Some of my fondest memories of adventuring with my kids is when we wind up in the woods playing in a stream. Does it get any better than rock hopping, rock throwing, and critter hunting? I don’t think so.
We recently drove up to Double Rock Park in Parkville, near Towson, right under the beltway. We went on a Monday, and nobody was there. What is fantastic about this park is that you can boulder-hop up and down the shallow stream. The rocks are large enough and close enough that neither of us got wet, but you could if you really wanted to.
We tried to follow the 1.6-mile Blue Trail, which was confusing, so we stayed in the stream the whole time. We even sat on rocks to eat our packed lunch. I recommend wearing shoes that can get wet and that you consult the All Trails app if you want to hike the loop.
This wooded park is a little surprise in an urban area. It isn’t all that big, but it is worth the visit.
Address: 8211 Glen Rd, Parkville, MD 21234
Distance from Annapolis: 40 minutes
Cost: Free