Prettyboy Dam — Attraction in Hampstead

Pretty cool spot. Very antique dam. There are stairs to the bottom... If you love doing stairs as a workout you'll love these for that purpose...just walking back up gets your heart rate up. There's a viewing area at the bottom you can see the dam from below and the creek/river that flows down stream from the dam. There is fencing...they don't want people hiking near the viewing area...clearly folks ignore that as there are worn trails on the other side. It was in the 40s when we went but freeze overnight grew an ice chunk that gave the water passing through the center of the dam an interesting spray pattern. Went down stream of here to Gunpowder Falls trail head and hiked a bit. Watched a heron fish, saw a few humans fishing near the one lane bridge near the trailhead parking lot.

I can see how taking a dip at the dam on a summer day might seem awesome. Do Not Swim signs are there for a reason...if you don't care about yourself, fine, but for the sake of mom, spare her getting what other moms have gotten due to other young persons not heeding the warning signs here: that gentle police knock and the "Ma'am we regret to inform your that your son/daughter was found....." Your parents don't...

Arresting edifice -- such a large imposing structure built so long ago. Completed in 1932 to create a water reservoir on the Gunpowder Falls, it is still a beautiful and imposing structure to behold. The walk down the 170+ steps, to get a closer look at the dam and spewing water plume and subsequent return to the top, was an invigorating challenge well worth the effort. The air felt so fresh and oxygenated from the negative ions produced by the falling water. Even though the stairs were taxing to navigate, the serotonin rush from the gushing water created a palpable feel-good sensation. The views of the reservoir and land from this historic dam were stunning, particularly as the sun was lowering in the sky. We didn't know of this place, but it was a rewarding discovery and great surprise on our...

Be aware If you take the steps down, you will not be at the bottom of the dam. It takes you to an observation area. There is a very steep trail to the right of the fence surrounding the top/bottom of the stairs. It's a bit treacherous going down (easier coming up actually), but it takes you to the river and continues downriver to connect with Gunpowder Falls SP trails. The river trail is not strenuous, but is rocky and rutted in some places. There are downed trees and some eroded spots. There are some nice river views and interesting rock formations along the way. I was lucky climbing out of the gorge because I beat a bad storm literally by minutes. Do not get stuck at the bottom during a storm. Climbing up that gully could be nearly impossible since it would collect rushing water...