Family met here Friday after Thanksgiving for some outdoor hiking and had a wonderful time! After crossing the suspension bridge, we walked to the left on the paved path to the road, a gradual incline. We turned left on the road and entered the more rugged trail taking us back to the parking lot. Patapsco is a beautiful park with rock faces, waterfalls and the river running through it. The dam is gone now but there are still remnants of the mill which produced flour. Outdoor activity is the way to go these Covid days but be sure to arrive early to find a parking place.

The Swinging Bridge is a great little walk or the whole its approximately 4 miles round trip. The way there and back is a paved surface and the river and train tracks parallel you all the way given a nice scenic surrounding. It is wheelchair accessible with several places along the way to sit and take a break if needed.

Very accessible park. As of October 2020, adults are $3 each, kids in “safety seats” are free, and the entire car is $8, at least on the Saturday we went. We had two adults and two kids, so it was cheaper to pay by the number of individuals.Swinging bridge was very thrilling for toddlers.We went again on a week day and it cost only $2 for the entire car. I guess entrance fees must change with demand.

Despite the crowd on the Cascade Falls trails and watching the scattered coming from the other side of the swinging bridge in Orange Grove, this moderate hike was pleasant for every age group. The trails are narrow but clean from trash that you sadly witness. Hiking from the Ilchester coming towards the Falls and the river would be easier with trekking poles.

UPDATE JUNE 5, 2019The New section of the Grist Mill Trail is OPEN and so is ALL the rest down to the Lost Lake Pond. - All the trees in the new section are just babies so you are in total SUN LIGHT. - During the summer be sure to carry plenty of water to drink. - The entire trail is paved in blacktop. - If you are hiking between Ilchester Rd. and the Swinging Bridge be careful crossing the section where the bridge is washing out. - Rocks have been piled up to walk across but this spot can flood during a storm. - Flood signs are posted.

One of my favorite points in the Avalon because you can two of my favorite trails from here. Cascade trail is one end of the bridge grist mill trail is the other end. The river below the bridge is a popular water way for kids with plenty of space to keep your distance.

A lot of fun but there are a lot of people here during Covid. Parking was not available at the site but the Grist Mill Trail was a nice hike.

Great park for a ride, hike or just chill.

A great place for a hike and a picnic! There are many different trails and a lot to see.

Learn how to have more people at a state park make more parking spots place someone in front before you drive the 2 miles from the main road if parking spot closed

Great admission price, you have to drive all the way to the end to enjoy the swinging bridge. The paths are for people and bikes. My issue is that folks dont use common sense. The sign says walk your bike over the bridge. Sitting on it and pushing it with your feet while running into other people isnt walking it. Neither are bicyclists who believe people need to jump out of their way because they have bikes. Come on, share.Nice scenery, though.

A great place for wading with the kids. Next time we will plan ahead with swimsuits, water shoes and a change of clothes. We had never been before but the kids had a blast. Afterwards we went for a long walk so both parents and kids were happy.

A great nature spot right near the city.

A really beautiful spot! We hiked here from the Hilton Road parking area because the Swinging Bridge area was full, which I wouldnt recommend with really small children because there are a lot of steep rocky spots in the trail, but otherwise its a fun little hike!

Its a bridge. That spans the patapsco river. It doesnt really swing anymore. Lol rocks back and forth motion of the...ummm river.

I would give this 19 stars, except for parking! Where to legally park with a few mile hike to bridge?! $150 parking ticket left a real sour tase for us.

Absolutely beautiful bridge and paved trails. The fall is the best. Dog friendly Great for kids with bikes or scooters if you stay on the paved trails. I believe it was $4 a person to enter.

This is awesome place to hike or mountain biking. It has all levels of trails for MTB. Best part of the park is suspension bridge. View of Patapsco river is fabulous from the bridge. In summer you can go down to the water and jump in the river.

Soo beautiful lakes. excellent for hiking trials

Great park. Lots of trails some paved.

Beautiful place to visit to be in touch with nature...

This is a nice part of the park to visit. There are pavilions not far from the bridge near the parking lot. Get there early on a nice day or the parking lot may fill up and you will have to go to another entrance.There is a $2 donation due upon arrival as well. Lots to see and trails to exploreUpdate: went back 12/21 and the bridge is currently boarded up. Some parts of the grist mill trail are blocked by logs and the water is pretty high with all the rain and dam removal

This part of the Patapsco State Park is gorgeous! The Swinging bridge swings just enough at for you to feel it but not enough to make one feel uneasy. So much to see in this park including waterfalls (although not natural they are still beautiful) more beautiful foliage then you can imagine and tons of history. You got it checked out!

Such a great challenge conquering The Bridge! We got to explore the Ghist area! Nice hike, enjoyed skipping rocks & exploring! Wish we had tubes & swimsuits for floating.

Always alot of fun. My Boxer Chloe passed 2 pit bulls midway of the bridge and was incredibly good.

Enjoy the park but please take your trash! Best mountain biking trails around

Great park for all ages. Tubing, swimming, fishing or just enjoying the views.

Perfect place to walk and ride bikes.

Nice way to spend a Saturday outdoors!

Havent been to the Patapsco state park in about 30 yrs...Just decided to go... Forgot how much I loved that place...The Swinging bridge is still the Swinging bridge..Its what we old timers remember the most..

Cool bridge but one end is closed so cant get to the other side of the river.

Im in a wheelchair and its rare I have a hike I can do. This is one that I can do and it was great.

Update: I have previously given 5 stars but I have dropped it to 3. I came on a Saturday and they proceeded to close it as I pulled in saying it was full as 20 cars were leaving from a reserved party. Ive never encountered a state park that would close citing full capacity and rudely turn people away. We all have the right to experience nature especially considering this area of Maryland. I can not understand how a state park, designed for tourism could just fill up. Shame on this park and its infrastructure. On top of all this they have risen the price 2 times over. This our favorite local park. My dog loves it! Tons of trails and a lovely waterfall. Very reclusive trails where you forget youre near the city. Though the floods did some damage still an excellent place for moderate hiking and enjoying the solitude of the forest. My favorite park.

Replaced many times, but still historic.

Amazing park to walk ride a bike or chill in the water

Beautiful, wide paths, well kept up, perfect for jogging and biking and of course hiking!

Can walk into the water without feeling like you will be swept away

A walk back into the past on this swinging bridge would be a scenic view

Great park with tons of trails

Great hiking trail to waterfalls

Love this park. Great space, amazing views. Just all around great place to connect with nature. You forget youre just a few miles from BWI. It hasnt been crowded when Ive been But theres so many different areas to explore, I dont see that being an issue.

Borei g bugs swings alot

Great paved biking trail.

Bridge is a lot fun to cross

Not swinging enough. In fact it dont swing just bounce a little.

At certain points the bridge shakes, no. Its not going to fall from beneath you. Its just when everyone is moving at the same time the SWINGING bridge is going to move. Overall 5/5

Nice park, perfect for an easy hike along the river.

Nice walking area

Beautiful; lovely views and walking paths.

Great experience and fun physics lesson.

I didnt really explored the swinging bridge, if it is really swinging. But, I was there for car Photography. And this place is quite decent and friendly. I saw a bunch of people having picnic. And also smelt some good grilling going on. And its happily cold and cozy with the river flowing very closely.

It was so nice.

Its a nice park with beginner hiking trails. The bridge is fun to jump on and watch swimmers from. Accidentally spent 4 hours in the park, but the tree cover kept the temperatures cool and bearable.

Great photo placr

Beautiful place! Watch out if you dont like heights.

Luv this place

Pretty cool bridge! Worth checking out!

Beautiful park just get a map of the trails before you hike. The colors they mark with can be misleading.

This is a good, accessible place for various trails. It has a pretty big parking lot. You can either cross the bridge and take the paved path good for bike riding, or you can hit the trails and head to the waterfall. The maps are terrible, though, and its not hard to get lost.

An interesting local landmark - and a beautiful trail running along both sides.

Nice park.

Great place to take your dogs and to go fishing. Its a fun day for families and hike too

This bridge is the nexus for many great hiking trails. Park near here and explore!

Great atmosphere, clean and tranquil

Such an amazing, relaxing park! So much to do! So much to see!!

Very nice paved path to the swinging bridge. Perfect

Such a cool piece of engineering!

Lots to walk and explore, good for hiking, theres a playground as well.

Nice place for family

To much gun.

I have always loved going to the swinging bridge ever since I was a kid its beautiful there

Very nice park

Kickstands Up Motorcycle Riders met up and rolled to Elkridge MD to walk across the Historic Swinging Bridge.

Adorable well maintained park. Cool play areas for the kids.

Very peacefull and very close to me..great place to think and ponder

Awesome trails and great scenery. Beautiful morning. Saw 8 deer.

Great hike from Avalon parking lot to swinging bridge!

More of a bouncing bridge than a swinging bridge. 9/10 would bounce again.

Wow. The water was raging after all the rain last night! Better scout that river between the swinging bridge and Avalon if youre in a canoe or kayak.

Clean and beautiful

Great hiking on both paved & unpaved trails.

Always a good walk. Theyve done very well with fixing the park up since flooding a few years back.

Loved this hike!!

Little exhilarating, this bridge moves quite a bit!

Very nice . The park rangers are great ! My son and I got lost alittle and they helped us get back on track !!! Life savers !!

My getaway spot very close to home

Great bridge. still closed for the dam removal so cant cross all the way to the north side

Peaceful little bridge! Dont try to run on it though... It definitely swings!

Beautiful scenery but some damage in the wood floor.

Such a fun find!

It gets you to the other side

A beautiful spot with a lot of history.

Great place to take photos

Great place get out and enjoy nature

Great area to hike in

Still closed as of 04/29/19. Talked to one of the park guys and he said it should be reopening by June 2019.

Nature! Whats not to love?

This is beautiful inside Patapsco state park

Cool bridge...!

Nice place to relax