Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
and you can still see part of the old bed, which was converted to a rail-tail in the early
1980s. Today, the Northern Central Railroad Trail is managed by the Maryland De-
partment of Natural Resources as part of the Gunpowder Falls State Park.
Amenities along the route include picnic and park benches, drinking fountains
for hikers and bikers and dogs, too, and portable restrooms. Just off the trail, you can
enjoy a small art gallery, an antique shop, and several places to stop and buy food
and drinks. Hotels and motels can be found within a mile of the trail, and there is
easy access to a bike shop that rents and repairs bikes. The trail cuts through sever-
al charming towns, including Monkton (a major stop for hikers and bikers), Parkton,
Falls Overlook, Bentley Springs, and New Freedom.
A restored train depot in Monkton is now the Northern Central Railroad Trail's inform-
ation center.
The trail is used by an eclectic mix of horseback riders, joggers, walkers, hikers,
bikers, and people of all ages. On the weekends, the trail is heavily used by local res-
idents and travelers from the Baltimore area, so parking may be a challenge. For those
seeking an escape from the urban areas of the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast region, this
trail is a wooded oasis—an escape from the every day stresses of nearby city life.
DIRECTIONS
To reach the southern end of the trail from the neighborhood of Ashland, fol-
low Interstate 83 north from Baltimore, and take exit 20 to Cockeysville. Turn
left on York Road (MD Route 45), and then turn right on Ashland Road, which
is a T-intersection. Ashland turns into Paper Mill Road. The trail parking lot will
be on the left.
