Lake Roland Park (Towson, Maryland)

 park, hiking, dog park

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A nice park, encompassing Lake Roland and surrounding land, that is owned by Baltimore City but located in Baltimore County. It was originally used for the City's public water supply, and there is a Greek-temple-style stone pump house that bears the date "1861".

There is a nice hiking trail that encircles one part of the lake, with a rock outcropping and shallow cave at the far end that are very popular with kids. It has really become the unofficial dog-walking park of the city, with many of the hippest young urbanites taking the light rail across the county line due to a lack of green space in their own neighborhoods. Mountain biking is also a popular activity at Lake Roland Park, with a variety of trails ranging from downhills and climbing to rock gardens and some small dirt jumps. The trail is suited to all skill levels for hiking and biking. It is also a perfect opportunity for house envy, if you know where to look, of course. The southeastern and eastern sides of Lake Roland are ringed with the old sprawling country houses of Baltimore's elite in the exclusive historic neighborhoods of Ruxton and Woodbrook.