Explore the natural beauty of Maryland by bike. As off-road, family-friendly bike paths have increased in popularity, cycling has become a safe and healthy way to exercise out-of-doors and enjoy the beauty of nature. In Maryland, cyclists are fortunate to have access to a range of paved and unpaved recreational trails throughout some of the state's most scenic landscapes. Cycle Maryland is your guide to the best of these trails. A lifelong Maryland resident and avid cyclist, Bryan MacKay has biked all twenty-three rides in this guide-some of them dozens of times. From abandoned railroad rights-of-way, like the Great Allegheny Passage, to dedicated paved paths through urban areas, like the Capital Crescent Trail and Jones Falls Trail, the rides listed here offer excellent opportunities to observe the wonders of nature. An experienced naturalist, MacKay describes the flora and fauna you might encounter along the way. With maps, trail descriptions, short nature essays, and beautiful photographs, this illuminating guide is loaded with helpful information-and is slim enough to carry along in your pack or pannier while you ride. Cycle Maryland is a companion guide to Hike Maryland and Paddle Maryland.

Explore the natural beauty of Maryland on foot. Maryland affords a rich variety of natural places for residents and visitors to enjoy, from the Chesapeake shores through expansive Piedmont farmland to the Appalachian Plateau. And whether you're headed to the seashore or the mountains, there are few better ways to experience these landscapes than on foot. With its excellent system of public lands-including national parks, state parks and forests, and even privately owned tracts open to the public-Maryland offers ample opportunities for hikers to find easy walks, challenging trails, and outstanding views. In Hike Maryland, Bryan MacKay takes you on twenty-five exceptional trips on the footpaths of the Free State. Drawing on his decades of experience as an avid hiker, lifelong Marylander, and expert naturalist, MacKay has assembled a list of the best hikes in the state. His beautifully illustrated guide tells you how to find the trails, describes the flowers and wildlife you'll see along the way, and shares sensible advice about such concerns as ticks and poisonous snakes. Each individual trail guide includes key information, a map, and background on the natural history and ecology of the park, forest, or preserve, and offers a brief essay featuring a local plant, animal, or environmental issue. Whether you are venturing out on a solo trek on the Appalachian Trail, hiking with friends through Patapsco Valley State Park, or heading to Assateague Island with your family, this book will be an invaluable resource on your journeys. Hike Maryland is a companion guide to Cycle Maryland and Paddle Maryland.

Explore the natural beauty of Maryland by water. With the Chesapeake Bay-the largest estuary in the United States-the Potomac, Monocacy, and Patapsco Rivers, and countless streams, creeks, swamps, and marshes, Maryland is an ideal locale for people to take to the water and enjoy the natural beauty of the Free State. In Paddle Maryland, lifelong Marylander and devoted paddler Bryan MacKay presents twenty-two of his favorite canoe and kayak trips. From lazy floats down the Potomac to swamp excursions on the Eastern Shore, each trip has been selected for its incredible scenery and ample opportunities to observe nature. Included are both tidal and nontidal paddling trips, and MacKay, an ecologist, describes the wildlife and vegetation you will encounter along the way. Considering biodiversity, conservation, and climate change, MacKay also discusses what these issues mean for Maryland's waterways and their inhabitants. With its beautiful illustrations and wealth of practical advice and information, this indispensable guide will appeal to all who love to explore the natural wonders of Maryland with a paddle in their hands. Paddle Maryland is a companion guide to Hike Maryland and Cycle Maryland.

From Assateague to Swallow Falls, from the Susquehanna River Trail to Rock Creek Park, Maryland offers residents and visitors a wealth of recreational opportunities in a remarkable variety of natural settings. Bryan MacKay's Hiking, Cycling, and Canoeing in Maryland has been the essential guide to outdoor recreation in the state's parks, preserves, and waterways for more than a decade.

A lifelong resident of Maryland, MacKay combines in this book his love of outdoor activities and his knowledge of the places, plants, and animals of the region. For each of the 23 walks, 16 bicycle rides, and 19 canoe trips, he includes general information on the natural history and ecology of the site and a short essay that focuses on a topic of special interest -- a particular plant or animal or an important conservation issue. Along with maps and detailed directions for each outing, the book also features beautiful pen-and-ink drawings by Sandy Glover of the Irvine Natural Science Center.

The second edition provides updated information on the Capital Crescent Trail, North Point State Park (Black Marsh), Soldiers Delight Natural Environmental Area, and the Susquehanna River Trail, as well as current contact information for all parks and preserves.