Pumphrey Recreation Area
Rate this placeLast Updated: December 5, 2025
Pumphrey Recreation Area is a popular destination located in Maryland that offers plenty of activities for visitors of all ages.
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Summary
It is an ideal place for outdoor enthusiasts who want to enjoy the natural beauty of the area. Some of the key reasons to visit the park are its beautiful scenery, hiking trails, fishing opportunities, and picnic areas.
One of the main attractions of Pumphrey Recreation Area is its hiking trails, which offer stunning views of the surrounding landscapes. Visitors can explore the different trails and take in the sights of the forest, streams, and wildlife. The park also offers fishing opportunities, with plenty of fish to catch in the lake.
Aside from the recreational activities, the park has several points of interest that are worth seeing. The park has a historical site, the Ellicott City B&O Railroad Station Museum, which is a designated National Historic Landmark. The area is also known for its abundant wildlife, including migratory birds, deer, and other animals.
The best time of year to visit the Pumphrey Recreation Area is during the summer months when the weather is warm, and the park is bustling with activity. However, visitors can also enjoy the park during the spring and fall, when the weather is milder and the foliage is at its peak.
Overall, Pumphrey Recreation Area is an excellent place to visit for those who love the outdoors and want to experience the natural beauty of Maryland. With its hiking trails, fishing opportunities, and points of interest, visitors will have plenty to see and do during their time in the park.
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Park & Land Designation Reference
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.
Related References
Southwest Area Park
Arundel Hills Park
Arundel Village Park
Northeast Highlands Park
Bay Brook Park