Laurel River Walk

 

Laurel has its early roots back into the 1600's and 1700's as a residence of the Snowden family, then owners of much of what is now Montgomery County.  It wasn=t however until the Laurel Factory came into being that the city took shape as a small industrial town.  The business evolved from grist to cotton and saw milling.  By the mid 1800's, approximately 500 mill workers lived there along with their families.  In 1870, the town was incorporated by Governor Oden Bowie and the city continued to grow.  Being far from the county seat (at a time when 30 miles was at least a day=s trip), it did a lot on its own.  The city had its own water works and made it=s own electricity long before other similar towns in the area.  Railroads further connected and developed the city.  Today, some of the town=s history is preserved on it=s Main Street. 

 

The information above was derived from the A1870 - 1970 Centennial Historical Souvenir Booklet@ and the Laurel Historical Society web site.  For more information on the Surratt House, see visit the Laurel museum (see below) or go to WWW.LaurelHistory.org.

 

Getting There

 

From the Capital Beltway (I-495), take I-95, north.  After 6.5 miles, exit onto Sandy Spring Rd. (Rte. 198) headed east.  After 1.8 miles, turn left onto 7th Street.  Turn left again at Main St. and park at the end of the road in the lot for Riverfront Park. 

 

Area Routes

 

Laurel River Walk (2.15 miles, I)

For a city of Laurel=s size, it has relatively few trails.  The Laurel River Walk makes-up for the lack of mileage by being charming (Note: Other nearby trails such as the one along Brock Bridge Rd. in Anne Arundel County and the paths at Laurel Lakes, do exist but they are not connected.  Laurel has many other undeveloped parks with potential too).  Sitting below the ruins of an old dam, the River Walk trail is in-between the town=s Main St. and the Patuxent River.  The route follows the trail downstream, then loops back through town back to the start. 

 

Nearby and Connecting Zones

 

Patuxent Research Refuge North Tract

Beltsville Agricultural Research Center

Columbia - Village of Owen Brown

 

What to do Afterward

 

Food and Drink

Red Hot & Blue - 301 953-1943

Oliver=s - 301 490-9200

Ledo Pizza - 301 498-5336

Entertainment and Edification

Laurel Museum - 301 725-7975

Montpelier Mansion - Snowden family home circa 1871 - 301 953-7572; TTY (301) 779-5321

Laurel Raceway (horse racing) - 301 725-0400

Laurel River Walk

Distance: 2.15 miles

Rating:           I, mostly flat paved trails and sidewalks

 

2.15 Mile Route

 

R     0.0   from onto the trail head at the parking lot

       0.1   9th St and TR X on R

       0.3   underpass 7th St

       0.8   parking on R and portable outhouse

 

R     0.9   TR X on R to wooden bridge

 

S     0.95 B St (unmarked)

 

CR  1.1   Main St

 

CL  1.25 Fourth St

 

R     1.4   Montgomery St

 

R     1.80 St Mary=s Pl

 

L     2.0   Main St

       2.15 trail head in parking lot