Josh TalksHARFORD
Wooded paved trail winding through forest
trail

Ma & Pa Heritage Trail

The Ma & Pa Heritage Trail is a paved and crushed-stone rail-to-trail path that follows the historic Maryland & Pennsylvania Railroad corridor through Bel Air and surrounding wooded stream valleys.

Official Website Get Directions Back to Bel Air

At a Glance

Length
~7+ miles across two sections
Surface
Paved & crushed stone
Difficulty
Easy
Dogs
Leashed dogs welcome
Best for
Walking, running, biking, strollers

Key Details

Schedule
Open daily, dawn to dusk, year-round.
Location
Multiple trailheads including Tollgate Rd, Williams St, Friends Park
Bel Air / Forest Hill, MD directions
Admission
Free.
Parking
Free at all main trailheads.

About Ma & Pa Heritage Trail

The trail runs in two sections totaling more than seven miles, with the Bel Air section beginning near Williams Street and Tollgate Road. Expect stream crossings, wooden boardwalks, and easy grades — it's popular with runners, families with strollers, and cyclists on hybrid bikes.

Trailheads at Friends Park, Annie's Playground, and Tollgate Road all offer parking. The Heritage Trail Association organizes cleanups and guided walks throughout the year.

Video Tour

A short video tour will live here. Drop a YouTube or Vimeo embed into this slot when you have footage of Ma & Pa Heritage Trail.

Video coming soon

Insider Tips

  • The Williams Street trailhead is the easiest access from downtown Bel Air.
  • The northern section from Friends Park is the most scenic for a longer walk.
  • Bring bug spray in high summer — the wooded sections hold mosquitoes at dusk.
Visit the official site
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