Summer showed up in a big way last week and it was hot! If your kids are like mine and love playing outside regardless of the weather, you know that finding a spot with water access is the ultimate hack. Although we’ll visit pools and splash pads occasionally, natural water play is more our speed. Here’s a round up of our favorite places to beat the heat in Baltimore!

Cromwell Valley Park (Willow Grove section)

• 📍2175 Cromwell Bridge Rd, Parkville, MD 21234
• ⏰ Park – Sunrise to Sunset 7 days a week; Nature center – 9AM to 5PM seven days a week
• 💵 Free
• 🚻 Bathrooms in the nature center; two port a pots to the right of the nature center, too
• 🌊 The Minebank Trail runs parallel to the Minebank Run and has many access points. If you’re facing away from the nature center, back toward the main road, we like to go to the right and walk down to the path that’s next to a picnic table. There are also access points along the run/trail to the left (you’ll pass a private residence). The trail itself it wagon/stroller friendly, but the smaller paths from the trail down to the water aren’t.
• 🌞 Other notes: there are picnic tables throughout the park for lunch/dinner picnics. There’s also a natural play section our girls love. This place is a family favorite year round, honestly.

Gunpowder State Park – Harford Road entrance

• 📍10690 Harford Road, Glen Arm, MD 21057 (the parking lot is tiny, on the right hand side if you’re coming from 695)
• ⏰ Park – Sunrise to Sunset 7 days a week
• 💵 Free
• 🚻 No bathrooms
• 🌊 The trailhead is at the back left corner of the parking lot. There are several access points along the trail.
• 🌞 Other notes: this is definitely a more rustic spot, but it’s one we enjoy from time to time. The parking lot fills quickly on weekends and evenings, but on a week day morning, it should be fine! When you’re done here, you can drive just a few more minutes into Glen Arm to get an ice cream at Prigel Family Creamery.

Patapsco State Park – Avalon area

• 📍5120 South St, Halethorpe, MD 21227
• ⏰ Park – Sunrise to Sunset 7 days a week
• 💵 $3/car w/ MD state tags; $6/car with out of state tags
• 🚻 Bathrooms near the pavilion
• 🌊 There a several points to access the water – a small trail near the playground/pavilion will lead you to the river. It’s a mix of sandy and tiny rocks, with a decent amount of shade. You can also follow the road to the very back of the park and take the short Cascade Trail back to the water fall, OR cross the swinging bridge and access the river.
• 🌞 Other notes: This park is popular on summer weekends, so plan to arrive early. We like to arrive early and stay through lunch, and then head home before it gets too hot. There is little cell service in the back of the park near the swinging bridge.

Gunpowder State Park – Jerusalem Mills

• 📍2813 Jerusalem Road, Kingsville, MD 21087
• ⏰ Park – Sunrise to Sunset 7 days a week
• 💵 Free
• 🚻 Port a potties are available in the parking lot; there’s also a bathroom inside the museum
• 🌊 Park in a large lot, then cross the stress toward the large red/stone mill. There are steps to the right of the mill; follow them down to the picnic area. There are several spots to access the water.
• 🌞 Other notes: This park is popular and can get busy on weekends. Stroller/wagon accessible down to the picnic tables. We love this spot!

Beverly Triton Nature Park

• 📍1202 Triton Beach Road, Edgewater, MD 21037
• ⏰ Park – Sunrise to Sunset 7 days a week
• 💵 $6/car for out of county residents – a free reservation is also required on summer weekends and holidays!
• 🚻 Real bathrooms in the building with the rangers’ office.
• 🌊 Park in a large lot, then follow the road around past the pavilion, past the play area, down to the water. It’s not a long walk at all, but you’ll definitely want a stroller or wagon.
• 🌞 This isn’t in Baltimore but it’s our favorite local-ish beach! There are so many things I love about it: the water is warm and shallow, the beach itself is sandy and not rocky like some other places. There’s a nice treeline that casts shade in the late afternoon into evening so even if it’s hot mid afternoon, it cools down a bit once the sun tucks behind the trees.

If you haven’t seen my post about the best splash pads in Baltimore, click here to check that out!