Catonsville Park

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Last Updated: December 5, 2025

Catonsville Park is a 96-acre park located in Baltimore County, Maryland.


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Summary

It offers visitors a variety of activities, including hiking, picnicking, fishing, and playgrounds. The park is open year-round, from sunrise to sunset, and there is no admission fee.

One of the main attractions of Catonsville Park is the Grist Mill Trail, a 1.5-mile trail that winds through the park's woodlands and along the Patapsco River. The trail offers stunning views of the river and wildlife, and is a popular spot for birdwatching.

Another point of interest in the park is the historic Catonsville Trolley Trail. This trail follows the path of a former trolley line that ran from Baltimore to Ellicott City in the early 20th century. Visitors can still see remnants of the old trolley line, including the original stone bridge that crosses the Patapsco River.

In addition to hiking trails, Catonsville Park also offers several picnic areas, a playground, and a fishing pond. Fishing is allowed in the pond, but visitors must have a Maryland fishing license to do so.

Interesting facts about the park include the fact that it was originally part of the estate of Dr. John Requard, a 19th-century physician and businessman. The park was also used as a training ground for soldiers during World War II.

The best time of year to visit Catonsville Park is in the spring and fall, when the weather is mild and the foliage is at its most colorful. However, the park is open year-round, and visitors can enjoy its natural beauty in any season.

       

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Park & Land Designation Reference

National Park
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
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