38% Complete

Maryland

The Jones Falls Trail offers a scenic route into Baltimore, and the B&A Trail leads delightfully to the port city of Annapolis.

Total Miles, Spine Route

163

Miles of Protected Greenway

61

east coast greenway maryland

Click the map for an interactive version

Current Progress

Greenway highlights in Maryland include the scenic Jones Falls Trail into Baltimore, the rural Torrey C. Brown trail north of Baltimore, and the B&A Trail leading delightfully to the port city of Annapolis.

Entering Maryland from the north at Newark, Delaware, the route heads west on road to connect a number of historic towns nestled along the northernmost reaches of the Chesapeake Bay, including Elkton, Charlestown, and Perryville, which is located right at the mouth of the Susquehanna River across the river from Havre de Grace.

VERY IMPORTANT ROUTE DETAILS: Traveling between Perryville and Havre de Grace takes careful consideration and planning. Note that there is NO PEDESTRIAN access over the Hatem Bridge. Susquehanna River crossing options are outlined below:

  • BUS & BIKE: Harford Transit LINK Teal Line Route 5 bus service on weekdays only; up to 2 bicycles per bus between Havre de Grace and Perryville. Consider taking the bus between the McDonald's bus stop in Havre de Grace and the Perryville Train Station bus stop in Perryville. Check Harford County, MD Bus Routes page for more information on bus stop locations, schedule, and fare payment;
  • MARC TRAIN access available only on weekdays between Perryville and Aberdeen stations, bikes can be carried onboard on all MARC trains until capacity is full;
  • RIDE-HAILING taxi services located in Northeast and Aberdeen, also check for Uber/Lyft drivers in area (be sure to check for plus size vehicles to fit bicycles if needed);
  • BICYCLE ACCESS on the Hatem Bridge is only allowed on Sundays and State holidays, between dawn and dusk, and only for the most confident and experienced cyclists who must be 18 or older. Note wide tires are recommended for traversing bridge expansion joints; cyclists should push the designated button before crossing -- located here when heading northbound from Havre de Grace; or located here when heading southbound from Perryville -- to activate warning lights for traffic to alert drivers to a cyclist on the road. Expect extremely high stress riding conditions in traffic with no shoulder space and do not ride in inclement weather/high winds. MdTA will also restrict access during inclement weather with updates at their website. UPDATED RESTRICTIONS AS OF FEB. 23, 2024: Maryland Transportation Authority (MdTA) already prohibits biking on weekdays and it will also now prohibit biking on Saturdays during the authority's bridge painting project, estimated to continue through May 2026. For more details and a schedule of the closures, see: https://mdta.maryland.gov/Toll_Facilities/Hatem_Bike_Access.html Experienced cyclists looking to bike over the Hatem Bridge on Sundays should read through the Maryland Transportation Authority FAQs on the Thomas Hatem Bridge.   

Once across the Susquehanna, Havre de Grace is a jewel on the river’s south shore, offering restaurants and lodging. Continuing west, travelers cross rural Harford County to Monkton and the first designated trail segment – the unpaved and forested Torrey C. Brown Rail Trail (also known as the Northern Central Rail Trail) — to Cockeysville. The Ashland Amish Market makes for a nice stop along the route.

Another on-road section connects to the Jones Falls Trail, which takes travelers down into Inner Harbor of Baltimore. The route linking Baltimore, Annapolis, and Washington, DC is one of the most complete sections of Greenway. Shorter on-road sections link together lengthy stretches of trails, including the BWI Trail, the Baltimore & Annapolis (B&A) Trail, and the Washington Baltimore & Annapolis (WB&A) Trail.

Connecting suburban communities into Washington, DC, is the northeast branch of the Anacostia Tributary trails, making the going easier and more scenic as the population density increases.

Traveling by train? 

Quick tips when using Amtrak with your bike: Do your research in advance; each train line features different bike rack equipment and loading procedures. Check Amtrak for the latest and when in doubt: call the station if you have questions. Click for more: https://www.amtrak.com/bike

Maryland Contacts

Enhancing the Mid-Atlantic's East Coast Greenway | Daniel Paschall

Designated Trails in Maryland

Mileage counts reflect the portion of each trail that is part of East Coast Greenway.

  • Torrey C. Brown Rail Trail (Northern Central Rail Trail); 7.2 mi

  • Jones Falls Trail, Baltimore; 8 mi

  • Gwynn’s Falls Trail, Baltimore; 4.75 mi

  • BWI Trail, BWI Airport; 4.5 mi

  • B&A Trail, Annapolis-Glen Burnie; 11.8 mi

  • Colonial Annapolis Maritime Trail System, Annapolis; 1.2 mi

  • South Shore Trail, Anne Arundel Co. MD; 0.55 mi

  • Odenton Road Bicycle Path, Odenton; 1.3 mi

  • WB&A Trail, Anne Arundel County; 6 mi

  • Anacostia Tributary Trail System, Prince Georges County; 9 mi 

  • Northwest Branch Trail; 1.75 mi

gwnns falls trail
Gwynns Falls Trail outside of Baltimore.

Greenway Guidance

While the East Coast Greenway Alliance is constantly improving the safety of the Greenway route through its advocacy efforts, many of the current on-road connections, including those on the Greenway’s interim routes, have little or no special provisions for bicyclists or pedestrians. Long-distance travel via on-road sections of the Greenway is recommended for experienced cyclists only. Many lengthy traffic-free segments of the Greenway are suitable for families and cyclists, walkers and runners of all ages and abilities. 

The current on-road routing is housed on low-traffic roads whenever possible. We aim to be as clear as we are able about the conditions riders can expect by including alerts for known stressful sections on our online mapping tool at map.greenway.org. Directional signage may or may not be present along the route. Users are advised to review state traffic laws, research current road conditions and discuss plans with people familiar with area roadways.

This website provides information for the public about trails and roads for traveling the interim route of the East Coast Greenway and their general suitability for long-distance cycling and walking. The East Coast Greenway Alliance and those involved with the development and publication of this website do not assume any liability for injuries, damage or loss to persons using this information or the routes suggested. People using this information are responsible for their own safety and should take appropriate precautions. 

Our Partners in Maryland

Partners include but are not limited to:

News and features of interest

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October 3, 2024

Maryland updates state trails strategic plan, announces funding along the East Coast Greenway

ecg board brandon douglass
May 4, 2023

Video: Meet Board Chair Brandon Douglass

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January 17, 2023

2022 East Coast Greenway designations

Want to see the Greenway grow in Maryland?

Together, let's grow the Greenway

Recent record-setting funding for design and construction goes directly to building the East Coast Greenway - as it should. The East Coast Greenway Alliance needs your support to continue our advocacy work that is fueling completion of the Greenway. The Alliance has a sustained track record of turning every dollar donated to our nonprofit into $100 in public infrastructure investment. Invest today and support the growth of the East Coast Greenway from Maine to Florida.