Gwynns Falls and Leakin Park, Maryland

Gwynns Falls/Leakin Park is a long park that stretches from the west side of Baltimore out to Howard County. The park is over 1200 acres large. We hiked one small part of the park, though some of us were more enthusiastic than others. 

"Why am I here?" can be a practical and not existential question

We started at a parking area near Franklintown. Our hike started by crossing Dead Run, perhaps not the most auspicious place to begin. The park is famous outside of Baltimore only to fans of HBO's The Wire and/or the podcast Serial, both of which make it look like a bad place, or at least a place where bad stuff happens. Oh yeah, some of The Blair Witch Project was filmed here too.

We were undaunted and headed in.

Going to the bridge and not looking back

Dead Run

On the other side of the run is Cardin Pavilion, an area to have a bigger picnic if you've got a large group. We didn't stop, and I only managed to take a picture of it because I saw this fascinating V-shape tree trunk.

One tree with two minds about where to go

We crossed another bridge and headed over to an old structure.

"You guys go on ahead and check for danger!"

Leakin Park was originally part of an estate owned by Thomas Winans in the mid-1800s. His father was part of the B&O Railway and young Thomas headed to Russia to make his fortune. He worked on the rail line from St. Petersburg to Moscow. He earned a lot of money and married a Russian woman, whom he brought back to America. He called his estate Crimea in honor of the land that made him wealthy enough to afford it. Our first discovery of the estate was the old ice house and root cellar.

Who needs an ice house in late November?

The hike took us up the hill along the Old Fort Trail. The trail includes an old fort rampart and what looks like a furnace or fireplace.

Ancient civilization by American standards

This area is particularly wooded and did not feel like it was in Baltimore at all. Plenty of downed trees caught our eyes.

Down the hill, even!

One massive fallen tree became a rest stop.

Too big to haul away

More contemplation

We saw the ruins of a cistern nearby , as well as our first glimpse of the estate house.

No more water here

The estate house in the trees

A few more switchbacks led us to the home of the Winans. The Crimea Mansion is a large house and well decorated. Local signs told us it was Russian Imperial Style.

First close up view

Unfortunately, my youngest son accidentally swallowed a hard candy he was sucking on. His upset face was not about the house or the prospect of touring it. He was fine after a few harrowing minutes of trying to swallow.

Side view of the house

Front door

Back porches!

The backyard and the back of the house look down to the parking lot where our car was. The view must be amazing from the house. We even saw a viewing area on the top of the house.

The highest part

The grounds have a lot of old trees, some of which have seen better days.

Maybe a victim of lightening?

Nearby the house is an old-style labyrinth. When I say "old style" I mean the Victorian style, where it switches back and forth to create a long walk in a small area. Not "ancient style" with a minotaur in the middle!

A promise of Grecian adventure?

Easy to get over the walls here, hard to get lost

Proof of the recent construction

No creature in the middle, and no reward either

We missed out on the art in the park since our exploration ended here. Maybe we will go back another time.