Maryland Cycling

From Assateague to Swallow Falls, from the Susquehanna River Trail to Rock Creek Park, Maryland offers residents and visitors a wealth of recreational opportunities in a remarkable variety of natural settings. Bryan MacKay's Hiking, Cycling, and Canoeing in Maryland has been the essential guide to outdoor recreation in the state's parks, preserves, and waterways for more than a decade.

A lifelong resident of Maryland, MacKay combines in this book his love of outdoor activities and his knowledge of the places, plants, and animals of the region. For each of the 23 walks, 16 bicycle rides, and 19 canoe trips, he includes general information on the natural history and ecology of the site and a short essay that focuses on a topic of special interest -- a particular plant or animal or an important conservation issue. Along with maps and detailed directions for each outing, the book also features beautiful pen-and-ink drawings by Sandy Glover of the Irvine Natural Science Center.

The second edition provides updated information on the Capital Crescent Trail, North Point State Park (Black Marsh), Soldiers Delight Natural Environmental Area, and the Susquehanna River Trail, as well as current contact information for all parks and preserves.

Updating an old favorite, The Baltimore Trail Book, Bryan MacKay has provided a comprehensive and detailed guide to trails on public lands in and around Baltimore. To complete the new work, MacKay walked, cycled, and explored nearly 80 trails in local state, county, and city parks, as well as area watersheds. Discover Hemlock Gorge, a small slice of Appalachia transported into northern Baltimore County, with its timeless peace and ancient gnarled hemlocks; or Black Marsh, with birds soaring overhead or skulking among the vegetation of the pristine freshwater wetlands; or the unique landscape of Soldiers Delight Natural Environment Area, which shelters more than 38 rare plant species.

Baltimore Trails answers the needs of hikers and mountain bikers, offering accurate maps, up-to-date access information, and reliable trail descriptions. From fieldwork conducted entirely in the year 2000, MacKay provides a detailed description, topographic map, and the length, location, and degree of difficulty for each trail. Some trails offer an easy afternoon stroll while others provide a day of rugged hiking or biking. Thumbnail essays offer scenic highlights and discuss typical plants, animals, and local ecology.

Praise for MacKay's Hiking, Cycling, and Canoeing in Maryland: A Family Guide

"MacKay tells you where to go, what to see and do across the very varied state of Maryland. Well written, the book includes excellent maps, line drawings, and numerous sidebars on the wonders of wandering in the state." -- Paul Sullivan, Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star