Herring Run is a 375 acre linear park, extending from I-95, across Belair Road (Route 1) to the campus of Morgan State University.  The park was laid out by the Olmsted Brothers in 1904, and incorporated Lake Montebello, which was constructed in the 1870s and 1880s to secure fresh drinking water for Baltimore.  The park follows its namesake, the Herring Run, a meandering stream that empties into the Back River near the community of Rosedale.

The park provides access to some of the oldest and most densely populated neighborhoods in Northwest Baltimore, including Armistead Gardens (built by the Baltimore Housing Authority and commonly known as “the White Ghetto”), Belair-Edison, and Mayfield.

I rode the hiking/biking loop on both sides of Herring Run between Lake Montebello and Sinclair Lane.  I was discouraged by how little the park was being used on a beautiful weekday afternoon, except for the playing fields just below Lake Montebello.  The trail itself is in pretty good shape, and there are plans to connect it directly to the 1.3 mile Lake Montebello loop.  You’ll need to cross a few streets, including Belair Avenue, but the crosswalks are clearly marked, and a few have flashing lights.

All-in-all this is a great opportunity to pull off of Route 1 for an easy ride, or to stretch your legs with a pleasant walk in the woods.