Cromwell Valley Barrens and Willow Grove

This is a wonderful up and down and down and up trail. There’s some fun flat sections and lots of hidden canopy so Year round enjoyment. From the Willow Grove Nature Center, follow the paved area past the barnotoreum up the red trail (Willow Grove). This will open up to the meadow loop but you’ll just keep on the red trail. You’ll turn right and keep heading uphill. This is an old service road so in sections you’ll see fragments of asphalt. Keep heading uphill and you’ll find a bench at the top of the hill. Take a moment to take a break (and if you’re participating in nature quest you’ve reached a marker https://www.wegmans.com/content/dam/wegmans/pdf/ewlw/Baltimore-County-passport.pdf). While you really can go either way on this lollipop loop, we tend to go to the right and allow the kiddos to run on this flat section. There’s a little bit of open area and we get some sunshine here occasionally. When you reach a Loch Raven parcel sign, turn left. At your next intersection turn right to move onto the Barrens Trail. Follow this trail as it zig zags along. To stay on the trail you won’t need to venture into loch raven parcel. When you see a bench, you’ll soon reach a water crossing. This is a summertime splash favorite! Lots of sticks and rocks to throw. To return, follow the trail on the other side of the stream as it meanders then once again crosses. You’ll find a lovely bench to sit upon prior to the short but steep uphill section (typically we carry or promise treats on this small section as they have been walking for awhile now). Follow the flat section to the right and loop back around again to the red trail. Again, we tent to turn right onto the red trail but you can go either way. One you reach the bench again head back down to the trail to the car, or check out the nature center and it’s wonderful staff and programs.