OEC Connector

The Old Ellicott City Connector!

A Better Way To OEC.

PLEASE NOTE: THIS TRAIL DOES NOT YET TO CONNECT TO SYLVAN LANE. WHEN COMPLETE, THERE WILL BE NO PARKING ON SYLVAN LANE FOR THE OEC CONNECTOR!

READ GOVERNOR HOGAN’S PRESS RELEASE REGARDING FUNDING FOR THE OEC CONNECTOR

Funding for the OEC Connector is through the RTP Program. The RTP focuses on investments that improve and preserve the statewide recreational trail network. RTP provides funds for trail construction, enhancement, repairs, and maintenance of land and water trails.

OEC Connector Open! We have officially opened the machine-built section of the OEC Connector! Notes:
1. This is the machine built section only, it extends from north of the RT. 40 Bridge to the Campground Loop. We’ll be completing the section to Sylvan Lane when we are able to resume volunteer operations at the park.
2. This trail eliminates the active railroad crossing at the Union Dam Tunnel!
3. The location of this trail is in the Hollofeild Area of the park, this area is heavily visited and this trail is a multi-use trail. Please practice the great trail etiquette that PVSP is known for!

Pictured at the social distancing trail opening (LtoR): Andrew Mueller, Greenstone Trailcraft /Eric Crawford, President, FPVSP/ Bill Kemp, Greenstone Trailcraft/ Joe Vogelpohl, Asst. Manager PVSP/ Nita Settina, Superintendent Maryland Park Service.

!NO PARKING ON SYLVAN LANE!

Ellicott City has long been the gap in the connectivity of the PVSP trail system. It takes a bit of know-how and a bunch of on-road travel on Church St. and Park Rd. to connect to the Hollofield area of the park. As the trails in the Hollofield area have been realigned and made more sustainable, this area has become a destination for park visitors. Ole Ranger Trail, the reconfigured Peaceful Pond trail, and the trail connectivity under Rt. 70 to the Daniels area have made a trail connection to OEC a highly desired project.

How cool would it be to be able to camp in the Hollofield Campground and hike into Ellicott City for dinner? Or make a big loop with a stop at a local bike shop, a yoga studio, or a cold refreshment at Ellicott City’s fine watering holes?

This important project is made possible by a grant from the Maryland Heritage Area Authority.

The trail alignment has several tough sections, most notably a very technical, high exposure area that was built above the Union Dam Tunnel. This section of the trail eliminates the crossing of the active CSX railroad line – for the first time at PVSP we engaged a professional trail builder and use a mini excavator to build this challenging section of trail.

The terrain and difficult trail build above, and around, the Union Dam Tunnel brought in professional trail builders and our first ever machine built trail section at Patapsco Valley State. Greenstone Trailcraft is *employing a mini-excavator to build this multi user trail section. The trail replaces several legacy trails with a new sustainable connection providing connectivity and river access to park visitors.*

Detail of the machine built section of the OEC Connector showing the trail alignment above the Union Dam Tunnel and new trail “through” the Rt. 40 Bridge. This section of the trail is complete, the connection to Sylvan Lane we be built when volunteer work resumes at PVSP.

The new trail alignment goes above the Union Dam Tunnel, this eliminates the dangerous railroad section and establishes a “stacked loop” trail system in the Hollofield Area!

Pro work on the OEC Connector

FPVSP and their partners (MORE, Mountain Club of Maryland, PHG and many others) continue to knock it out of the park providing connections between different areas of the park and neighboring communities. This OEC Connector will provide an opportunity for park guests (campers, bikers, and thru hikers) to access historic Ellicott City on a natural surface trail, and opens up new connection to the park for Ellicott City residents and visitors.

Mike Morrone, MORE Trail Liaison, Patapsco Valley State Park