trailstatus

MPEA: Trail Status

Beginning June 28, 2003

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Trail Status Information

[Explanation: The “Al Geis Loop” consisting of “Sierra Slope,” “River Walk,” and “Naturist Lane” is called “Wildllife Loop Interpretive Nature Trail” by DPR (Department of Recreation and Parks, Howard County). The DPR’s trail markers posts are labeled P1 through P17 in some the following descriptions. DPR added a side trail to the original trail and re-routed the lower section of Sierra Slope to join River Walk farther upriver.]

Updated: June 28, 2003

General: Trails are easy to follow except for one area along River Walk. Keep close to the river when in doubt. All trails have sections that have overhanging vegetation, including briars and poison ivy (= no naked legs!), and muddy sections (however, only minor for the most part) especially the re-routed section of Sierra Slope to River Walk. Mosquitos are abundant on the lower section of the re-routed Sierra Slope.
Contact with vegetation enhances opportunities to pick up ticks. Do a thorough and complete body check after you leave the trail. If you are not familiar with the very tiny deer tick (bites can lead to the very serious Lyme disease), you should not be hiking this area.

Specifics (“P” numbers are the trail markers)

Sierra Slope:
+ Missing markers: P1, P2 (trail markers for “Connector Trail” per DPR map are in place), P4.
+ Tall grass on initial section
+ The slide loop show on the DRP (P3-P5) is especially bad with vegetation overhang and fallen trees.
+ Fallen trees (easy walk-around) between beginning and end of side loop.
+The re-routed section (from bench in center of trail to river; P7 to P11) has muddy section near river and the mosquitoes are bad.

River Walk:
+ Missing markers: P12
+ Tall grass and vegetation overhang
+ Tail direction obscure at one point – keep close to river when in doubt
+ Muddy area around P10 and mosquitoes are bad.

Naturist Lane:
+ The small stream (between P15 and P16) has left its previous course and follows the trail for a short distance
+ The concrete wading pool (P16) has reverted to its mud puddle status, being mostly filled with sediment.
+ The “first outdoor education classroom” (P17) is overgrown
+ Tree and vines down on trail just beyond P17.

Updated July 5, 2003

Naturist Lane has been cleared of major obstacles. Quite probably the other sections of the Al Geis Loop have been also so cleared, but were not inspected. See June 28, 2003 update for additional detail. If you visit the trail, please leave trail conditions and comments in the Guest List (available from Index page)

July 9, 2005

The upper sections (only) of the loop trail are suitable for walking/hiking. The lower section along the river is hardly a trail at all.

These sections correspond to Sierra Slope and Naturist Lane for the open sections and River Walk for the section which is not reasonable accessible. (See independent trail guide.) Sierra Slope is essentially from post 1 to post 10 on the trail guide published by the Howard County Department of Recreation and Parks. Naturist Lane is form post 1 to near 14. The section between about post 10 and 14 is the River Walk section.

Naturist Lane from post 1 toward and to 17 is in the best condition; beyond there is generally not bad until one reaches near the river. Both Naturist Lane and especially Sierra Slope have sections of foot-tall grass and weeds and frequent over-hanging vegetation.

An excellent aerial photograph is posted at the parking lot. The “Conservation Area” (no established trails) is clearly marked. The abundance of trail guides may be directly related to the obvious decreased use of the trial in recent times. Initially and previously, various individuals and groups assisted in establishing and maintaining the loop trail. The Columbia Area Naturists was the group most persistent is seeing that the trail stayed open for hikes, through their own efforts and in coordinating the efforts of other. Sadly, none of these groups are acknowledged in the DRP’s trail guide.

For those familiar with the initial trail layout and history, the following may be of interest.

The original trail continued from the bench near post 7 on Sierra Slope to the river. It approached the prettiest section of the river indirectly, avoiding an area which was frequently wet. Subsequently the trail was rerouted by DPR (posts 7 through 11) through a steeper section and by-passing the “pretty spot.” The lowest section of the original Sierra Slope is impassable and a trail outline exists through the wet area.
River Walk is sometimes non-existent, and largely overgrown. A trail outline exists in some sections, but considerably removed from the river and in tall grass.

Initially the loop trail provided a loop with a section along the Middle Patuxent River. Now there is no loop and no trail to the river! Nevertheless, walking Naturist Lane and Sierra Slope is a joy.

Updated July 9, 2005

Updated Aug 4, 2007

Sierra Slope and Naturist Lane (the two branches that go to the river) are in reasonable condition. River Walk is not. One may prefer long socks or pants, as opposed to shorts, because of tall grass and weeds in some sections along Naturist Lane.

The Al Geis Loop Trail has been widened by parks department so that it can be machined mowed and maintained. This detracts somewhat from the “romantic” setting of a walk in the woods, but is certainly better than overgrown trails.

Most of River Walk has been abandoned in favor of following the sewer line. This has not been mowed recently. It has tall grass and weeds and an uneven walking surface. Some of the original trail may be followed, especially from the end of Sierra Slope upriver. Locate it at river edge.

Sierra Slope was modified long ago so that it does not go directly to the river. The original trail is mostly intact to the river, however. The last part of this section no longer follows the original path that lead to the river without encountering areas that are wet much of the time. At present however, wetness is not a problem.