Piney Run Park and Nature Center

Piney Run Park and Nature Center

30 Martz Road, Sykesville, MD 21784
(410) 795-5165

Piney Run Park and Nature Center, located near Sykesville, is operated by the Carroll County Department of Parks and Recreation. The park has 550 acres of fields, forest, and open space, with over five miles of hiking trails, a 300-acre lake, and recreational facilities. The lake was created in the 1970s by damming Piney Run, which is a tributary of the South Branch Patapsco River.

Piney Run Park is the far and away the #1 eBird hotspot in Carroll County, with 249+ species reported; there are only 172+ species tallied at the #2 spot,  Morgan Run Natural Area.

Much of the park acreage remains in a natural state, with dense deciduous woodlands traversed by small streams and some open fields. The visitor amenities and the named trails are on the west side of the lake, accessed fromWhite Rock Road via Martz Road, which goes east and dead-ends at the lake. A well-developed trail system enables birders to access all areas in the main part of the park . See the trail map at the link at left for details.

There are also trails that run up and down the east side of the lake, accessed from a parking area and trail head where Martz Road dead-ends on the east side of the lake. (Martz  Road used to be a through-road, but was cut off when Piney Run was dammed to create the lake, so Martz Road has two dead-ends, one on each side of the lake). The County Parks and Recreation Department provides a map of this area (see link at left) and refers to the area as “equestrian trails,” but you don’t need a horse to go there. The east shore trails may be less crowded and noisy, particularly in summer.

The Piney Run Nature Center was completed in 1981 and is staffed by Park Naturalists and volunteers. It offers programs throughout the year for a variety of schools and youth and community organizations. Birthday parties, summer camp, conservation programs, wildlife exhibits, and specialized classes are available to the public. Along with exhibits, there is a children’s room for exploration and learning.

Visitor activities and amenities include fishing, boating, boat rentals, park-sponsored fishing tournaments, tennis courts, playgrounds, a climbing rock, picnic tables and pavilions, and comfort stations. There is no swimming or wading. Prior to being a park, this land was a private farm.

Birdlife:

Over 249 species have been reported on eBird from Piney Run Park, making it the #1 eBird hotspot in Carroll County. On the lake, waterfowl abound in winter, including Tundra Swan, Wood, American Black, Ring-necked, and Ruddy Ducks,  Gadwall, American Wigeon, Canvasback, Lesser and Greater Scaup, Bufflehead, Hooded Merganser, and Common Merganser. There are also Pied-billed and Horned Grebes, Double-breasted Cormorant, and American Coot. The commonly seen winter gulls are Bonaparte’s, Ring-billed, American Herring, and Great Black-backed, with occasional rarities. Caspian and Black Terns occur over short periods in spring and late summer; Forster’s and Common may be present, especially in fall. American and Fish Crows are numerous throughout the year. In warm seasons, there are swallows, including Purple Martin, Northern Rough-winged, Tree, Bank, Barn, and Cliff. There s also a selection of herons and egrets in the warm months.

In the woods, be alert for owls — Eastern Screech, Great Horned, and Barred. All the local woodpeckers can be found, as can many flycatchers: Eastern Wood-Peewee, Eastern Phoebe, Great Crested, Acadian, Willow, Eastern Kingbird. In spring and fall, migration brings a wide assortment of warblers, with a total 34 species reported, including some breeders such as Ovenbird, Worm-eating, Common Yellowthroat, Northern Parula, Yellow, and Pine.

Rusty Blackbirds, which have been experiencing population declines in the east, may be found in wet areas in late spring and fall. Yellow-breasted Chat, Eastern Meadowlarks, both Orchard and Baltimore Orioles, Red-winged Blackbirds, Brown-headed Cowbirds, and Common Grackles are all regular. Bobolinks may be found sporadically.

A small population of Veery is present in the warm months, along with the numerous American Robins, Eastern Bluebirds, and Wood Thrushes. Hermit Thrushes spend the winter, and Gray-cheeked and Swainson’s migrate through.

Breeding sparrows include Grasshopper, Chipping, Field, Chipping, Field, Song, and Eastern Towhee. Wintering sparrows include American Tree, Fox, White-crowned, White-throated, Savannah, and Swamp. Lincoln’s Sparrows are found during fall migration.

Wintering species also include Golden- and Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Winter Wren, and Brown Creeper, and Purple Finch. Some winters bring White-winged Crossbill, Common Redpoll, Evening Grosbeak, and Pine Siskin.

Wheelchair Access:

The natural surface trails at Piney Run are not wheelchair-accessible. However, the paved road system within the park allows good birding from or near the car. There is also good viewing of the lake from the boat launch area.

Pet Policy:

Pets are allowed in the park but must be on a leash at all times; leashes must be no more than 6 feet long. You must clean up after your pet. Pets are not allowed to swim in the lake (neither can humans).

Special Features:

Piney Run Nature Center offers a myriad of programs, hikes, kayak tours, bird walks, fishing tournaments, and festivals throughout the year.

Local MOS Chapter:

The local chapter of the Maryland Ornithological Society is the Carroll County Bird Club, which offers field trips and meetings with informative programs, all free and open to the public.

Multimedia:

A video tour of the park is available at http://ccgovernment.carr.org/ccg/recpark/pineyrun/.

Parking:

Paved lots throughout developed areas of the park on the western shore of the lake; one lot on the eastern shore at the end of Martz Road.

Directions:

From Baltimore: From I-695/Baltimore Beltway, take Exit 18 for MD Route 26/Liberty Road westbound. Follow Liberty Road past Liberty Reservoir and continue through Eldersburg. Go straight through the intersection of Liberty Road and MD Route 32/Sykesville Road. Continue on Liberty Road for approximately 3 more miles and then turn left (south) onto White Rock Road. Go 1.8 miles and turn left (east) onto Martz Road, and continue straight ahead to the park entrance.

From Frederick: Take I-70 east for about 22 miles to Exit 26 for MD Route 97/Hoods Mill Road northbound. Continue north for 4.8 miles on MD Route 97, which will become Old Washington Road. Turn right (east) onto West Obrecht Road and go approximately 0.8 mile to White Rock Road. Turn left (north) onto White Rock Road, and in 0.7 miles turn right (east) onto Martz Road. Continue straight ahead to the park entrance.

To reach the eastern shore trailhead: From the main part of the park on the western shore, turn right onto White Rock Road and go north to MD Route 26/Liberty Road. Turn right to go east on Liberty for 1.3 miles, then turn left to take Martz Road south and then west to the trailhead parking area.

Nearby Sites:

Carroll County: Avondale Wildlife Management Area ◾ Hashawha Environmental Center / Bear Branch Nature Center ◾ Krimgold Park ◾ Liberty Reservoir Cooperative Wildlife Management Area – Bollinger Mill Road ◾Morgan Run Natural Environmental Area ◾ Patapsco Valley State Park – McKeldin Area ◾ Wakefield Valley Park

Habitats:

Bottomland Deciduous ForestsConifersHedgerowsUpland Deciduous Forests Lawn, Ballfields, Golf Course Old Fields, Shrubby Meadows Freshwater Marsh or FloodplainFreshwater Pond, Lake, or ReservoirRivers & Streams

Features:

Ball Fields or Other SportsBeginnersBicycle Trails (Bikes may be prohibited on some trails)Bird Feeding StationBoat or Canoe/Kayak LaunchBoat RentalsFishingFree - No Entry Fee on Some Days or Parts of YearHiking/Walking TrailsHorseback RidingNature Education ProgramsParkingPets AllowedPicnic AreaPlaygroundRestroomsVisitor Center, Interpretive Displays, ExhibitsWater ViewWheelchair Accessible FeaturesYoung People / Families

Type:

#1 Hotspot in County or CityCounty ParksNature CentersPonds, Lakes, and Reservoirs