Patapsco Valley State Park - Avalon Area — Attraction in Arbutus

River Ridge Trail is a scenic and moderately challenging path nestled in Patapsco Valley State Park’s Hollofield Area, not far from Ellicott City. The trailhead offers convenient amenities—playground, restrooms, and picnic pavilions—making it ideal for families or group outings .

The route begins gently and relatively flat from the parking lot, but once it crosses the park road where the Campground Connector branches off, things get more rugged: the trail steepens and descends quickly, with sections that are rocky and narrow . That rocky descent may feel brisk but manageable for experienced hikers; beginners should tread carefully on downhill segments.

The trail winds through dense woods, with sights of streams and river views below. Although the descent doesn’t actually reach the riverbed, it approaches closely enough to enjoy the scenery; you can extend your hike by connecting to nearby Union Dam Trail .

Trail quality is mixed—rocky in parts and somewhat steep, but still runnable for those used to uneven terrain. Its solitude and forested ambiance make it a rewarding, peaceful escape—not overly crowded and well-suited to hikers looking for moderate exercise without overly long mileage.

🗺️ In summary: River Ridge Trail is hillier and rougher than a flat loop, but has solid amenities at the start and natural charm throughout—perfect for a half‑mile leg‑stretch or a scenic detour...

I have a small human that likes to run around a lot. I prefer when she does not do so in traffic. This is an excellent place for a child to run around in not traffic, and it has the added bonus of being pleasant for adults as well. You can't beat $2 a car on a weekday. Parking is plentiful. There is an absolutely terrific play area that is well-kept and has a lot of options for a variety of ages. It is right next to a shaded pavilion that has picnic tables and barbecue grills (and is really nice for the decrepit parents who are not running on the playground and need shade). There is a beautiful field nearby with mature shade trees that is perfect for a picnic. If you follow the trail down, you will get to the river bank. The water is clear and delightful for wading or looking at fish. Note that there are no lifeguards, so you enter at your own peril (and the current can be swift depending on how much it has rained). Also, highly recommend wearing shoes in the water. The bottom is rocky. Also, some derelicts who like to ruin the world for other people (and are the reason we can't have nice things) sometimes throw beer bottles into the river. No one needs a foot...

Been going here for almost 40 years now. The park staff do a wonderful job. Trout stocking by MD DNR has always been tip notch, I have enjoyed catching and eating these fish all while wading and enjoying the beauty of our country.... Thank you DNR for years of recreational enjoyment for myself and my children. With that out of the way..... the park is always crowded. Immigrants leave their trash everywhere and line the river swimming and yes.....bathing on 2 occasions, making it almost impossible to fish anymore. I don't begrudge anyone of the beauty that God has given all of us, as this planet does belong to each and every one of us, but please, if you leave a poor and trashy country to seek ba better life, don't bring the trash and bad habits with you, don't turn our country into the same garbage you left. This mot only a problem inside the park, but all along the whole patapsco river.... they had to put up signs all along Daniel's road. Go to where the old paper mill used to be and the bank is littered with trash. Don't mean to be negative, but somebody has to say...