BALTIMORE & ANNAPOLIS TRAIL:
ANNAPOLIS-GLEN BURNIE, MARYLAND
-BIKE IT OR HIKE IT-
Last Updated: 2007
Length: B&A Trail; 13.3 miles
Dixon Observation Area parking lot to B&A Trail; about 2 miles
Route 450 parking lot to B&A Trail; about ½ mile
Difficulty: Easy. Flat, paved trail.
Directions:
To start from the Dixon Observation Area (Northern End along BWI Trail); From I-97 southbound, take exit 15 to Aviation Blvd and turn left (south). Next, turn right at the first light down Dorsey Road. The Dixon Observation Area parking lot will be on your left. From I-97 northbound, take exit 15B to Dorsey Rd (Route 176) west. The Dixon Observation Area parking lot will be on your left a little ways down.
To start from the Route 450 parking lot (Southern End); Take Route 50 east out past Annapolis to the Route 450 south exit. The parking lot will be immediately to your right after exiting the off-ramp. To access the B & A Trail you need to travel a ½ mile? on-road connector. Go right out of the parking lot and take your first right down Boulters Way. This is on-road, but not heavily traveled. After passing underneath Route 50 and ascending a small hill, the trail will begin on your right.
The paved Baltimore
& Annapolis Trail is 13 miles long and runs from
downtown Glen Burnie
to Route 50 in Annapolis. This trail runs along the former rail bed of the Annapolis & Baltimore
Short Line that started in 1880. The railroad was abandoned in 1968. The BWI Trail
is accessible from a Spur Trail off the northern end of the B&A
Trail. The BWI Trail completely circles Baltimore-Washington International Airport.
The Dixon
Observation Area, where you can watch airplanes come in for a landing, is
located along the BWI Trail and makes for a good starting point to access
the B&A Trail as there is no parking lot located at the northern
end of the trail. For
more information check out; BIKE
WASHINGTON and B&A TRAIL .
The Baltimore & Annapolis Trail is part of the EAST COAST GREENWAY , a planned biking & hiking route stretching 3,000 miles from Maine to Florida. When complete it will traverse 15 states with a mostly off-road path.
Note; The directions are a bit incomplete. I lost my notes from this trip.
Starting from the
Dixon
Observation Area parking lot; Head through the playground and onto the
trail. The field below the landing aircraft will be to your left. A ¼ mile
takes you into the woods and soon a sharp turn. You will pass a mileage marker
that says 24.5 on your right (these markers include mileage from the B&A Trail). After 1.4 miles, you'll come to Stewart Ave.
Note;
Left takes you along the BWI Trail.
Head right to access the Spur Trail to the B&A Trail. Just follow the bike signs. The B&A Trail starts just off Dorsey Road next to Baltimore-Annapolis Blvd. The trail heads south from Glen Burnie and starts out as an urban trail then a residential trail. The southern end is much more isolated and scenic. You travel through Pasadena and then pass over East-West Blvd. A separate bike trail runs west alongside the East-West Blvd that may be accessed here. About a mile further brings you to a parking lot with restrooms available at a ranger station. You next travel through Severna Park. After crossing over an old trestle bridge you'll come to Jones Station. There is parking here as well as an informational signboard. The trail then passes through its most scenic section and ends at Boulters Way.
Note; A short 0.7 mile on-road detour will take you to the Route 450 parking lot. Just head left down Boulters Way, travel underneath Route 50 and follow out to Route 450. The parking lot is to your left just off Route 450.
HH
BEFORE YOU SET OUT BE SURE TO READ THE
WAIVER OF RESPONSIBILITY AND DISCLAIMER
BIKE IT OR HIKE IT