Trail Stewardship

Who builds and maintains PVSP’s 200+ Mile Trail System?

We do!

The Friends of Patapsco Valley State Park dedicate significant resources to our shared, natural surface trail system each year.

We make this happen through the methods listed below!

Trail Captain Program

No, it’s not “trail fairies” doing the work…
Our Trail Captain Program, in collaboration with park management, assigns captains to specific areas of the park. These captains organize work events, perform maintenance, and serve as the eyes and ears of our trail system. When you see volunteers clearing fallen trees, rest assured they have completed chainsaw certification, first aid training, coordinate each workday with park management, and follow strict safety protocols to keep the trails safe and accessible for everyone.

Please remember that building trails, adding or removing signage, or operating machinery in the park is strictly prohibited. We appreciate your passion! If you have questions, comments, or want to get involved, contact us at: trails@fpvsp.org

The Patapsco Trailwork Series

Our volunteer trail work events partner with the Maryland Park Service. During these Saturday morning workdays, we tackle high-impact trail projects, with each event sponsored by one of our amazing partners. These events fill up fast, but FPVSP members get early access to register for these sought-after volunteer days!

Raising Resources

Most of the funding for the PVSP trail system in recent years has come directly from the Friends of Patapsco Valley State Park.

The results speak for themselves—our trail system is one of the best and keeps getting better! Right now, we’re managing funding to map, connect, sign, build, and maintain these trails. We collaborate closely with partners, sponsors, and elected officials to showcase these remarkable trails, emphasize their value to our neighborhoods and community, and ensure they’re accessible to all users.

Our Trail System

Want to discover more about the incredible trails that make up Patapsco Valley State Park? From new connections to scenic favorites, each trail has its own story, features, and community behind it.

Most Current Map of Patapsco Valley State Park

Explore all the trails here and see what adventures await.