For Jim White of Monkton, the Big Gunpowder Falls River in Baltimore County’s Gunpowder Falls State Park has held a special place in his heart for more than 30 years.
“I remember taking my daughters tubing down it when they were just little,” he says. “When they grew up and had kids, I took them. It’s been a family tradition for two generations and counting.”
For the past 19 years, White has also enjoyed helping other families start their own traditions on the Gunpowder. As the owner of Monkton Bike Inc., White rents kayaks and tubes, offers directions and provides shuttle services for tubers every summer.
“I have customers come up to me and say, ‘I used to come here with my dad and now I’m bringing my son,’” says White.
Whether tubing down the Gunpowder, kayaking on the Patapsco River or crabbing off a pier on Dundee Creek, the area’s rivers and waterways are great places to make memories, start traditions and – best of all — cool off. Below are 10 great ideas to get you started … but you better hurry, summer is almost over.
1 Surf’s Up:
With an entire month of summer vacation left, there’s plenty of time to introduce the kids to the latest craze in water sports — stand-up paddleboarding. Ultimate Water Sports, with locations at Dundee Creek Marina and Hammerman Beach in Gunpowder Falls State Park, rents equipment ($24 per hour) and gives group lessons ($40 per hour). “It’s a great water activity for families because it’s so easy to learn,” says Julie Borsetti, the company’s paddleboarding instructor. “Kids especially love jumping off the boards, walking on them and swimming around with them.” www.ultimatewatersports.com
2 Totally Tubular:
In addition to the Gunpowder, families can also beat the heat by floating through Patapsco Valley State Park. “It’s fun and relaxing, and we guarantee you’ll get cooled off,” says Steve Clark of Terrapin Adventures in Savage, which offers self-guided tubing tours on the Patapsco River ($20 per tube). During the 1.8-mile float, families will have hours of fun enjoying wildlife, taking breaks along the river banks and splashing around; www.terrapinadventures.com. Tube rentals at Monkton Bike Inc. are $15 a day ($10 for ages 9 and under); www.bikestuff.net
3 Set Sail:
Interested in taking a lazy cruise with your kids? The Baltimore County Sailing Center’s Corn Roasts on Aug. 21 and 29 from noon to 5 p.m. are open sailing times that include unlimited use of the boats, fresh roasted local corn on the cob, hotdogs and cold drinks ($20 per sailor or $50 per family). Located at the mouth of Back and Middle Rivers, the center also offers lessons for individuals or groups; www.bcsailing.org
4 Waterfall Walk:
Beginning in the Orange Grove Area of Patapsco Valley State Park, families can follow the Cascade Trail, a 2.2 mile loop, for an opportunity to view the Cascade Falls located just up from the swinging bridge. Kids can get wet in the little watering hole at the base of the falls and play in the stream below. FYI, a short section of the trail is foot-use only due to severe steepness. Trail maps are available for purchase online, at the visitor center or at park headquarters in Ellicott City; www.dnr.state.md.us
5 Canoeing for Critters:
“Seeing the preserve from a boat offers a much different perspective on the animals that live here,” says Winny Tan, a naturalist at Marshy Point Nature Center in Baltimore. Located along Dundee and Saltpeter Creeks, the center offers numerous opportunities for families to catch a glimpse of aquatic life ranging from turtles and fish to muskrats and heron. The center’s boat launch is available during park hours and paddling programs are held monthly such as the “Full Sturgeon Moon Canoe Trip” on Aug. 21 for ages 8 and up; www.marshypoint.org
6 Backyard Beaches:
Who says you have to drive hours to get to a beach. According to Pat McGregor with Baltimore County Department of Recreation and Parks, options are available much closer. For example, Rocky Point Beach located in Baltimore at the mouth of the Back and Middle Rivers, boasts 300 feet of sandy beach, as well as expansive views of the Chesapeake Bay. “What’s great about Rocky Point for families is that it features shallow water with a gentle sloping sandy bottom and the added safety of lifeguards,” says McGregor. Admission is $7 for adults and $3 for children.
7 Fishing for Fun:
Although a bit biased, Theaux Legardeur, owner of Backwater Angler in Monkton, says there’s no better way to enjoy the beauty of a river than by fishing in it. “For families especially, it’s a great way to spend time together and escape their hectic lives,” he adds. At Legardeur’s Flyfishing Skills Clinic ($75 per person) families can learn how to read water, spot fish and choose the right fly pattern. For families fishing on their own, Legardeur recommends the catch and release trout fishing section on the upper Big Gunpowder Falls River, which stretches from Prettyboy Reservoir Dam downstream to Bluemount Road. A fishing license is not required for individuals under age 16.
8 Quick Dip:
Swimming holes are like bargain buys — there are plenty of good ones out there, you just need to know where to look. While Gunpowder Falls State Park is home to plenty of these hidden gems, one that is the easiest to access is known as Hillbilly Beach. Located off York Road in Parkton, it’s a popular spot for beginning or ending a tubing trip, says Sarah Witcher a park ranger who often sees people swimming, too. With a sunny lawn reaching from the road to the river bank, it offers a nice shallow area and deeper spots across the river. “Unless an area is posted as no swimming, it’s swim at your own risk,” she adds.
9 Catchin’ Crabs:
“I can still remember sitting on a pier as a kid and holding a string with a chicken neck tied to the end waiting to catch a crab,” says McGregor, who enjoyed doing the same thing with his sons. “Kids don’t really care if they catch any thing, as long as they’re spending time with Mom or Dad.” For such simple pleasures, McGregor recommends checking out any of the numerous fishing piers within Baltimore County’s 30 waterfront parks, such as Wilson Point Park located on Dark Head Creek in Middle River and Cox’s Point Park located on Back River in Essex, or Dundee Creek Marina. According to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, individuals may crab without a license from docks, piers, bridges, boats and shorelines using dip nets or hand lines.
10 Peaceful Paddle:
For beginning kayakers, Hal Ashman, chief adventure officer at Ultimate Water Sports recommends the Hammerman and Dundee Creek areas of Gunpowder Falls State Park. “Not only are the waters flatter, they are fun to explore,” he says. In addition to renting kayaks, Ultimate Water Sports also offers lessons and tours, including “The Colors of Fall Tour” on Dundee Creek Oct. 2 and 3 from 1 p.m.-3 p.m. Other areas perfect for families to explore include Southwest Area Park near Lansdowne, a quiet little area on the Patapsco River that features flat water and the Daniels Area of Patapsco Valley State Park in Ellicott City which features two miles of flat water behind the Daniels Dam where kayakers can paddle upstream and enjoy lunch on rocks at the headwaters of the Patapsco River.
