Photo Credit: Travis Prebble
Baltimore Velo reader John has written in with an update on the Gwynns Falls Trail.
Here’s an update to the damage done to the Gwynns Falls Trail by the “Derecho of the Century”, based on riding it the afternoon of Monday, July 9. There are a few low branches to duck under and lots of sticks to ride around, but there are now only two trees that require lifting the bike over them.
- The trail is clear from Carroll Park to Frederick Ave.
- There is one tree blocking the path between Frederick Ave. and Baltimore Street. Multiple limbs make it somewhat difficult to lift a bike over, but it can be done. Similar trees nearby have been cleared, so hopefully they’ll get this one this week.
- A downed tree blocks the sidepath along Baltimore Street, so you should ride in the street for a few hundred feet.
- The trail is clear from Baltimore Street to Hilton Parkway.
- One downed tree blocks the unpaved part of the trail (the Millrace) between Hilton Parkway and Chesholm Road (the abandoned paved road that crosses the millrace at about the halfway point). The trunk is about three feet in diameter, so it may be a while until the parks department finds someone with a big enough chain saw. Only the trunk is across the trail, so that’s what you need to lift your bike over. An alternative is to take Franklintown Road to Chesholm Road (the first abandoned road on your right if you’re coming west, blocked off by New Jersey barriers), and go up Chesholm Road to the Gwynns Falls Trail.
- The trail from Chesholm Road to the I-70 Park and Ride is clear. The Dickeyville Trail is clear.
- The Winans Way sidepath is still blocked by two big trees near the top. Caution tape blocks the sidepath at the bottom; if you don’t see the tape,presumably that will mean that they’ve cleared the trees.