Cascade Trail in Patapsco Valley State Park – Orange Grove Area

Great for getting a peace of mind =] love being able to walk along the water. Depending on if you take a loop or not, it can be pretty hard (root hill)

This review is specific to the Cascade Trail inside Patapsco Valley State Park. Best $ 3 I’ve spent in a long time.
First of all, if you show up with no cash, don’t worry, they take credit card. And the staff is just so incredibly friendly. Chipper and delighted to tell me how to get through the park. A great way to start your day.
I don’t have kids, but if I did, I would consider taking them to the awesome tire playground, which is the first thing you run across when you enter this park. But I’m getting sidetracked.
To get to the parking for the Cascade Trail from the 1101 Hilton Avenue entrance, drive around the tire park to the right. You’ll pass a youth camping area on right, then park in first lot on left. Take the Forest Glen trail entrance right behind row of trees there. It’s less than a mile to the water falls. Not bad going down, but it will be steep if you choose to come back this way.
When you get to the tunnel, go through it (kinda cool) and turn left onto the paved towpath. When you get to your first bridge, cross it. You’ll see a nice restroom facility on the left just before entering the Cascade Falls trail.
Watch out for Jack. He’s a very nice older gentleman, but he will talk your ear off. You can tell he’s a regular because he recognizes a lot of the hikers and bikers. He’s harmless though. Just very friendly.
When you enter Cascade Falls, go up to your left along the fence. If you follow the path to your right, it will just take you to another spot on the towpath.
There’s two waterfalls, and at the second, higher falls, you can keep following Cascade trail further in, where you can loop around or follow the Morning Choice trail onto Ridge trail.
Most of this hike is in the woods, so shaded and a little cooler. It’s also mostly along water, and there is a bit of creek-​hopping now and then.
I got here around 9:30 a.m. and it was getting popular. By the time I got out at 11:30 there were lots of people. Bikers and hikers on the trail. And lots of dogs.
When I go back, I’ll definitely bring bug spray. I don’t think anything bit me, but there were lots of bugs.