The #9 Trolley Trail
The historic Ellicott City/Catonsville Trolley Line #9 Trail is a 1.25-mile boardwalk and paved trail in Baltimore County, Maryland. It begins at the west end of Edmonson Avenue (at Chalfonte Ave.) and extends from Catonsville through Oella to Main Street, Ellicott City, and the Patapsco State Park. This trail has a steady incline.
The #9 Trolley Trail
Features
- A well-traveled woodland recreational trail popular with cyclist, joggers and dogwalkers. The Cooper Branch, a natural stream, parallels the trail providing a soothing soundtrack complete with waterfalls.
- A newly constructed, curved boardwalk cuts through 100-foot high, hand cut granite walls creating a spectacular canyon walk-through.
- Near the one-mile mark, a short detour off the trail will take you to Banneker Historical Park & Museum featuring archaeological sites and a living history museum recreating the colonial life of Benjamin Banneker, an African American astronomer and farmer.
- The Oella Ave. road crossing provides access to several shops including The Breadery, Jay’s Country Store, Trueth’s Butcher Shop and the Benjamin Banneker Museum.
- Shop at Ellicott City’s Main Street with 70 unique shops and restaurants. Visit the B&O Ellicott City Station Museum, the oldest surviving railroad station in the country.
- A bike share station is available near 8321 Main Street at the top of the hill. A bike shop, The Cycle Mill, is located near River Road.
The #9 Trolley Trail History
The #9 Trolley Line arrived in Ellicott City 1899 and served the community for the next 55 years. This route was known for its scenic woodland views as the trolley dropped into the Patapsco River Valley. In 1991, Aaron Tomarchio of Boy Scout Troop 456, organized the effort to clear and pave the #9 Trolley Line for a bike/hike trail as part of his successful Eagle Scout project.
Connections
At the Catonsville trailhead – Edmondson Avenue (east)
There is an on-road bike lane (1.4 miles) along Edmondson Avenue connecting the #9 to the #8 Streetcar Path (a 1/3 mile trail near the Catonsville Junction Business district). Wide bike lanes are marked with signage and ground stencils along Edmondson Ave. to Rolling Road, where bike lanes end. Use caution in Catonsville Junction Business area from Rolling Road to the #8 Streetcar Path at Dutton Ave. Past Dutton Ave. marked bike lanes will take you to the Baltimore County/City line (2 miles) along this wide avenue to connect to the Gwynns Falls Trail. Be careful around the Beltway interchange which is under construction.
At the Ellicott City trailhead – Frederick Road (east)
Travel 0.5 miles to get to River Road and then the Grist Mill Trail in Patapsco Valley State Park Travel 3.3 miles up a steep grade hill to the Village of Catonsville and visit dozens of restaurants and shops. The business district does not have bike lanes so use caution when traveling through this congested area. Lots of bike racks are scattered throughout the town.
At the Ellicott City trailhead – Frederick Road (west)
The historic town of Ellicott City is to your west about .2 miles across a bridge.
Parking
Western end of Edmondson Ave. at Chalfonte Ave.
Parking lot A next to The Trolley Stop Restaurant located at 6 Oella Ave.
