Baltimore & Annapolis Trail

Baltimore & Annapolis Trail The Baltimore & Annapolis Trail is a 13.3-mile rail-trail in Anne Arundel County, Maryland connecting Glen Burnie and Annapolis through suburban and wooded corridors. The corridor follows the alignment of the former Baltimore & Annapolis Railroad and links regional destinations such as the communities of Severna Park, Arnold, and the State House area in Annapolis, providing connections to regional networks and parks. The Trail serves commuters, recreational users, conservation groups, and municipal planners involved with transportation and open-space initiatives.

Route

The corridor begins near Glen Burnie, Maryland adjacent to sections of Maryland Route 2 and proceeds southeast through Arundel Mills-adjacent neighborhoods toward Severna Park, Maryland and Arnold, Maryland, paralleling segments of US Route 301 and crossing former railroad rights-of-way tied to the Baltimore & Annapolis Railroad. The trail skirts waterways feeding into the Severn River and approaches Annapolis via corridors that intersect with Maryland Route 50 and municipal streets in Annapolis, Maryland, terminating near the Maryland State House and harborfront. Along the way it crosses parks administered by Anne Arundel County, connects to trail spurs toward Sandy Point State Park and interfaces with planning efforts centered on the Chesapeake Bay watershed and regional greenway proposals coordinated with Baltimore Metropolitan Council and Maryland Department of Natural Resources initiatives.

History

The corridor traces to the nineteenth-century growth of the Baltimore & Annapolis Railroad and predecessor steam and interurban lines that served Baltimore-area suburbs and the United States Naval Academy community in Annapolis. Decline of rail passenger and freight service in the mid-twentieth century paralleled national trends following the expansion of Interstate 97 and suburbanization promoted by development around Fort Meade and BWI Marshall Airport (Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport). Grassroots rail-to-trail advocacy by local civic groups, county officials, and national organizations such as Rails-to-Trails Conservancy led to acquisition and conversion in the late twentieth century, mirroring projects like the Capital Crescent Trail and the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s national network. Funding and design involved collaboration among Anne Arundel County, the State of Maryland, federal grant programs associated with United States Department of Transportation discretionary funds, and philanthropic partners. Subsequent improvements reflected stormwater and shoreline resilience concerns raised after regional events including Hurricane Isabel (2003) and studies by the Chesapeake Bay Program.

Recreational use and amenities

Users include cyclists from Baltimore, Maryland and commuters heading to Annapolis, Maryland as well as walkers, runners, and families accessing playgrounds and picnic areas managed by Anne Arundel County Recreation and Parks. Amenities along the corridor include parking at trailheads near Glen Burnie and municipal lots in Annapolis, interpretive signage referencing regional history such as the United States Naval Academy, benches, bike repair stations sponsored by local businesses, and restrooms at park nodes cooperating with organizations like the Annapolis Bicycle Club and Severna Park Preservation Association. The corridor supports events coordinated with institutions such as St. John’s College (Annapolis) and charity runs associated with health partners including Johns Hopkins Medicine. Adjacent businesses in commercial corridors like Millersville, Maryland and Edgewater, Maryland benefit from trail access and wayfinding links to downtown Annapolis and waterfront destinations such as the Annapolis Harbor.

Ecology and conservation

The Trail traverses habitats characteristic of the Chesapeake Bay watershed, including coastal plain woodlands, riparian buffers, and stormwater conveyances feeding tributaries of the Severn River. Conservation partners such as the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and local chapters of Appalachian Mountain Club and Sierra Club have participated in native-plant restorations, invasive-species management, and shoreline stabilization projects along the alignment. Ecological monitoring by county natural resources staff and partners from University of Maryland, College Park and National Aquarium (Baltimore) affiliates informs day-lighting, wetland protection, and pollinator habitat initiatives. The corridor's green infrastructure features curb-cut bioretention areas and tree plantings that support migratory bird species documented by volunteers working with Audubon Society chapters and local birding groups.

Management and maintenance

Management is led by Anne Arundel County's Department of Recreation and Parks in coordination with state agencies and volunteer organizations, with periodic capital improvements funded through partnerships with the Maryland Department of Transportation and community development grants. Routine maintenance includes pavement resurfacing, signage upkeep, vegetation management, and safety coordination with Anne Arundel County Police Department and municipal public works departments. Volunteer stewardship days organized by groups such as the Annapolis Green and regional trail alliances supplement county operations, while long-term planning integrates climate-resilience work promoted by the Maryland Commission on Climate Change and regional transportation planning through the Baltimore Metropolitan Council.

Category:Rail trails in Maryland Category:Protected areas of Anne Arundel County, Maryland