King and Queen Seat

Rocks State Park
Harford County,
Maryland

Hiking Trails:
White Trail: White blaze
Red Trail: Red blaze

Total Time: 1:05 hour
Estimated Distance: 2.2 Miles

Pros: Cool rock formations, good view, nice river
Cons: Walk on road
Hike Type: Loop
Level of Difficulty: Slightly difficult

Google Maps of Parking:
https://goo.gl/maps/o3totbZR3kRTETsX9

Hiking Partner:
Ari Gunzburg
(Noted keynote speaker - see https://arigunzburg.com)

I was in Baltimore for the weekend, and went with my friend Ari Gunzburg on a great hike 40 minutes north of Baltimore. This was my first time Rocks State Park, which features the King and Queen Seat, a really neat rock formation with a great view. We parked at Deer Creek at the road pull-off parking near the road up the mountain. We took the road for a short distance to the White Trail, which we took to the intersection of the Blue Trail. 

We continued to the White Trail to the top of the mountain, and then to the King and Queen Seat, a really cool rock formation above a sheer cliff over the creek. After taking pictures, we went to the mountain road and walked down the road (which was closed being that it's closed in the early morning.) We then bushwhacked down to the parking area. After this, we drove to Kilgore Falls, in the other section of the park. Stay tuned for that on the next hike!

Map of the Route

Deer Creek

Mountain Laurel on the White Path

Sign by the Collier Pit, Used for Charcoal

Approaching the King & Queen Seat, with a Warning about the Cliff

Sign Near the King & Queen Seat

Rock Formations at King & Queen Seat

Outcrop & View at the King & Queen Seat

Deer Creek on the End Run

Oregon Ridge Park

Cockeysville,
Baltimore Co.,
Maryland

Hiking Trails:
Ridge Trail: Tan blaze
Red Trail: Red blaze
Laurel Trail: Blue blaze

Total time: 1:00 min
Estimated Distance: 1.6 miles
Level of Difficulty: Easy
Level of Recommendation: Recommended in the Baltimore Area
Points of Interest: Nature Center, Natural Area

Google Map of Parking:


I was in Baltimore visiting family for the weekend, and we stuck around Sunday morning and went to this park that has some hiking trails. While not dramatic, this wooded area close in proximity to Baltimore is very refreshing and was a very good place for a family hike. There are several trails and some hills and valleys which are relatively large for the Baltimore area. We parked at the Nature Center entrance and explored the Nature Center, which explains some of the wildlife in area with several animal species (think of it as a mini, two room indoor zoo.)

We then took the Loggers Red Trail, to the Ridge Tan Trail, back to to the Loggers Red Trail, and then climbed down the hill via the Laurel Blue Trail. At the bottom we explored the farm area, which has some domestic animals, as well as the playground and gardens.

The weather was very warm and may have even gotten up to 60 degrees. There were still small but melting pockets of snow in some of the shady areas on the top remaining from Wednesday's snowstorm.