enjoy Centennial Park & Patapsco Valley State Park

Stay at Turf Valley Resort in Ellicott City, MD and you'll be conveniently close to two terrific local parks, both of which deliver an excellent collection of family-friendly things to do. Seven miles from our front door is Centennial Park, a county park that covers 325 acres and features a lake for boating and fishing. You can also take a scenic 2.4-mile walk around the lake, enjoy a picnic lunch, and engage in birdwatching. Two miles farther away is Patapsco Valley State Park. The first state park in Maryland provides many recreational activities, including hiking, canoeing, horseback riding, and mountain biking.

Details

Prices -

Both parks are free to visit. At Centennial Park, you'll need to have a permit to take a boat out. Daily permits are $5.00.

Hours -

Centennial Park is open daily from 7:00 a.m. to dusk. Patapsco Valley State Park is open daily from 9:00 a.m. to sunset.

Events

Sunset Serenades
Columbia Triathalon

Family Fun Day

Mountain Bike Race

Activities

Hiking
Fishing

Canoeing
Biking

Horseback Riding
Picnicking

FAQs

What fish species are in the lake at Centennial Park?

You'll find several different types of fish in Centennial Lake. For starters, there is plenty of largemouth bass, some as big as 6.5 pounds. The lake also features rainbow trout, a staple since 1992. If you're interested in reeling in channel catfish, the best times are early in the morning or late evening. In addition, Centennial Lake is stocked with a few varieties of sunfish, including bluegill, redear, and pumpkinseed.

how many trails are at Patapsco Valley State Park?

If you're into hiking, you'll be into Patapsco Valley State Park. You'll be enveloped by an abundance of trails. In total, there are 170 miles of trails. Nearly half of them are listed as maintained trails to make your hike a whole lot easier to navigate. These nationally renowned trails are divided up into hiker only trails and multi-use trails, which are accessible from a number of spots in the park.

Local Parks