Piney Run Park — Attraction in Eldersburg

This park is quite awesome. Its peaceful, serene and clean.😊 The atmosphere provides a much needed break from society. This was an adventure. It wasn't too crowded but people were out & about. The park offers trails to hike, walk, & bike. They have a boat house with the option to rent kayaks, canoes, and rowboats. The boat launch is used by private boat owners as well. My only concern with the boat house were the life jackets. We decided to rent a rowboat the life jackets are provided with the rental. Evan assisted us with life jackets. There were several newer life jackets laying around on the bench, but the life jackets Evan handed us were visibly worn & torn. One of the life jackets had a tear in the fabric. I asked Evan do these life jackets work his response was "Don't test them out!" That was not a sufficient answer. I'm not sure why anyone would offer a customer safety equipment that is not safe. Looking back on the experience I should have spoke to management or an adult but I was blindsided by my enthusiasm. I was there to have a good time not to find problems with my experience. Next time I will be adamant about requesting safety equipment that is SAFE. I am sure this business owner doesn't want a bad reputation, google review or a lawsuit due to negligence. So management if your reading this review please train your staff to do better for your business's sake. Its better to be safe than to be sorry. Overall the experience was good. Hopefully this won't happen again to some unsuspecting novice boater looking...

There is a fee to get in, but honestly it’s worth it because the park is very clean and well maintained. The park surrounds a beautiful lake with clear water, and there are plenty of picnic spots where you can relax and enjoy the view.

At the main entrance, you’ll find two playgrounds and bathrooms just a short walk from the pavilion areas. The pavilions themselves are nice, but they sit up on a hillside, so they aren’t very wheelchair friendly and can be tough for anyone who struggles with walking.

The trails here are wide, super clean, and clear of debris, with plenty of benches near the water and along the way for breaks. The park has made improvements like adding stairs to help with steeper areas, which is a nice touch on a trail.

The park is also very dog friendly (though no swimming is allowed in the lake), and if you don’t have your own boat, kayak and other rentals are available at reasonable prices. Bathrooms have running water and are kept clean, which is always a big plus.

Another fun feature is the nature center, which is small but cute and even includes a lost and found area. Overall, Piney Run Park is a very clean, peaceful, and well-kept place to enjoy nature, whether you’re walking the trails, picnicking, or getting out...

So beautiful! I always suggest looking up park details and policies before visiting one for the first time. Cost me $6 to enter as a Carroll County resident and I feel it was worth that. Parking appeared sufficient with some lots closer to the water so you don't have to walk very far. I had to make sure my inflatable craft had 3 separate air chambers (for my safety) and there are other specifications for any watercraft. Boats are not currently available to rent. I didn't see anywhere you could really swim, like a beach area or a nearby stream, and you're not permitted to deliberately enter the water from your craft. The park was closing the day I went at 7:40 p.m. - make sure you're out by closing or you could get locked in! Come prepared, especially if you plan to boat. I'm new to boating and thought this was a nice place to start. If anyone saw someone flailing their oars around like an idiot within the past week...that was...