Peter Hoblitzell

This is one of Baltimore's little known gems. The area contains an ecosystem which is essentially non-existent outside of the Appalachian mountain regions. It has also been seemingly under-appreciated and abused by locals. I am trusting that the Outbound Collective community will do its part to enjoy and appreciate this spot. I also hope that members of the community will do their part to leave...

Phil Foster Park has a large parking lot, but on weekends or during peak hours looking for a spot can get competitive, so leave yourself a little extra time to meet your target "in the water" time. If you're like me and you don't have your own snorkel gear, rentals are available from the Force-E Diving Center in the back of the parking lot. Mask and fin rentals were $20, and they let us hold on...

You can reach the Storr car park at the base of the mountain on public transport (Bus 57, running 4 times a day from Portree), or leave a personal vehicle in the parking area on the left side of the A855 heading north from Portree. Still, the most brave hikers may walk from Portree up the coast parallel to the roadway to reach the Storr. The 2.4-mile out and back trail, with 856ft of elevation...

Follow the main entrance road down and to the right of the nature center to a turn around loop, where a car can be temporarily parked to unload/load boats onto the pier. You can launch canoes and kayaks on the end of the pier which goes directly out to Dundee Creek. From the launch site, paddlers can either go left, past the Osprey nesting platform and towards the top of the creek and marsh, or...

From Deer Park Road, parking is available at the nature center or the scenic overlook (about 100 yards up the road). I typically park at the overlook as this affords the ability to hike trails on either side of the road, and always finish the hike back at the car. From the parking area you are just about at the highest point in Baltimore County (a seismograph is positioned right behind the natu...