Quiet Waters Park, Annapolis
Annapolis
has many attractions. More than just
historic buildings, the state capital of Maryland
is flourishing with activity. People
enjoy walking the narrow streets window shopping or just stopping-in for bites
to eat. Many fine restaurants and
nightclubs are all over. Adding a somewhat
romantic flavor, white or black uniformed Naval
Academy cadets walk to and fro,
reminding people of national pride and times when they themselves were
younger. The place everyone who visits
seems to get to is the harbor area.
People go there to see and be seen.
Even the boaters, coming back from a day on the bay or just trying to
beat the auto traffic by coming from shoreline properties, cruise by on
weekends in the evening hours.
Getting
There
From
the Capital Beltway (I-495), take John Hanson Hwy.,
Rte. 50 north toward Annapolis. After approximately 17 miles from the
beltway, take exit 22 for Aris
T. Allen Blvd. (Rte. 665) east. After approximately 2 miles, bear right onto Forest
Drive. After 3 miles turn right on Hillsmere
Drive. Look for the sign for Quiet
Waters Park
on your right and enter the park. Pay
the entrance fee at the gate house. The
road splits and becomes one-way. Where it joins again, bear left, then immediately right again after
passing the pond. Proceed 0.4
miles more to parking for Picnic Area N, the last before the road ends at a
circle.
Area
Routes
Quiet
Waters (4.2 miles, III)
Save
the lively attractions of Annapolis
for later. First, get
a quieter experience touring Quiet
Waters Park. Most of the land at waters edge around Annapolis
is privately owned. The park on Harness
Creek near the mouth of the South River gives people a
chance to see some of it. The park is
quite wooded. Various sculptures are
scattered about and are changed annually.
Summer outdoor concerts are held on Saturdays at 6PM or 5:30PM
depending upon the season. A garden, an
ice rink, playground and many picnic areas are other attractions. Paved trails connect to make a sort of loop
around the park. Other spur trails go to
the water=s edge.
Starting
at picnic area N, almost at the end of the park road, go clockwise on the
bicycle path. An out and back path to
the South River will appear on your right very soon after starting off and is a
good place to go for a warm-down. A
bluff overlooking the river at the end of the spur,
makes a nice place to watch the sailboats go by. An area where the trail goes between a pretty
row of trees is where an older park road used to
exist. After crossing the park road and
hitting a trail at a T, turn right until you hit another T intersection just
before the pond near the garden and ice rink.
A fitness course gives you a chance to do more than observe the
surroundings. The trail gradually climbs
as it gets nearer the park entrance.
Before getting there, pass along a small wetlands area. After crossing Quiet
Waters Park Dr. the trail returns, winds more and
heads more downward. Some other side
trails are for hikers only. The paved
trail does get close to the water briefly just before completing the loop.
Nearby
and Connecting Zones
Baltimore
and Annapolis Trail - Boulter=s
Way
Foxhill
Park, Bowie,
Maryland
What
to do Afterward
Food
and Drink
Jo=s Deli - Jo's Deli - (410) 263‑1818
Ming
Dynasty Restaurant
Middleton
Tavern - (410) 263‑3323
Entertainment
and Edification
Historic
Annapolis -
Quiet
Waters Concert Series (410 222-1777)
William
Paca House & Garden - (410) 263‑5553
Hammond
Harwood House - (410) 263‑4683
Chesapeake
Children's Museum - (410) 266‑0677
Quiet Waters
Distance: 4.2 miles
Rating: III; paved and wooded trails with
some small hills and grades
L 0.0 from
the Picnic Area N parking lot, follow the small spur trail to the loop trail
and turn L to go counter-clockwise on the loop
0.15 South
River Overlook trail on R
0.2 restrooms
on L
CR 0.65 cross
the park road & turn R at the T
0.75 Rd
X; L is return route
R 0.85 at
T before the pond; cross the park road
1.8 trail
X on R to park exit
1.85 cross
Quiet Waters Park Dr
(unmarked); trail start marker
2.3 trail
X on L
2.8 trail
X on L
2.85 Mile
Mark 1
2.95 trail
X on L
L 3.25 to
stay on bike path; Wildwood Trail is S (hikers only, composting demo)
L 3.35 to
stay on bike path; Harness Creek Trail is S (hikers only)
BR 3.4 merge
w/road; behind Visitor Center
R 3.55 bike
path before park road
3.6 trail
X on L crosses park road
R 3.65 at
T to stay on bike path; L is to Picnic >L= parking
3.85 overlook
of Harness Creek
4.0 trail
X on L to Picnic >L= parking
L 4.2 to
Picnic N parking; loop complete
