Cromwell Valley Park and Nature Center
2175 Cromwell Bridge Rd Parkville, MD 21234
Sunrise to sunset (Nature Center hours vary).
$
indoor-activities, outdoor-adventures, hikes
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An outdoor adventure for the whole family awaits at Cromwell Valley Park.
Cromwell Valley Park is a 426-acre park just north of Baltimore. The park was developed after the purchase of 3 adjacent family farms and is now home to hiking trails, an abandoned Lime Kiln, the Willow Grove Nature Education Center and a Children’s Garden,
The park and its grounds are an excellent habitat for local wildlife, particularly birds of prey which feed on large populations of mice, rabbits and other small mammals. Animal lovers can also spot deer, red fox and local birds throughout the park. Several miles of trails traverse the park making it popular among local hikers, birdwatchers and photographers. The park even has a beginner’s orienteering course with 10 control points, totaling 1.5 miles in length.
The Willow Grove Nature Education Center, operated by the Baltimore County Department of Recreation and Parks and located in the renovated Willow Grove Farmhouse, offers programs about nature, farming, local history and conservation awareness. Exhibits include live amphibians, reptiles and hands-on natural history displays.
The half-acre Children's Garden is a great place for kids to learn the value of getting their hands dirty. School groups are welcomed in spring and fall to plant and harvest fruits and vegetables. In the summer children come from local summer camps to observe frogs, butterflies and birds attracted by the plants and pond.
On the grounds, you’ll also find the original Sherwood House, constructed in 1935 for Mr. Donald Henry Sherwood and his wife, Frances Wellington Sherwood. The English manor-style mansion has 27 rooms, including five bedroom suites, eight bathrooms, five fireplaces, and living quarters for up to four servants. The house serves as the Park office and contains a meeting room which may be used, for a fee, by county and school groups, as well as some non-profits. Enquire at the office about the availability (and for a quick sneak peek of some of the history just outside the office’s doors).
Parking is abundant and there is no fee for entry to the grounds or nature center. The layout of the park does not make it stroller friendly so baby-wearing is the best choice for infants and young toddlers.
The park is open daily from sunrise to sunset. The nature center is open Tuesday through Sunday from 9 am - 4 pm. (Nature center hours can change depending on events and staffing, so be sure to call ahead if you want to ensure you can enter!) There is a bathroom available when the nature center is open.