Trails Abound in Anne Arundel County

Fitness routines, like anything in life, can become dated. How many times can I run by my neighbor’s house or the school’s playground before I begin to lose interest in my surroundings? And while, I enjoy listening to music or podcasts, sometimes the routine of running or walking through my neighborhood begins to take its toll.

In order to keep the doldrums from setting in I have learned to become an explorer.  I head outside of my neighborhood, sometimes with a running partner, sometimes with a group and sometimes, when the trail or park is safe, all by myself.

Changing courses, whether in rotation or randomly, puts a little spice into what has become routine. Annapolitans have a plethora of parks and trails to choose from right inside Annapolis itself, but travelling further afield gives us even more choices.

1. Quiet Waters Park: The 340-acre park offers 4.2 miles of trails that wind through woods and alongside the water. The trails are well paved, well marked and usually populated with enough walkers and runners to make it a safe option even when walking alone. 

1. : I have lived in the Annapolis area on and off for 18 years and only recently discovered the cross-country trail behind Annapolis High School. The trail is over 7 miles long, meanders through woods and along a creek and is maintained through funds raised by the Annapolis Striders.
2. USNA Perimeter: Though it takes a little more effort than the other courses I will mention due to parking and presenting your driver’s license upon entering the academy, this is my favorite running route in the area. After parking at City Dock, it is a short walk to the academy. The run through the yard can be designed to be flat, taking a runner alongside the Chesapeake Bay and the Severn River or a little more challenging by adding Hospital Hill to the course.
3. Anne Arundel Community College Hiking and Running Trails: The trails at the community college are open to the public and are connected through a series of grass and dirt trails. While much of the trail is flat and the surface is even, there are some areas with steep inclines and exposed roots. These trails are best travelled with a partner as they are usually unpopulated.
4. Kinder Farm Park: The park’s 2.4 mile paved walking trail is only the beginning of what Kinder Farm has to offer. The park also contains several miles of natural trails that are used and maintained by Spalding High School.  The scenic farm setting gives way to wooded trails that crisscross the park varying from grass, to rock, to sand. If you are interested in a more laid back stroll, you may want to take a walk through the barns that are used by the local 4H Club, as well.
5. Downs Park: While Downs Park is a little further afield, it is well worth the drive. Five miles of paved trails weave throughout woods and like Quiet Water’s Park, along the water’s edge. The trail is well maintained and less travelled than other parks within the county system making for a quieter more peace walk with friends.
6. B&A Trail and the BWI Trail: If you are looking for more distance, a flatter or a more-occupied course, these two trails are just the ticket. The two spill into each other and combine to make for 25.5 miles from end to end. While the trails are shared by cyclists, walkers and runners, it is often less crowded early in the morning or on weekdays.

Over the years I have made a habit of stepping outside of my neighborhood for my workouts. The break, in addition to busting the boredom, helps me stay motivated.  I have been known to meet friends in Patapsco State Park, on the Mall in D.C. or in Rock Creek Park in Montgomery County, but the trails available to me closer to home make it easy to add variety to my running and walking routine without the hassle of planning a whole day away from home.