MA & PA Heritage Trail + Soup

Check back to see if the date or start time has changed. This ride will be postponed (possibly replaced with another ride) if the chance of rain is above 49%, or wind speed or wind gusts are above 15 mph (per Accuweather) TRAIN OR BUS STOPS unknown PARKING ADDRESS Annie’s Playground 864 Smith Lane, Fallston, MD Endpoint is Friends Park (or a little north of the park) PARKING AND MEETUP SPOT Park at Annie’s Playground parking lot 11:00-11:10. We’ll meet ear the trailhead, which is near the bathrooms, at 11:10. After check-in, we’ll do an icebreaker question. BIKE TRAIL INFO Link to the trail map: [Ma & Pa Trail.dgn](https://www.mapatrail.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Revised-Ma-Pa-Trail-Map-with-RR-Tracks.pdf) Trail pictures: [Ma & Pa Trail: Bel Air Section, Maryland - 1,318 Reviews, Map | AllTrails](https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/maryland/ma-pa-trail-bel-air-section) BIKE ROUTE SUMMARY This route starts at the southern end point at Annie’s Playground. The organizers plan to bike the full distance to the northern endpoint. Total known distance: \~8.0 miles, 557 +/- ft. The MA & PA Heritage Trail is located on portions of the former Maryland & Pennsylvania Railroad corridor in Bel Air and Forest Hill, Maryland (Harford County). It offers a scenic, gently rolling ride along a historic rail corridor, blending wooded landscapes, bridges, and interpretive signs that honor Harford County’s railroad legacy. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND The Ma & Pa Railroad was formed in 1901 from a merger of two lines connecting Baltimore, MD to York, PA. It was known for its winding route, rural charm, and small-scale operations. Passenger service ended in the 1950s, with freight service continuing briefly through Bel Air and Forest Hill before ceasing. Community efforts began in the 1990s to convert the abandoned corridor into a multi-use trail. The Ma & Pa Heritage Trail, Inc. was formed to steward the project and preserve its…