Happy Trails to You

Admittedly (and unashamedly) I remember Roy Rogers and Dale Evans signing off their weekly TV show with this cowboy classic.

But National Trails Day  -- the first Saturday in June -- is about the trails we enjoy now.  Trails for hiking, cycling, exercise and transportation.  Because Maryland has so many trails connecting linear parks with neighborhoods, schools and other destinations, we have a lot of activities on NTD.

One such celebration is in Patapsco State Park,  one of Maryland's gems.  I haven't been there in years, so I'm going today to see how volunteers help with trail maintenance.  (Patapsco has some wonderful cycling trails that will be included in the Tour Dem Parks, Hon event next week.)

Also today, Senator Ben Cardin is being honored at the Baltimore City Visitors Center in the Inner Harbor for all the support he has given (and all those federal $$$$$ he's directed) towards the development of the Gwynns Falls Trail, which extends 14 miles through West Baltimore to the Inner Harbor.  New bicycle racks will be installed at the Visitors Center, where the Gwynns Falls Trail, the Jones Falls Trail and the Harbor Promenade meet.

This branch of the GWF takes you right though the lower Camden Yards Complex, south and east of M&T Bank Stadium.  Because we have so many out of town visitors even on non game days (wanderers from the Holiday Inn and nearby bus station) we've been working with the GFT folks to place a map where the trail splits at the entrance to the complex.

The two sided kiosk will not only direct trail riders and other visitors, it will include a history of the industrial park and railroad roundhouse that was once nearby.

The kiosk won't be in place by today, but it will be up in time for the influx of cyclists zipping through next week as they Tour Dem Parks.

There are many places in Maryland to celebrate National Parks Day http://www.americanhiking.org/NTDSearchResult.aspx?sId=21