Here's a new hike for us that Pat has found--Schooley Mill Park.

This park is located amidst beautiful Howard County farmland, but only a short hop from Columbia. The walk is a little more rugged than our usual paved-path-with-pastries. It has a variety of habitats including woodlands, wetlands, a sediment pond, secondary growth areas, and meadows--maintained in a natural state with wildlife in mind.

Pat scouted it several times in the past week and reports the following:

1) The trail is muddy and rutted and rough in places, so hiking shoes or boots are recommended.
2) The trails are "multi-use" and horses have the right of way! So when horses approach, we need to move our dogs quickly and quietly off the trail and keep them quiet and standing (or sitting) still until all the horses have passed.
3) BUT, there are many pretty places along the river! And some places have short trails we can use to take the dogs down to the water.

Learn more about the park on the Howard County Parks webpage, which has a trail map and directions.

When you enter the park from Hall Shop Road, please turn right and go to the parking lot in the Equestrian area--rather than the sports and picnic areas where pets are not allowed. We'll begin there.