Walk for the Woods

This beloved spring event is scheduled for Saturday, April 26, 2025, at Bacon Ridge Natural Area in Crownsville (rain date is April 27).

Scenic Rivers will again partner with Anne Arundel County’s Department of Recreation and Parks to offer a wonderful opportunity to hike and explore this beautiful wilderness just minutes from downtown Annapolis.

We anticipate a fantastic, safe day in our local, protected woods!

Experts in wildlife, native plants, birds, and more will be on-site and available to attendees. Plus, self-guided hike options will be offered, complete with trail maps and educational signage posted along the trails.

Registration for guided hikes will open on April 7, 2025. The link to registration will be announced via email and social media.

Guided Hikes & Activities

Guided hikes led by experts in wildlife, native plants, birds, nature photography, and more will be offered throughout the day. Advanced registration is recommended, but not required.

Hikes range from 1 to 4 miles, vary in degree of difficulty, and are on marked unpaved trails.

Hike & Activity Schedule

• A comprehensive list of available hikes and activities will be posted closer to the day of the event.

Self-led Hikes

Attendees are also invited to explore Bacon Ridge Natural Area's 1,000+ acres of woodlands, wetlands, streams, and meadows on their own. The Colby Rucker Memorial Self-led Naturalist Hike, complete with trail maps and educational signage posted along the trails, will be offered again this year. The hike is approximately one mile round trip and is great for small children and for those who prefer a self-led option.

Critter Discovery

Learn about the life teaming in our local streams! Experts from Coastal Resources, Inc. will be set up along the banks of Bacon Ridge Branch with hands on exhibits and information about the aquatic wildlife found in the stream. This activity requires a short hike into Bacon Ridge and is wildly popular with children and adults alike!

Walk for the Woods T-Shirts

Each year, attendees who donate $25+ receive a Walk for the Woods t-shirt featuring the unique, custom art of local illustrator Phyllis Saroff. 

Shirts will be available for purchase/pick up on site at the event. Adult sizes XS, S, M, L, XL, and XXL available.

The 2024 design was inspired by three beautiful moths—the Luna, Polyphemus, and Cecropia moths—that need canopy trees to survive. Read more about these fascinating nighttime forest dwellers in this article from the Chesapeake Bay Program.

The 2025 design will be announced in March.