Morning Choice Loop

Dogs Leashed

Features River/Creek · Wildlife

Highlights of the hike include crossing a river in two locations either over stepping stones or just hiking through. There is a particularly fun section in the final mile where it gets quite twisty with plenty of tree branches to jump over. This section is quite technical really.

Start the trail on soft, sandy singletrack before heading down a gnarly rooted descent to the first river crossing. Carry on up hill for a while and take the left turn for the Cascade Trail (signposted). Carry on this section and then go right and hike along Old Track Loop, joining the Morning Choice Trail again before taking a left and getting back on to Old Track Loop.

Rejoin the Cascade Falls Trail and carry over some fallen trees then cross Norris Lane, where you may find a deer or two. Keep on the trail and be careful on the gnarly descent to a wider path, where you can go left or right. Right goes to the Cascade Falls, so turn left to carry on this route. Beware of mountain bikers too, as this looks like a fast section of the trail.

Go uphill towards Landing Road, and take a left where the trail narrows and carries on up a gently but long gradient. This part of the trail gets tricky, and you can easily lose the trail, so keep an eye on the map. The trail gets quite twisty at this point, which is super technical, but be careful if it has recently rained as some of the turns will be muddy and you might slip. Also, look out for fallen tree branches and overgrown foliage.

You'll come to the second river crossing after the twisty section, and you'll get wet here. Cross the river and head uphill on a fairly steep gradient, with added difficulty of some sandy bits at the beginning. This is the Lower Patapsco Connector. The trail widens a bit here and you're on the home stretch to rejoin Morning Choice Trail and reach the finish.

Deer, butterflies.