Torrey C. Brown Rail Trail
A former Northern Central Railway corridor carries walkers, cyclists, and riders between northern Baltimore County communities and Pennsylvania.
Artwork inspired by Aaron Sopher
The Torrey C. Brown Rail Trail follows the former Northern Central Railway for 19.7 miles from Ashland to the Pennsylvania line. Its gentle railway alignment opens a long route through river country, woods, and small communities without the repeated climbs of nearby hill trails. Monkton Station makes the transport history visible beside the trail.
This is a shared corridor rather than a cycling-only greenway. Walkers, runners, equestrians, and cyclists move at different speeds, and narrow passages require patience. A short out-and-back from Monkton can be as satisfying as a long ride: station architecture, stream crossings, and changing woodland give the journey structure without requiring a border-to-border trip.
- Maryland length
- 19.7 miles
- Former line
- Northern Central Railway
- Northern connection
- Pennsylvania’s rail trail
Quick guide
- Start at Monkton
- Use the station as a clear meeting and turnaround reference.
- Share the grade
- Keep right and yield to walkers and horses.
Know before you go
- Set a turnaround
- Choose distance before following the corridor farther north.
- Read mile markers
- Maryland-colored markers count the trail miles toward Pennsylvania.
- Slow at crossings
- Road junctions interrupt the otherwise easy railway alignment.
- Stay in the corridor
- Neighboring riverbanks and fields may be private land.
Good to know
“NCR Trail” and Torrey C. Brown Rail Trail refer to the same Maryland corridor. The trail continues north under Pennsylvania’s separate management and name.
Notice these
- Historic Monkton Station
- Railway embankment
- Stream and road crossings