Jones Falls Trail

Jones Falls Trail, often called JFT, is a fun place for walking and biking in Baltimore, Maryland. The trail follows the Jones Falls stream, which has been an important path for moving around the city for a long time. It also includes a bike path around Druid Hill Reservoir and its park.

The trail is part of a bigger network called the East Coast Greenway. This network is a series of bike paths that will one day stretch the whole length of the East Coast.

Right now, the Jones Falls Trail is planned to go from the Inner Harbor in Baltimore all the way north to Mount Washington. Along the way, it passes through beautiful places like Cylburn Arboretum and Mount Washington Arboretum. The city’s Department of Recreation and Parks takes care of the trail.

Route description

The Jones Falls Trail is a path for walking and biking in Baltimore, Maryland. It starts in downtown Baltimore and goes north to the Cylburn neighborhood. The trail has parts that are on the street, paths next to streets, and special paths just for the trail.

Right now, the trail begins near the Inner Harbor, close to Light Street. It goes along a path next to the harbor and then turns onto different streets as it moves north. The trail follows the Jones Falls stream and goes through parks and neighborhoods. In Druid Hill Park, the trail goes around Druid Lake Reservoir on a bike path. Later, it goes through wooded areas and ends near Mount Washington Light Rail Station.

There are plans to extend the trail further north to connect to Falls Road station, but some older plans to extend it west were not chosen.

History

The Jones Falls Trail was first thought of in the late 1990s, but building it started later. The trail is still being built, and its plan is split into five parts.

Phase I, the oldest part of the trail, is a 1.6-mile stretch from Penn Station to Druid Hill Park and was finished in 2004.

Phase II, a 2.5-mile stretch between Penn Station and the Inner Harbor, was completed in early 2013. This part turned an old streetcar path into a proper bike path.

Phase III, a 2.75-mile stretch between Druid Hill Park and the Woodberry Light Rail stop, was finished in 2008.

Phase IV, a 1.25-mile stretch from the Woodberry Light Rail station to Cylburn Avenue, was completed in August 2013 after some delays.

Phase V, a 4.25-mile stretch connecting Cylburn Arboretum to the Mount Washington Light Rail Station, was mostly done by 2020. This part will also link to Western Run Park.