Swimming at McKeldin Park

With most local pools closed (or only open to that particular community's residents), we've had to be more creative about finding ways to go swimming in the summer. The internet told us that McKeldin Area in the Patapsco Valley State Park has a beach where visitors could swim in the Patapsco River.

We parked as close as we could and hiked down to the river. The trail had some signs with good advice--don't swim in the rapids! Maybe we would have figured that out on our own.

On the way in

A little overlook showed us the forbidden area.

Rapids

The unzoomed view

Down by the water, even the beach didn't look that swimmer friendly.

The end of the rapids

The beach area was already loaded with people. We walked farther down the path until we found a more isolated spot where we could get in the river. The shore had no beach, which was probably why no people were there.

Rocky but not rapids

Hanging out in the shade on the rocks in the water

This part of the river was fairly peaceful and had an island that was clearly frequented by geese or other birds. We could tell by the droppings on the little sand bar. We called it Goose Poop Island.

More river, no pictures of the island

We swam enough down the river that we had to get back on the trail to get our stuff. The trail was cut through the underbrush, and even through a fallen log!

Not a natural formation

The children enjoyed swimming in the river. For me, the bottom was too rocky for comfort. Maybe if I had water shoes I would have been okay. I'm not sure that we'll go back.

More river