Field guide
Gwynns Falls Trail parking and access for runners
Find official parking locations for the Gwynns Falls Trail in Baltimore. This guide covers trailheads, surfaces, and route details for runners.
The Gwynns Falls Trail is a 22 mile corridor of hiking and bicycling trails located inside Baltimore, Maryland. It is part of the East Coast Greenway and connects dozens of west and southwest Baltimore neighborhoods.
This page provides details on trail access, official parking locations, and the trail's physical characteristics for runners and hikers.
Official facts at a glance
- Type of place
- continuous corridor of hiking and bicycling trails
- Purpose
- off-road way for cyclists and pedestrians
- Location
- inside Baltimore, Maryland
- Total trail length
- 22 mile
- Mainline trail length
- 10.75-mile (17.30 km)
- Trail surface types
- unique alignments, sidepaths on existing streets, and on-street sections
- Trailhead parking locations
- I-70 terminus Park and Ride, Winans Meadow, Windsor Mill Road, Leon Day Park, and Frederick Avenue
- Transit access
- MTA Bus Routes
- Bikes allowed
- bicycling trails
- Connects to
- dozens of west and southwest Baltimore neighborhoods with parks, historical and cultural landmarks and the urban business district
- Branches
- Middle Branch Trail, the Hutton Trail, and the Dickeyville Trail
- Part of
- East Coast Greenway
- Acreage within stream valley
- more than 2,000 acres of publicly owned land
- Passes through
- the second largest wilderness woodland parks in the United States – the Gwynns Falls /Leakin park
Source: Gwynns Falls Trail (baltimorecity.gov). Official page, checked Oct 21, 2026.
Parking locations and transit access
Designated trailhead parking is available at several locations. These include the I-70 terminus Park and Ride, Winans Meadow, Windsor Mill Road, Leon Day Park, and Frederick Avenue.
The trail is also accessible via MTA Bus Routes.
The trail route and surface
The trail system has a total length of 22 miles. The mainline trail is 10.75 miles long and is supplemented by branches including the Middle Branch Trail, the Hutton Trail, and the Dickeyville Trail.
Runners and hikers will find varied surfaces. The route consists of unique alignments, sidepaths on existing streets, and on-street sections. It is designed as an off-road way for both cyclists and pedestrians.
The trail environment
The trail runs through more than 2,000 acres of publicly owned land within a stream valley. The route passes through Gwynns Falls / Leakin park, which is the second largest wilderness woodland park in the United States.
Before you go
- Plan your route based on the 10.75-mile mainline trail or the full 22 mile system.
- Be prepared for varied surfaces, including on-street sections and sidepaths.
- Expect to share the path with people on bicycles.
- You can use MTA Bus Routes to get to the trail.
- Choose a starting point from one of the five official trailhead parking locations.
Nearby options: running and active spots in Baltimore. All cities: City running and hiking guides.