Patapsco Valley State Park · Howard County, MD
Cascade Falls
Patapsco Valley's marquee short hike — a steady climb alongside a stream to a small but photogenic waterfall. Park at the Hilton Area lot off South Street in Catonsville (the gated developed area on the south side of the river).
Live · updated
Today
Great day for hiking.
Primary activity: hiking
78 /100
Great Trail: prime
AQI 34
Conditions
Air temp
48°F
Clear
Wind
3 to 7 mph
NE
Rain
0%
Last 48h: 0.00″
Trail
prime
dirt surface
Sunset
7:55 PM
1268 min daylight left
Moon
Waxing Gibbous
76% illuminated
Air quality
AQI 34
O3 · Good
Score by activity
Hiking
Ideal 48–75°F
78/100
Great day for hiking.
Trail running
Ideal 42–65°F
79/100
Great day for trail running.
Dog walking
Ideal 40–72°F
77/100
Great day for dog walking.
Score breakdown
- ✓ 48°F air — Right in hiking's ideal range
- ✓ AQI 34 — Clean air
- ✓ Trail: prime — No meaningful rain in the last 48 hours. Trail surface is dry and tacky — prime traction.
Trail facts
- Distance
- 2.4 mi round-trip
- Elevation gain
- 300 ft
- Surface
- dirt
- Difficulty
- moderate
- Typical crowds
- heavy
- Dogs
- Leash required
Trailhead
Parking
Trailhead lot · day-use fee. Weekends fill the Hilton lot by 10 AM.
Facilities
Bathrooms , drinking water. Service fee at the Hilton Area gate in season.
Coordinates
39.2447, -76.7773 — Howard County, MD.
Park
Part of Patapsco Valley State Park (official site →).