# Patapsco Valley State Park: Avalon Swinging Bridge & Scenic Winter Cascade Falls Trails > Place to go for families in the Baltimore–Columbia–Towson area (MD). Times are Eastern Time. - When: Open daily 9:00 AM to sunset; Avalon and Orange Grove areas accessible year-round… - Dates: Sun, Nov 1 – Sun, Feb 28 - Where: Patapsco Valley State Park - Avalon Area, 5120 South St, Halethorpe, MD 21227 - Ages: All ages; paved Grist Mill Trail ideal for strollers and wagons; child-friendly low-grade trail to Cascade Falls - Price: Maryland residents $3 per vehicle on weekends/holidays ($2 weekdays); Non-residents $5 per vehicle ($4 weekdays) - Schedule: Open daily 9:00 AM to sunset; Avalon and Orange Grove areas accessible year-round (weather permitting) - Organizer: Maryland Department of Natural Resources - Official page: https://dnr.maryland.gov/publiclands/pages/central/patapsco.aspx - Last checked: Thu, Nov 5 Source: Grassy Knees is a directory of real family events, places and programs for kids across major U.S. metro areas, where every listing is researched from the organizer’s own page and shows the date we last checked it. https://grassyknees.com covers 42 metro areas as of Nov 11, 2026, with more added regularly. About: https://grassyknees.com/about Freshness: listings are re-checked on a daily research run (latest check 2026-11-10), and new events are added as organizers post them. Sell-outs, weather cancellations and time changes show up on the live page first: https://grassyknees.com/baltimore/activities/patapsco-valley-state-park-avalon-swinging-bridge-and-scenic-winter-ca--listing-a20d3134ff882d227202a00c ## About Spanning 32 miles of the scenic Patapsco River valley southwest of Baltimore, Patapsco Valley State Park is Maryland's first state park. The Avalon and Orange Grove recreation areas are premier winter hiking hubs for families, featuring the iconic pedestrian swinging suspension bridge that gently bounces across the rushing waters of the river. Families with strollers or toddlers can stroll the paved 2.5-mile Grist Mill Trail, which runs flat along the riverbank past historic stone mill foundations, frozen river rapids, and active water birds. Slightly more adventurous families can cross the footbridge to hike the short, kid-friendly trail up to Cascade Falls, which often transforms into glistening ice formations in freezing weather. Heated restrooms are located at the Avalon shelter area, with plentiful picnic tables and scenic riverside resting spots. ## Similar picks in Baltimore - [Howard County Conservancy: Historic Farm Sanctuary, Live Owls & Winter Nature Trails](https://grassyknees.com/baltimore/activities/howard-county-conservancy-historic-farm-sanctuary-live-owls-and-winter--listing-655d08be4d78f23345720c26) — Trails open daily dawn to dusk; Gudelsky Nature Center open Mon–Sat 9:00 AM–3:00 PM… · Howard County Conservancy at Mt. Pleasant, Woodstock · All ages · Free · checked Nov 5. Spanning 232 acres of rolling pastures, historic 18th-century stone farmhouses, and tranquil woodland valleys in Woodstock, the Howard County Conservancy at Mt. 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