Greenway highlights in Maryland include the scenic Jones Falls Trail into Baltimore, the rural Torrey C. Brown trail north of Baltimore, and the B&A Trail leading delightfully to the port city of Annapolis.
Entering Maryland from the north at Newark, Delaware, the route heads west on road to connect a number of historic towns nestled along the northernmost reaches of the Chesapeake Bay, including Elkton, Charlestown, and Perryville, which is located right at the mouth of the Susquehanna River across the river from Havre de Grace.
VERY IMPORTANT ROUTE DETAILS: Traveling between Perryville and Havre de Grace takes careful consideration and planning. Note that there is NO PEDESTRIAN access over the Hatem Bridge. Susquehanna River crossing options are outlined below:
- BUS & BIKE: Harford Transit LINK Teal Line Route 5 bus service on weekdays only; up to 2 bicycles per bus between Havre de Grace and Perryville. Consider taking the bus between the McDonald's bus stop in Havre de Grace and the Perryville Train Station bus stop in Perryville. Check Harford County, MD Bus Routes page for more information on bus stop locations, schedule, and fare payment;
- MARC TRAIN access available only on weekdays between Perryville and Aberdeen stations, bikes can be carried onboard on all MARC trains until capacity is full;
- RIDE-HAILING taxi services located in Northeast and Aberdeen, also check for Uber/Lyft drivers in area (be sure to check for plus size vehicles to fit bicycles if needed);
- BICYCLE ACCESS on the Hatem Bridge is only allowed on Sundays and State holidays, between dawn and dusk, and only for the most confident and experienced cyclists who must be 18 or older. Note wide tires are recommended for traversing bridge expansion joints; cyclists should push the designated button before crossing -- located here when heading northbound from Havre de Grace; or located here when heading southbound from Perryville -- to activate warning lights for traffic to alert drivers to a cyclist on the road. Expect extremely high stress riding conditions in traffic with no shoulder space and do not ride in inclement weather/high winds. MdTA will also restrict access during inclement weather with updates at their website.
UPDATED RESTRICTIONS AS OF FEB. 23, 2024: Maryland Transportation Authority (MdTA) already prohibits biking on weekdays and it will also now prohibit biking on Saturdays during the authority's bridge painting project, estimated to continue through May 2026.
For more details and a schedule of the closures, see: https://mdta.maryland.gov/Toll_Facilities/Hatem_Bike_Access.html
Experienced cyclists looking to bike over the Hatem Bridge on Sundays should read through the Maryland Transportation Authority FAQs on the Thomas Hatem Bridge.
Once across the Susquehanna, Havre de Grace is a jewel on the river’s south shore, offering restaurants and lodging. Continuing west, travelers cross rural Harford County to Monkton and the first designated trail segment – the unpaved and forested Torrey C. Brown Rail Trail (also known as the Northern Central Rail Trail) — to Cockeysville. The Ashland Amish Market makes for a nice stop along the route.
Another on-road section connects to the Jones Falls Trail, which takes travelers down into Inner Harbor of Baltimore. The route linking Baltimore, Annapolis, and Washington, DC is one of the most complete sections of Greenway. Shorter on-road sections link together lengthy stretches of trails, including the BWI Trail, the Baltimore & Annapolis (B&A) Trail, and the Washington Baltimore & Annapolis (WB&A) Trail.
Connecting suburban communities into Washington, DC, is the northeast branch of the Anacostia Tributary trails, making the going easier and more scenic as the population density increases.
Traveling by train?
Quick tips when using Amtrak with your bike: Do your research in advance; each train line features different bike rack equipment and loading procedures. Check Amtrak for the latest and when in doubt: call the station if you have questions. Click for more: https://www.amtrak.com/bike
