Bear Branch Nature Center Review

We wnt to the playground very clean and quiet a small pond to throw stones into seating area to relax and a short trail to a pavillion we (my kids and i) enjoyed ourselves we had to cut the fun session short because of a needed bathroom break. The facility was closed. We will visit again it was great.

Was here for a birthday party for a 2 year old and the staff was friendly, the little ones loved the animals . Great job !!!!

Well maintained trails. The Nature center is great for kids and adults. There are titles, snakes, frogs, bugs and other animals to watch and learn about. There is a little kids rooms. Lots of info about the local area and animals. Staff are always friendly, helpful and knowledgeable. And sometimes they will even let you touch the animals.

It help you lern and do camps i am going to a over niht camp soon

Good local place to listen and be in nature and walk

Has an oservatory with 14" telescope. Amazing trail over Solar System, which starts from a gazeboo, behind the building and finishes with Pluto near parking lot. Regular astronomy meetups and planetarium shows.

Wonderful nature center, was a wonderful place for a birthday party. Knowledgeable, friendly staff and clean, interesting exhibits and facilities.

I loved the walk around the pond and the nature center.

Wonderful park for any kind of outdoor activity. You can do anything from visit the raptor birds, adventure through the wetlands, and even experience nature inside from the nature center.

Tons of great mtb trails. Get thorn proof tires though.

Excellent place for the nature lover ! Our sons birthday there was fantastic !

My 5 year old loves hiking the trails and playing on the playground

Many unpaved walking trails on beautiful property...woods, fields, streams, lake.

My family and I love this place. I take my kids to submerge them into nature. I take my dog for excercise. It's never crowded, as my dog does not get along with other dogs so its a comfortable spot for her to expel her energy! (On the leash of course).
We eat lunch occasionally here aswell and enjoy the sights and sounds of the birds they rescued.

Great trails, but in you trail run, be prepared for some pretty steep inclines!

Such a wonderfully fun place to take kids. The playground is amazing, love the animal sounds you can play and the tree jungle gym. Our kids LOVE the nature center, seeing the live bee hive, snakes, fish, and other critters is so fun....and all for free!

**The Nature Center building has exhibits for all to see located down the left hallway as you enter the building**

I wonder how many people never knew this since the lobby seems cold and lacks any direction. The gardens out front seem to always be unkempt as well. This place really lacks the welcoming vibe you would get from other parks and tourist destinations. It's unfortunate because the trails are wonderful for hiking. This place really has the potential to be so much more than it is.

Came for a birthday party. Nice place. They put on a nice planetarium show.

We love hiking and the trails here. Great place to see some birds, too.

Nice nature center with various activities for children of all ages. Live reptiles and insects for viewing.

A gem to explore for children and adults alike. Not super fancy but effectively educational. My son and I especially enjoy the live turtle exhibit.

It's small here. The trails are not well marked. There is no good map anywhere, including online. The raptor cages are cool though.

Great place to hike, bike or visit the nature center

Staff were friendly and place was clean but entrance fee was very expensive.

My son's Cub Scout troop has tried several of their trails!

It's a great place, it's not very peaceful though. So many kids come who are all quite loud. Also we tried fishing and turtles kept messing up the line.

Great hands on fieldtrip with Nicole. Learned about maple sugaring. From old to young there is something here for everyone.

It's kind of cool. A little small but if you have kids they'll probably enjoy it.

Nice easy walking paths, small predatory bird section is a nice attraction. Next to corn field-used to not be there, takes away a little from the experience, but not so bad.

Great place to hike or run. Trails vary from 1 mile to 5+. It is easy to add distance by winding through the "wilderness" trails, although just a warning they are not the most clearly marked. Nature center is fun for small children. The planetarium show is wonderful and enjoyable for adults as well.

We had my daughter's birthday party here, and we loved it. The staff was friendly and the room was a great deal. They provided tables and chairs and we had the room for 3 hours for $120. Great deal! Kids had a great time looking at all of the fun nature stuff too.

Hashawa is great all times of the year
We go almost every weekend.

Cute little place not much to see inside. Cute walking trails and play ground for 5 or older children.

Excellent nature center and events. Really a gem of a place

nice easy hike with my son. I wish the trails were marked a little better, but overall a very nice park.

I found a gun in the bathroom lmao, also I 360 noscoped some nerd so 11/10

I actually come here to mountain bike the several miles of trails around Hashawa. I have been in the nature center (when it was open) and it's a pretty good way to spend an afternoon with the kids. There is alot in there to learn.

Great playground, trails, pond, and nature center . Kids love it!

After rain wear some better shoes! And be ready to play in the stream!!

Cool spot to get outdoors. Very populated at times though.

Great trails for hiking, walking your dog. Educational nature center. Relaxing and quiet. Friendly staff.

Nice property, but needs to be maintained better. Also no toilet paper in mens room.

Very friendly and knowledgeable staff, wheelchair accessible.

Well kept, great nature center that focuses on education for kids. They have tons of awesome programs that are affordable. We love visiting the center to see local wildlife that they've rescued and use for educational purposes. We also enjoy the play area and outdoor trails that connect with Hashawa.

Wonferful place to learn about the great outdoors of Maryland. See a bee colony, snakes and turtles. Or see their taxidermy section with so many birds from Maryland.
They also have a great selection of all kinds of Maryland insects.

This is a wonderful place to take your kids to learn about nature. There is a bee hive you can see through. Lots of nice trails to explore. There is a associated nature school neighboring.

Great place to learn about science and the areas wildlife

Several family friendly events but always nice to visit whether there is an event or not.

Very nice area, took the baby out for a walk here and it was easy enough with the stroller.

Nice hiking trails with tables in a few places to have a picnic.

Went for Birthday party. Was a very nice little nature center

So glad we found this place! Close to home and wonderfully kept up. Beautiful pace.

The hiking trails are easy to access and great for all different types of activity. Nice place close to home for hiking, biking, or whatever else you may want to do. Longest trail only about 3.5 miles.

Good fishing spot with the kids. Catch and release, but fun. Just watch out for the turtles.