Nothing beats a day spent out in the harmony of nature, wandering through forests and reconnecting with the world. Nothing, that is, except possibly doing so with a river as your companion. There are some incredible hiking trails all over the state of Maryland, but among the most scenic are the many that crisscross the Patapsco Valley State Park. This park is absolutely enormous, and with the rush that comes along with the early days of school, it can be the perfect place to escape for some much-needed solitude – a mental health reset bolstered by fresh air and the sound of the river. If that sort of experience sounds as good to you as it does to me, then the 5-mile South Branch Patapsco River Trail in Maryland just outside of Sykesville should be making your to-hike list immediately.