Patapsco Valley State Park · MD
Sawmill Branch Trail
Rocky, root-laced woodland trail following Sawmill Branch to the Patapsco in the Hilton/Glen Artney area. Frequently linked with Grist Mill, Santee Branch and Cascade Falls into a longer loop.
Live · updated
Today
Skip the mountain biking plan today.
Today's best: mountain biking
Conditions
Score by activity
Hiking
Skip the hiking plan today.
Trail running
Skip the trail running plan today.
Mountain biking
Skip the mountain biking plan today.
Dog walking
Thunderstorms in today's forecast — dogs panic and trails become dangerous.
Score breakdown
- · 82°F air — Within comfort range, outside ideal
- − Thunderstorms — Get off exposed ridges before they arrive
- ✓ Trail: prime — 0.11" of rain in the last 48 hours. Trail surface is dry and tacky — prime traction.
Trail facts
- Distance
- 0.9 mi
- Elevation gain
- 254 ft
- Surface
- dirt
- Difficulty
- moderate
Trailhead
Coordinates
39.2481, -76.7540 — MD.
Park
Part of Patapsco Valley State Park (official site →).
Peak nymphal tick activity — check yourself within 2 hours of leaving the trail.
Nearby Trails
Frequently Asked
How long is Sawmill Branch Trail?
Sawmill Branch Trail is a 0.9-mile route with 254 feet of elevation gain — moderate — some sustained climbing or technical sections; expect to work for it but no specialized skills required. The trail facts panel on this page lists distance, surface, and access tags as they appear in OpenStreetMap.
What's the trail surface like at Sawmill Branch Trail?
Sawmill Branch Trail is natural dirt singletrack — soft underfoot, holds water, slow to dry after rain. Today's mud rating, derived from recent precipitation and the surface type, is shown in the conditions panel above.
Who manages Sawmill Branch Trail, and where do closure alerts come from?
Sawmill Branch Trail is in Patapsco Valley State Park, which is managed by the managing agency. Closure and advisory data on this page comes from the agency. Always confirm against the park's own page before driving — emergency closures can post faster than scrapers refresh.