(North Central Railroad trail AKA Torrey C. Brown Rail trail)
This is the first of several NCR walks we’ll do and one of my favorites. About a 20 minute drive on I83 north from Hunt Valley. Far enough from the city that most people don’t bother coming up this far. Parking area is on Freeland road – west of 83 – off of the Maryland line exit.
Parking is pretty spacious, however I have never seen more than 10-15 cars here at a time. Other great thing about this spot – on NCR – that there is a “restroom” other than those awful portable toilets. It’s an actual building with composting toilets, kept pretty clean and gender segregated (close the lid after you are done).
We are only the second car here, even though it’s almost 8 am. The weather is also in our favor today, a nice, breezy 66F. I love coming out here early in the morning. I wish I could get paid for walking around in nature with Mag, taking pictures. I wish, I wish, upon a star…. or maybe this Black-Winged Damselfly.
Sweet honeysuckle filling the air with its narcotic scent.
Tiny yellow leaves are trickling down from above, making me feel like I am in a fairytale. A Red- bellied woodpecker almost takes my bangs off, then lands on a dead tree.
I’ve spotted 2 or 3 bigger nests close to the trail but I am not sure what type of birds occupies them. They are definitely not squirrel’s because no leaves are present just twigs.
One mile from the PA line
We are approaching the little organic farm on the right with the Little Free Library. It’s a birdfeeder- sized house-shaped structure where people leave books for others to take. I have had exchanged many books here since it’s appearance.
Little bit further up there is the house of cats. Every time we pass by here there are cats on the little embankment, playing or sitting on trees. This time they are snoozing, scattered haphazardly in the greenery.
We have just arrived at Oakland rd., crossing over it.
Which reminds me to warn you guys of poison ivy! It is unfortunately everywhere! I am allergic to it so I don’t let Mag in it if I can help it. It only disappears for a few hundred feet when we get to the rocky part of the trail after this little creek.
Our view, approaching the PA (Pennsylvania) line.
Great info here of our whereabouts….
and a nice little dipping spot for Mag (video will play horizontally).
As you see I have crossed the creek and will continue in the grass until Orwig rd. (few hundred feet).
AND this is where the most interesting and loved part of trail is for Mag! The horse farm!
Except the horses are MIA today. This has never happened before. I don’t know if they are inside or just traveling? Mag is super confused and do not wanna believe his eyes!
We will continue towards New Freedom hoping on the way back they will be outside.
From here on, the old railroad track is still visible. We reach McCullough ave. in about 15 minutes and turn around (at the 1 mile mark from the MD/PA line) after chatting with new friends and their dogs.
Off course Mag must stop in the mud pit, since he is a Pig Bull.
Unfortunately the horses were still missing so he opted to roll in high grass instead of crying himself to sleep….
There is a roofed picnic table on the right about a quarter of a mile before we would get back to our parked car – Yoda – and there is a small path down to the creek. One last dip and he’ll be sleeping for the rest of the day.
Sorry, I guess I have turned my camera….
5 minutes later we are back at the car, cleaning off Mr. Piglet
Heading home the long way, ’cause it’s Sunday and we have nothing else to do!
Both my mileage trackers stopped working while out so I cannot share pic of route but we did 4.7 miles.
Have a wonderful week everyone!
Thank you for reading our little stories.
The Longest Route 