Bacon Ridge; a 6.6 Mile Moderate Hike Near Crownsville, MD

Bacon Ridge; a 6.6 Mile Moderate Hike Near Crownsville, MD

The 900+ acre Bacon Ridge Natural Area is a true natural treasure with expansive marshes, mature forests, and at the center, its namesake creek Bacon Ridge Branch. Positioned in Crownsville and in the headwaters of the South River, Bacon Ridge Natural Area is owned by Anne Arundel County and managed by the County’s Department of Recreation and Parks.

The Bacon Ridge Natural Area is both ecologically and historically significant. Local folklore claims that the creek that runs through the heart of the natural area is named Bacon Ridge Branch because there was a hog farm in the center of the natural area over a century ago.

Portions of the Bacon Ridge Natural Area were once part of the Crownsville Hospital property. The Crownsville Hospital opened in 1911 to serve African American patients needing psychiatric care. Today there remains a hospital cemetery on the grounds of the natural area with over 1,800 patient’s graves, marked only by numbers.

Our hike will cover much of Bacon Ridge. It is a 6.6 mile double loop trek with about 550 feet of elevation. Areas may be muddy, especially after a rain, so wear appropriate boots.

Toilets are available at the trailhead.

Time to Meet: Please meet at 9:45 for introductions and sign in. We will start hiking promptly at 10:00

Directions to Trailhead: The address is 1700 Hawkins Road, Annapolis, MD .
The GPS coordinates are 39.0064, -76.60844

Contact Information: Please use the comments feature for routine comments and questions. The hike Leader is Tim; 202-744-0289. Call or text as needed.

Details
Rating: Moderate
Distance: 6.6 miles
Elevation Gain: 550 feet
Pace: 2.0 to 2.5 miles per hour
Facilities: Toilets can be found near the trailhead
Fees: No entrance fees

Cancellation: In the unlikely event that the hike needs to be cancelled, it may be cancelled up to the evening before the hike. Hikers will be notified through comments on this posting.

Weather: The weather for this location can be found here.

Notes:
-Please note, you must sign up at by 9:00 PM the day before the hike.
-Please do not show up unregistered.
-Please keep this a fragrance free event.
-To find out more about PATC, click here.
-Consider becoming a member of PATC. To join, click here.
Maximum number of hikers: 20

-To find out more about PATC, click here.

-Consider becoming a member of PATC. To join, click here.