Middle Patuxent Environmental Area of Columbia and Clarksville, Maryland, Trotter Road

Middle Patuxent Environmental Area

A PERSONAL PAGE

Middle Patuxent River
Columbia/Clarksville, Maryland

[Photo courtesy Columbia Area Naturists]

CONTENTS
About this Page

Loop TRAIL STATUS

"New" TRAIL STATUS

DESCRIPTION

LOCATION
Access

How You Can Help

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PICTURES
MPEA in May

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If you have pictures (print or slide negatives or prints) of the MPEA, consider donating them for use on this page so that others may enjoy them also. If you have jpegs, that is excellent. If not, you will be provided with images you can display on your computer (jpeg format) for the pictures that are used on this page. Contact Leonard Ponder at L_H_P@yahoo.com. Jpegs can be emailed directly.

Loop Trail Status

Check for RECENT INFORMATION

NOTICE: This page is not being currently updated, but contains information and pictures about the MPEA. Just scroll down and click the links and click on the links at left . For latest information and trail map/guide information, click on "RECENT INFORMATION" above.

3/30/02 Coyotes have been reported in the MPEA (by reliable sources) for over three years. Recent sightings include Ellicott City. Today I saw one in Long Reach at Columbia Crossing; it was visiting some new office buildings!

Update 3/15/01, from Jeff Schwierjohann, MPEA Manager: “American woodcock are now displaying at the MPEA. Shows start about 615-630pm and end around 7pm (weather dependent of course) in the newly cleared fields off of the loop trail. Park in the Trotter Road lot, walk the gravel road until the trail splits. The new field to your immediate left and the one further down on the right have had some spectacular shows.”

08/05/00: The Loop Trail currently has good and bad sections. From the parking area on Trotter Road to the beginning of the loop and for some distance in each direction of the loop, the trail/road has been mowed recently and is open. I suspect the Parks and Recreation department did this mowing.

The southern (downriver; "Sierra Slope Trail") part has a short section where tall grass covers some of the trail, but the rest of this trail to the river is in fairly good shape.

The northern (upriver; "Naturist Lane") part has a short section at the end of the stretch which has been moved that is mostly covered with tall grass. Beyond that to near the river, the trail is in fair shape. However, there is a dense area of tall grass from where Naturist Lane meets River Trail to the river.

The section along the river ("River Trail") has considerable areas of tall grass.

In previous years, volunteers from the Columbia Area Naturists, the Middle Patuxent Valley Association, and the Sierra Club, along with some others, have kept the trails cleared. This year the MPVA has been meeting infrequently and no advance planning was done with other groups.

Because of the tall grass and weeds, hikers should be especially aware of the danger of ticks. One school of thought is that one should wear long socks into which one tucks one's long pants. Another school of thought is that you should be bare legged - the better to see the ticks long before that do any harm. However, you hike, make a thorough body check within several hours in order to remove any ticks. This writer has encountered a maximum of 6 or 7 ticks on a single hike (not the MPEA), but the most recent one in the MPEA yielded none.

The trail names, "Sierra Slope," "Naturist Lane," and "River Trail" are less than official names. They were rejected when proposed to the MPVA. However, Parks and Recreation just call the trial a "loop" or "nature trail," neither especially helpful in identifying sections. Although temporary trail markings have been removed, no other markers have yet been put in place. Nevertheless, the trail is always clearly distinguishable in spite of the tall grass section.

7/19/00: Trail is overgrown in sections, according to reports. Manager has asked for volunteer help. A group (Columbia Area Naturists and Howard County Sierra Club) did maintenance in early May. There have been no group meetings since then and no word on what plans should be made.

3/25/00: The main loop trail is in good condition for hiking. There will be wet areas after rains, primarily along the river at the southern end of the loop. Also in this area, it is wise to note that the trail does NOT follow the "road" recently cleared by the department of parks. This "road" goes through areas that are very wet - even under water! - at times.
At present there is some damage from vehicle traffic, which, although prohibited, is likely encouraged by the recent removal of trees and limbs which had fallen across the trail.

"The MPEA loop trail is now in excellent condition as a result of the labors of two dozen people who made the scheduled trail maintenance an enjoyable experience on Sunday afternoon, May 16.... Most of the folk were from the Columbia Area Naturists and [the] Sierra Club." -Newsletter, Middle Patuxent Valley Association, June 1999.

"The MPEA trail has been reopened. Trees, briars and vines blocked the loop trail at various points after the recent ice storm. The Environmental Manager cut the larger obstructions into manageable pieces and volunteer efforts from the Columbia Area Naturists completed the task." -Newsletter, Middle Patuxent Valley Association, March 1999.

"New" Trail Status

8/5/00: The "new" trial (the first part of which was begun some time ago) is in good shape although apparently it has received no attention this summer. This trail was marked out with a view toward being low maintenance and that seems to be the result. Although someone has placed brush at the trail entrance, it is still easy to locate behind marker #12 on Naturist Lane near River Trail. Apparently in clearing some of Naturist Lane, tree limbs were place at the entrance to the "new' trail.

The "new" trail has few markings remaining but is clearly visible over its greater part. The trail goes north (parallel to the river), turns left (west) by a small stream, crosses this stream, and climbs to the crest of a ridge. At this point there is a fork. One branch - and the one readily apparent -- descends to cross another stream and climbs to MD-108.

The other fork of the "new" trail was cleared from the crest in another direction. Markings for this have been removed at the crest of the ridge, and it has seen very little foot traffic. Here's the way to find it: At the crest of the ridge and before beginning a descent on the "apparent" trail, turn left across the crest. After about 100 paces you will encounter some of the original pink ribbon markers. From there until the abrupt end, one should be able to always distinguish the trail itself or see another maker from any other marker. It is an easily walkable trail, although mostly "forest floor" rather than earth. At only one point is it partially blocked; this by a couple of fallen pines.

This further description may help keep you on the trail of the "other fork:" Initially following the crest of the ridge, the trail goes to the left and down gently before going back up somewhat more steeply. Gradually it bares to the left, following a ridge crest and eventually heading southward. It "ends" at the top of a ridge.

2/00: About 2/3 of the loop is complete and is in good shape for hiking and well marked: Look for pink ribbons near trail marker "12" .
More information.

DESCRIPTION

The Middle Patuxent Environmental Area (MPEA) is a Howard County Park along the western edge of Columbia and surrounds a section of the Middle Patuxent River. A loop trail begins at the Trotter Road parking area and follows old farm roads to the river.

Click on the People Tree for more information on the past, present and future of the MPEA (information from the Rouse Company).

Important ways individuals and organizations may help preserve and maintain the environmental area are:
After a walk, inspect your body carefully and remove ticks to prevent Lyme disease. Lyme Disease Foundation offers information on Lyme disease . Many, many references on Lyme Disease. Picture of Deer Tick on human finger.
Help with trail maintenance. Work groups are scheduled from time to time. Check the board at the entrance and these web pages. Work gloves are recommended. Some tools are available, but if you have a hand pruning tool, please bring it. Loppers and pruning saws are especially useful.
~~Join the MPVA~~, Middle Patuxent Environmental Association. This is a group of citizens which regularly provides input to the county parks department and assists in maintaining the area. Nature hikes are scheduled from time to time. Further information is available at the ~~MPVA page.~~

LOCATION
The Middle Patuxent Environmental Area (MPEA) is easily accessed from the Trotter Road parking area. Trotter Road is between MD-108 on the north and MD-32 on the south and is in the western end of Columbia, just east of Clarksville.

For more specific directions form MD-108 and MD-32 and for maps and directions from outside the Columbia-Clarksville area, click on MAP & DIRECTIONS.

About this Page
[This page is continually revised and updated. Your suggestions are welcomed at MPEA1995@yahoo.com.]

This is a personal page. This page has no connection with Howard County, the MPEF, or the MPVA . This is a "personal" page and reflects only the views of its owner.

The Recreation and Parks Department of Howard County is fundamentally "in charge" of the Middle Patuxent Environmental Area (MPEA). Howard county owns the land.

The directors of the Middle Patuxent Environmental Foundation (MPEF) oversee a $2,000,000 endowment set aside for the management and care of the Area.

The Middle Patuxent Valley Association (MPVA) is a group of citizens who are willing to dedicate some time and effort to helping and overseeing activities in the Area. ~~The Association has a web page at www.MPVA.org.~~

Additionally there are other groups who have special interests or dedication to the MPEA. The Sierra Club of Howard county and the Columbia Area Naturists helped develop the initial loop trail and have helped maintain the trail. Other groups have been involved from time to time. Along with the MPVA, the Sierra Club was involved with preservation efforts that led to the establishment of the Area.

The Howard County Board of Education has expressed interest in the area as an environmental education center.

Not all these groups have the same goals. Indeed, ideas of how the Area should be maintained, developed or not developed, etc. are ometimes in conflict. The MPVA, the Sierra Club, and, more recently, the Columbia Area Naturists, seemed to favor the more "conservative," less "development" approach. If that is your idea also, consider supporting these groups and becoming active with the MPEA.

The Recreation and Parks Department, in my view, have been supportive of a conservative approach to the Area. However, like other "public, governmental" agencies, they get a lot of pressure from groups with special interests (those who would like to build ball fields, large centers for housing and instructing students, and the like).

PICTURES
The following section(s) is(are) under construction. Enjoy the pictures!

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