Cascade Falls Trail (Patapsco Valley State Park) Hiking Guide
The Cascade Falls Trail is Hiking Project's top-rated hike in the Avalon and Orange Grove section of Patapsco Valley, Maryland's oldest state park. It leaves the Orange Grove parking area and follows a small tributary uphill past a run of little waterfalls, crossing the stream on rocks as it goes. Most people turn around at the falls; the trail continues to a second trailhead on Landing Road.
Permit: Patapsco Valley's Avalon and Orange Grove areas charge day use. From April through October it is $2 per vehicle on weekdays ($4 out of state) and $3 per person on weekends and holidays ($5 out of state); from November through March it is $2 per vehicle ($4 out of state).
Distance and Climb
Hiking Project measures the trail at 1.3 miles from Orange Grove to Landing Road, climbing 274 feet and dropping 29. Walked out and back, that is 2.6 miles with about 300 feet of gain. The grade is gentle but steady, and roots and rocks slow the stream crossings. On the park map the Cascade Trail is blazed blue and ends in a small loop, with connections to the Ridge, Old Track and Morning Choice trails if you want a longer day.
The Falls
This is not one big waterfall but a series of drops, the tallest around ten feet according to Hiking Project, each with a pool below it where people stop to wade. The trail is uphill the whole way out, so the walk back to Orange Grove is the easy half.
Orange Grove History
The parking lot and restroom sit where the Orange Grove company town stood, on the Howard County side of the river. Across the swinging bridge are the ruins of the Orange Grove flour mill, built in 1856, which burned in 1905. The park says that in the 1910s and 1920s campsites lined both sides of the Cascade Trail, free summer sites that only white Baltimore residents could reserve, and many families lived there all season while commuting to work by train.
Fees, Hours and Crowds
The park opens at 9 a.m. and closes at sunset. In season, weekend and holiday admission is charged per person and weekday admission per car; in winter it drops to a per-car fee. The Avalon and Orange Grove areas often fill to capacity on busy weekends and summer holidays, and the park asks large groups to arrive in one go. Get there early or come on a weekday.
Dogs and Hunting
Dogs are allowed in the Avalon and Orange Grove areas on a leash, with proof of rabies vaccination; pick up after them. The park permits archery deer hunting in designated sections, with daily sign-in, so bright clothing is a sensible choice on fall weekday mornings.
Hiking tips for Cascade Falls Trail (Patapsco Valley State Park)
- Arrive before mid-morning on weekends, when Orange Grove fills up.
- Wear shoes you do not mind getting wet at the rock crossings.
- Walk over the swinging bridge to see the mill ruins before or after the hike.
- Turn around at the falls or continue to Landing Road for the full trail.
- Carry a park map if you plan to link the Ridge or Morning Choice trails.
Nearby trails to explore
- Prettyboy Dam Loop (Gunpowder Falls State Park)
- King and Queen Seat Loop (Rocks State Park)
- Kilgore Falls Trail
Hike this trail with TrailMates
Cascade Falls is an easy first outing for a new group. Set one up on TrailMates for a weekday or an early weekend start, split cars in the event's group chat so you pay less at the gate, and meet by the Orange Grove restroom. Download TrailMates on the App Store or Google Play.