Frederick County
Parks and Nature Centers
Fountain Rock Park nature play area and Nature Center Ballenger Creek Park Trails Catoctin Creek Park Nature Center
Hiking, Trails and State Parks
Cunningham Falls State Park, Lower Trail and Cliff Trail (1.2 mile loop) Gambrill State Park, White Oak Trail (1 mile loop) Gambrill State Park, Red Maple Trail (1 mile loop) Frederick Municipal Forest, Rocky Stream Bed Trail (1.4 mile loop) Frederick Municipal Forest, Killer Bee, Monarch and Stoner Road loop (1 mile loop)
Unique Spots
Washington County
Parks and Nature Centers
Pen Mar Park: Offers a playground, hiking options, and a pavilion with stunning views. Devil's Backbone Park: Features a stream and natural rocky features, often described as scenic and peaceful. Regional Park: Features a modular playground, sensory panels, and tunnels. Other Potential Nature Spots: Camp Harding Park, Chestnut Grove Park, and Clear Spring Park
Hiking, Trails and State Parks
C&O Canal TowpathAppalachian Trail through South Mountain State ParkScenic overlooks at Weverton Cliffs or Maryland Heights
Unique Spots
Surrounding Areas and Maryland
Nature Centers
Bear Branch Nature Center (Westminster): Offers an outdoor water feature, a Discovery Room with puzzles/puppets, raptor enclosures, and over 5 miles of trails including a wheelchair-accessible path. Hashawha Environmental Center (Westminster): Features Lake Hashawha, a 19th-century log cabin, a "tot lot" play area, hiking, and bird feeding stations. Bark Hill Park (Union Bridge): Features a nature-themed GameTime playground, including a vine climber, log climber, conifer tree toppers, and leaf seats. Piney Run Park & Nature Center (Sykesville): Features a nature center with live animals, nature programming, and a 300-acre park with trails. Krimgold Park (Woodbine): Features a lightly themed nature playground with timber slats, mushroom steppers, and a log crawl-through.
Hiking, Trails and State Parks
Gillis Falls multi-use trails (Mt. Airy) Union Mills Recreation Area (Westminster) Morgan Run Natural Environment Area
Unique Spots
Maryland Online Resources
Maryland Nature Play Spaces, Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Maryland Park Service: “What is a Nature Play Space? A space intentionally designed or designated to integrate natural components into a place for structured and unstructured play and learning.” Provide an important early connection for children with nature and create future environmental stewards; Provide an opportunity for both physical and creative play; and Support children’s physical, intellectual, and socio-emotional development” List of Inclusive Playgrounds, Playgrounds for All – Maryland 25 Ways to Enjoy the Outdoors in Maryland, VisitMaryland.org Physical Activity Guidelines, State of Maryland Department of Education Public Lands and Accessible Parks: Outdoor Activities and Amenities in Maryland, Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Maryland Park Service Outdoor Preschool Licensing in Maryland, Association for Nature-Based Education Nature Play Spaces: Activities, Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Maryland Park Service What is Forest School?, Natural History Society of Maryland Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Environmental Education, No Child Left Inside