Torrey C. Brown — Sparks mile-four to mile-five return

Torrey C. Brown — Sparks mile-four to mile-five return — detailed guide

Source review: 2026-10-12. A dated source review does not guarantee current-day conditions.

This short outing uses the improved main rail trail north of Sparks, with approximately two miles on the mile-four to mile-five return course, plus an unmeasured walking approach from the parking area. It is a modest alternative to riding the full Maryland corridor.

Maryland DNR permits ordinary bicycles and describes Torrey C. Brown’s improved surface as easy. The state trail profile identifies crushed stone and largely level railway terrain. Expect a shared outdoor path rather than smooth asphalt: check the surface on arrival, particularly after rain, and leave room for walkers and horses.

Arrive at Sparks

Use the designated public trail parking at 1207 Sparks Road, Sparks/Sparks-Glencoe, Maryland 21152. DNR specifically lists this address for trail access, says there is no charge to park or use the area, and warns that parking availability is extremely limited. Follow the current lot signs and use permitted spaces; nearby residential property and road shoulders are not substitutes for the trail lot.

Walk your bicycle through the arrival area and across Sparks Road where the rail trail crosses it. The manager’s park guide directs cyclists to dismount and walk across roads. Use the posted crossing controls and check for traffic before continuing.

Continue north along the main trail to milepost four. This walking approach is extra to the approximately two-mile return described here. The manager’s map places the Sparks parking area just south of that marker. Confirm the numbered post before starting the measured part of the outing; if it is not identifiable, do not invent a route or distance.

Ride to milepost five and return

From milepost four, follow the main rail trail north, toward increasing mile numbers. At milepost five, step out of the travel line, wait for the path to be clear and turn back. Return to milepost four, then walk the arrival approach back to the same parking area.

One mile north and the same mile south make an approximately two-mile main return. The distance does not include the parking walk or a trip to Monkton Station. DNR describes mileposts in Maryland flag colors—yellow, red and black—numbering the trail from one to nineteen in the northbound direction.

The map also shows a local road crossing near Corbett Road between the selected markers. Slow down at crossings, dismount and walk as the manager directs, and follow current signs. Stay on the rail trail instead of adding neighborhood roads or riverside paths. This is a shared-trail outing, with road interfaces, rather than a promise of uninterrupted riding without vehicles nearby.

Keep right, avoid riding side by side, and give an audible signal before passing. Cyclists yield to pedestrians and horseback riders. The manager’s maximum speed is 15 mph; this short ride works well at a slower pace. Pause away from the travel line and give horse riders room.

Plan the visit

Trail hours are sunrise to sunset. Parking and access at this trail area are free according to the specific DNR access page. This daytime plan does not include overnight parking or require a museum visit. The manager requires advance approval for leaving a car overnight while traveling out of state.

The published trail rules require helmets for riders younger than sixteen and recommend them for all cyclists. Keep dogs leashed, pack out your trash and leave alcohol at home.

Restrooms are marked near Sparks on the park map, but current operating access has not been verified. The older trail profile also retains a closure notice for the Sparks Bank Nature Center; that is not evidence that the rail trail itself is closed. Bring drinking water and plan without relying on the building or its services.

Research notes

Draft checked October 12, 2026. This is a complete planning draft, not launch-approved. The specific park status page lists Torrey C. Brown as OPEN. Current lot signs, the parking walk, road-crossing controls, milepost visibility and actual tread still need a local check before USA publication.

The current manager and park guide describe the Maryland corridor as 19.7 miles. Older state pages say twenty or twenty-one miles; those whole-route figures are not this short outing’s distance. No surveyed parking pin, exact walking distance or navigation track is supplied.

Sources: current trail manager, specific access and parking information, trail regulations, the owner’s park guide and map, state trail profile and current park status page.