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

• 7:30 am, Bird Hike with Dave Walbeck and Andrew Hazen (1 to 2 miles)
• 8:00 am – 12:00 pm, Archaeology Display with AA County Cultural Resources
• 8:30 am, Forest Bathing Walk with Laura Falvey (1 mile, 2 hours, Ages 16+)
• 9:00 am, Woodland Hike with Mitch Keiler and Nancy Roth (3 to 4 miles)
• 9:30 am, Bird Hike with Dave Walbeck and Pat Melville (1 to 2 miles)
• 10:00 am, Nature Hike for All Ages with Mairin Corasaniti of Arundel Rivers Federation and Mark Wallis (1 to 2 miles)
• 10:30 am, Northern Trails Hike with Phil Ferrara (4 miles)
• 10:30 am – 2:30 pm, Creek Critter Discovery with Coastal Resources, Inc.
• 11:00 am, Reptile & Amphibians Hike with Robert and Rosemary Frezza (2 miles)
• 11:30 am, Northern Trails Hike with Andrew Garte (2 miles)
• 12:30 pm, Woodland Hike with Tree ID with Bradley Seay of Bartlett Tree Experts and Andrew Hazen (3-4 miles)

Special Note about the "Say My Name Ceremony"

This year's "Say My Name Ceremony" is planned to coincide with the dedication of the "Say My Name" Memorial. Construction on the memorial will still be in progress as of the date of Walk for the Woods, therefore, the ceremony will not be held on the same day as in years past. We will share information on plans for the ceremony as it becomes available.

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!

Native Tree Giveaway

We’re excited to once again offer free native tree saplings at Walk for the Woods, thanks to the generosity of Bartlett Tree Experts! Stop by Bartlett's table near the registration area to pick up a sapling—along with planting instructions—while supplies last. Available species will be announced as we get closer to the event. Don’t miss this chance to talk with a certified arborist and bring a bit of nature home with you!

Walk for the Woods T-Shirts

Each year, attendees who donate $30+ 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 2025 design celebrates the incredible biodiversity of Bacon Ridge Natural Area! Featuring the hardy Turkey-tail mushroom, delicate Ghost Plant, towering Cattail, and the striking Black-and-white Warbler, this year’s illustration captures just a few of the many species that thrive in this special place. It’s a perfect tribute to the beauty of our local forests. Don’t miss your chance to get this unique shirt—join us at the event and take home a piece of Bacon Ridge!