bikerRob
June 13th, 2005, 06:19 AM
6/13/05 >> I took a ride at Fairhill yesterday (Sunday) and thought I'd post up on the conditions. As I had expected conditions there were great! Right now all the folliage is in bloom. This place is really beautiful in the summer...Oh, thats right, it's not summer yet. :-) If you think you might want to take that long drive out to Fairhill than here's some things you might want to consider. A lot of the folliage that is near the single track is of the thorny variety...and much of it hangs out over the trails. Sometimes getting scratched is unavoidable. Many of the trails that pass through fields have been cut because of the equestrian event a couple weeks ago...others are uncut and a lot of the field grass is high. For the most part, riding was a joy!
I was surprised to see that MORE no longer list Fairhill in it's "Places to ride" menu. Because of this I thought I'd give a quick description on "how to get there".
From South of Baltimore: Take Rt95 north past Baltimore toward N.Y. From Baltimore beltway it is about an hour and 15 minute drive...aprox. Toll for the two way trip will cost you about $9.00 Get off at the exit for Elkton (Md.) / Newark (Del.) You will see a sign on 95 telling you to take exit A. The sign is wrong. Take exit B towards Newark. After getting off on the exit (B) go about a mile and hang a left at the intersection with the Wawa store. Take that road down to the intersection with the blinking light...that is Appleton Rd. ..turn right there. Take Appleton all the way down to Rt. 273, there is a Shell gas station on the corner..make a left here. Go about a mile and a half and turn left on Gallaher Rd. Go another half mile...parking lot is on right. Parking fee $3.00 in state, $4.00, out of state. (Other trail head parking is on Appleton Rd.)
If you decide to go, here's some other things you might need to know. First, GET THE MAP! available from Md. DNR. The trails at Fairhill are a combination of wide double track equestion based trails and single track. Most of the trails I would rate as moderate...think Shaeffer Farms, although some of the single track can get tricky with the usual stuff like roots, rocks and horse doo. WIDE HANDLEBARS BEWARE! Some of the single track have some close set trees, be carefull. In all Fairhill is pretty large...I would estimate about 18 sq. miles, or 5,613 acres if you wish. That's why I said be sure to get the map cause it's REAL EASY TO GET LOST! During the summer heat it's best to keep to the forested areas. That's also where most of the single track is too. Special note: Big Elk Creek runs though much of the park and is a great place to cool off if things get too hot. Today, I saw a Copperhead on a trail down near the water so keep an eye open.( note: this is a first time sighting for a Copperhead...at least I think it was a Copperhead ) I'm just glad I didn't ride over it! More infomation available at the Park Office (410-398-1246) or from the Md. DNR web site. (another fun note: Some of the more technical single track now have signs that say, "This trail is unsafe for equestrian use". I think I kissed every one of those signs..:-)
I was surprised to see that MORE no longer list Fairhill in it's "Places to ride" menu. Because of this I thought I'd give a quick description on "how to get there".
From South of Baltimore: Take Rt95 north past Baltimore toward N.Y. From Baltimore beltway it is about an hour and 15 minute drive...aprox. Toll for the two way trip will cost you about $9.00 Get off at the exit for Elkton (Md.) / Newark (Del.) You will see a sign on 95 telling you to take exit A. The sign is wrong. Take exit B towards Newark. After getting off on the exit (B) go about a mile and hang a left at the intersection with the Wawa store. Take that road down to the intersection with the blinking light...that is Appleton Rd. ..turn right there. Take Appleton all the way down to Rt. 273, there is a Shell gas station on the corner..make a left here. Go about a mile and a half and turn left on Gallaher Rd. Go another half mile...parking lot is on right. Parking fee $3.00 in state, $4.00, out of state. (Other trail head parking is on Appleton Rd.)
If you decide to go, here's some other things you might need to know. First, GET THE MAP! available from Md. DNR. The trails at Fairhill are a combination of wide double track equestion based trails and single track. Most of the trails I would rate as moderate...think Shaeffer Farms, although some of the single track can get tricky with the usual stuff like roots, rocks and horse doo. WIDE HANDLEBARS BEWARE! Some of the single track have some close set trees, be carefull. In all Fairhill is pretty large...I would estimate about 18 sq. miles, or 5,613 acres if you wish. That's why I said be sure to get the map cause it's REAL EASY TO GET LOST! During the summer heat it's best to keep to the forested areas. That's also where most of the single track is too. Special note: Big Elk Creek runs though much of the park and is a great place to cool off if things get too hot. Today, I saw a Copperhead on a trail down near the water so keep an eye open.( note: this is a first time sighting for a Copperhead...at least I think it was a Copperhead ) I'm just glad I didn't ride over it! More infomation available at the Park Office (410-398-1246) or from the Md. DNR web site. (another fun note: Some of the more technical single track now have signs that say, "This trail is unsafe for equestrian use". I think I kissed every one of those signs..:-)