects it
268 conserved acres
3% of Catonsville’s land. Who manages Catonsville’s conserved land, from the USGS Protected Areas Database. Approximate, because parcels can overlap.
Other state land69 ac
Other or Unknown Local Government48 ac
State natural resources41 ac
County38 ac
Joint4 ac
Not recorded133 ac
Local Other or Unknown · 118 acConservation Easement · 58 acHistoric or Cultural Easement · 45 acLocal Park · 37 acForest Stewardship Easement · 28 ac
Good to know
Conserved doesn’t always mean open to visitors. 97 acres are conservation easements, usually private land. Public access isn’t recorded for 21 of 45 parcels. The walks above are places people visit.
The biggest protected parcels
| Parcel (PAD-US) | Managed by | Acres | Public access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Catonsville Park Local Park | Other or Unknown Local Government | 37 | Open |
| Local Open Space Local Other or Unknown | Not recorded | 33 | Unknown |
| Drainage And Utility Local Other or Unknown | Not recorded | 31 | Unknown |
| George F Bragg Nature Center Local Other or Unknown | Not recorded | 30 | Unknown |
| Banneker Community Center Local Other or Unknown | Not recorded | 26 | Unknown |
| Benjamin Banneker Local Other or Unknown | Other or Unknown Local Government | 9 | Open |
| Baltimore National Cemetery Private Other or Unknown | Not recorded | 8 | Unknown |
| Patapsco Valley Sp State Park | Not recorded | 5 | Unknown |
Things to do
60 places to go in Catonsville
Beaches, playgrounds, peaks, falls and more. Pick a kind.
Playgrounds in Catonsville
Catonsville Community Park PlaygroundIn Catonsville Park
DirectionsCatonsville Community Park PlaygroundIn Catonsville Park
DirectionsHolly Manor ParkIn Catonsville Park
DirectionsHolly Manor ParkIn Catonsville Park
DirectionsNatural play areaIn Patapsco Valley State Park Hilton Area
DirectionsTire playgroundIn Patapsco Valley State Park Hilton Area
DirectionsPlus 24 playgrounds without a name on the map. Tap “Show all on map” to see them.
Scenic views in Catonsville
Bloedes Dam ViewpointIn Patapsco Valley State Park Hilton Area
DirectionsGnome VillageIn Patapsco Valley State Park Gray's Mill Area
DirectionsIlchester RocksIn Patapsco Valley State Park Hilton Area
DirectionsIlchester Tunnel
DirectionsPatapsco River Bridge #3109In Patapsco Valley State Park Rockhaven Area
DirectionsPlus 8 scenic views without a name on the map.
Picnic areas in Catonsville
Glen Artney AreaIn Patapsco Valley State Park Glen Artney Area
DirectionsHilton SheltersIn Patapsco Valley State Park Hilton Area
DirectionsPlus 9 picnic areas without a name on the map.
Campgrounds in Catonsville
BannakerIn Patapsco Valley State Park Hilton Area · Maryland Park Service
DirectionsBarneyIn Patapsco Valley State Park Hilton Area · Maryland Park Service
DirectionsHilton Area Family CampingFee · In Patapsco Valley State Park Hilton Area · Maryland Department of Natural Resources
DirectionsHilton Youth Group CampgroundFee · In Patapsco Valley State Park Hilton Area · Maryland Park Service
DirectionsLeonardIn Patapsco Valley State Park Hilton Area · Maryland Park Service
DirectionsPindellIn Patapsco Valley State Park Hilton Area · Maryland Park Service
DirectionsTrails & water
25 named trails and 6 lakes & rivers
Named trails
Open to bikes · 29.4 miHorses · 8.2 miUnpaved · 45.8 mi
Gray's Mill Trail3.6 mi
Soapstone3.4 mi
Santee Branch Trail3.4 mi
Rockhaven Trail1.9 mi
Short Line Railroad Trail1.7 mi
Mill Race Trail1.4 mi
Red Trail1.2 mi
Buzzards Rock Trail1.1 mi
College Loop1.1 mi
Jane1.0 mi
15 more trails
Sawmill Branch Trail
0.9 miCERA Trail
0.8 miBlue Powerline Loop
0.8 miNun's Trail
0.7 miBuzzards Rock Reroute
0.7 miCatonsville Park Nature Trail
0.7 miFarm Connector Trail
0.7 miVineyard Spring Trail
0.7 miStairway to Haven
0.7 miHillTop Connector
0.6 miPatapsco
0.6 miBull Run Trail
0.6 miNew Rocks
0.6 miForest Glen Trail
0.5 miYellow Trail
0.4 miLakes & rivers tap for directions
Biking & sports
13 miles of bike routes
Bike lanes are often missing from the map in smaller towns, so that number is likely low.
4.8 mi
painted or protected bike lanes
4.3 mi
off-road bike paths
4.3 mi
shoulders & shared lanes
Patapsco Traverse (north mtb)Bike route
9.3 miSantee Branch TrailBike route
4.2 miGray's Mill TrailBike route
3.3 miSoapstoneBike route
2.5 miCatonsville Short Line TrailBike route
1.7 miCourts & fields
32Baseball
25Tennis
19Soccer
19Golf
13Basketball
10Pickleball
7Multi-sport
3Beach volleyball
Includes school and college facilities, which aren’t always open to the public.
History along the way
History →15 places on the National Register
The country’s official list of places worth saving (National Park Service). The map also marks 10 historic points from OpenStreetMap: plaques, memorials and old buildings.
Patterson Viaduct RuinsStructure · listed 1976
About itMt. Gilboa ChapelBuilding · listed 1976
About itOella Historic DistrictDistrict · listed 1976
About itEllicott's Mills Historic DistrictDistrict · listed 1976
About itOld Salem Church and CemeteryBuilding · listed 1977
About itSummitBuilding · listed 1979
About itHiltonBuilding · listed 1980
About itSt. Charles College Historic DistrictDistrict · listed 1983
About itThe WildernessBuilding · listed 1985
About itMount de Sales AcademyBuilding · listed 1986
About itOld Catonsville High SchoolBuilding · listed 1987
About itCatonsville Historic District, OldDistrict · listed 2002
About it3 more on the History page.
When to get out
The best walking months in Catonsville: April to June and August
NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals for the town and the daylight at its latitude. Outlined months have long days, highs of 59 to 86 °F and little rain for the place.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daylight (h) | 9.7 | 10.7 | 11.8 | 13.2 | 14.3 | 14.9 | 14.7 | 13.7 | 12.4 | 11.1 | 10.0 | 9.4 |
| High (°F) | 42 | 46 | 54 | 66 | 75 | 84 | 88 | 85 | 79 | 68 | 56 | 47 |
| Rain (in) | 3.2 | 2.8 | 4.1 | 3.7 | 4.3 | 4.3 | 4.5 | 4.4 | 4.6 | 4.3 | 3.5 | 3.8 |
February is the driest month (2.8 in) and July the warmest (highs of 88 °F). 4.6 inches fall in September, the wettest month. Summer highs reach 88 °F, too hot for the outline. The climate in Catonsville →
Next door
Catonsville and its neighbors
Tap a town to see its outdoors.
| Town | Conserved of land | Trail mi per sq mi | Park acres per 1,000 | Near a park ½ mile | Outdoors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Catonsville | 3% | 3.8 | 7 | 77% | B+ |
| Ellicott City | 16% | 2.1 | 22 | 75% | A |
| Ilchester | 19% | 3.3 | 18 | 87% | A |
| Arbutus | 3% | 0.6 | 5 | 84% | B− |
| Woodlawn | 4% | 1.7 | 4 | 78% | B |
| Baltimore | 9% | 1.1 | 10 | 98% | A− |
The four inputs of the Outdoors grade, from the engine; shares are of land, not water.
Questions about parks and trails in Catonsville
Where can I hike in Catonsville?
The longest trail networks: Patapsco Valley State Park Glen Artney Area, 12.9 miles; Patapsco Valley State Park Hilton Area, 11 miles; Patapsco Valley State Park Rockhaven Area, 7.1 miles; Patapsco Valley State Park Gray's Mill Area, 4 miles. Each one is on the map above, with directions to the nearest trailhead or parking.
How much of Catonsville is conserved land?
3% of its land, against a typical 9% for a Maryland town and 4% nationally (PAD-US). Conserved doesn’t always mean open to visitors: easements are usually private land.
Are dogs allowed on Catonsville’s trails?
OpenStreetMap records dogs as welcome at Patapsco Valley State Park Glen Artney Area (on leash), Patapsco Valley State Park Hilton Area (on leash), Patapsco Valley State Park Rockhaven Area (on leash) and Patapsco Valley State Park Gray's Mill Area (on leash). For the rest, check the signs at the trailhead.
Where can I bike in Catonsville?
13 miles of bike routes are on the map: 4.8 of painted or protected lanes, 4.3 of off-road paths and 4.3 of shoulders and shared lanes. Named routes: Patapsco Traverse (north mtb), Santee Branch Trail and Gray's Mill Trail.
Is there public land near Catonsville?
19,922 acres of parks and open public land lie inside Catonsville or within 10 miles of it (PAD-US), 284 of them inside the town line.
How much outdoors does Catonsville have?
Ahead of 67% of U.S. towns on the Outdoors grade, #142 of 261 in Maryland. The grade combines the share of land that is conserved, miles of mapped trail per square mile of land, park acres per 1,000 residents and the share of residents within a half mile of a park. It’s a character grade, so it isn’t part of the overall grade. How it works.
Trail talk
Conditions, parking and favorite walks from Catonsville neighbors.
Share a tip
Sources
Where this page comes from
Conserved and public land: USGS Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US), service updated July 2026. Parks, trails, playgrounds, beaches and other places: OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), map data as of 2026-10-28. Land and water area: Census 2025 Gazetteer. Residents near a park: 2020 Census blocks. National Register: National Park Service. How TownRatings grades the outdoors →