Prettyboy Reservoir
Address:
3199 Beckleysville Road
Parkton, MD 21120
About Prettyboy Reservoir
Prettyboy Reservoir covers an area of about 1,500 acres (3,000 hectares) in Baltimore County, Maryland, USA. It is named after the part of Baltimore known as the Devils Backbone, home of the Baltimore Devils football team and Baltimore Orioles.
According to legend, a farmer bought a horse with a young girl inside, and the girl fell in love with the horse and called it Prettyboy. One evening, during a storm, he wandered away, stopped to drink from a stream and slipped down a gentle embankment into the water. The horse was never seen again, but according to legend it was bought by another farmer.
Prettyboy Reservoir is owned by the city of Baltimore, which owns the surrounding land. Prettyboy is one of three reservoirs created to supply Baltimore's urban water system along with the Baltimore River and the Charles River.
Prettyboy Reservoir is located at the foot of the scenic Prettyboy Dam, completed in 1932 on the Gunpowder River. Water from the dam and Loch Raven Reservoir (which is downstream) provide more than half of all drinking water for the entire Baltimore metropolitan area. To bring the water directly to Baltimore, Pretty Boyers will transport it to LochRaven Reservatory in the fall, where it will be treated and transported through a tunnel to the city's water treatment plant, the Baltimore Water and Sewer Authority (BWSAA), where it will be distributed throughout the city and other cities and communities.
The area is by far the least populated in the District, accounting for less than 1% of the total land area of Baltimore County. Strict development plans prohibit development of a planned community in the Prettyboy Reservoir due to its proximity to the Gunpowder River and the Baltimore River.
If you are a fisherman, locals consider Prettyboy Reservoir to be the best place to catch small mouthfuls. The reservoir also contains a large number of striped bass and a variety of other fish species. If you mean lactic acid, there is a good chance that you will fish in this reservoir in the spring and summer months. First, add your photo to the "Prettyboy reservoir, Maryland" section of our Facebook page and Twitter account.
Due to the cleanliness of the reservoir, the fish quality is exceptionally high and represents an excellent source of food for many fish species.
Although swimming in the Prettyboy Reservoir is not allowed, boating is allowed and there is no minimum requirement for the size of your canoe. You need a permit to go by boat, but you are not allowed to swim in the reservoir, and you do not need a permit to go by boat.
The Prettyboy reservoir offers many tributaries and streams to explore, as well as a number of waterfalls and a variety of hiking trails.
Conifers and deciduous trees flank the banks and form the basis for the incredible wildlife in the area. For those who enjoy hiking and wildlife watching, Prettyboy Reservoir provides habitat for wild animals including white-tailed deer, elk, elk, coyote, bobcat and many other species. The area is open to wildlife and waterfowl during the regulated hunting season set by the Maryland Wildlife Heritage Service, but hunters need a permit to enter the area.
There are more than 100 kilometers of hiking trails, including a path known as the Torrey C. Brown Rail Trail. Nearby Gunpowder Falls State Park offers a variety of hiking trails with scenic river views, steep slopes and waterfalls. The area is open to the public all year round - for hiking, camping, fishing, picnics and other leisure activities.
Whether you're exploring the many tributaries of the reservoir or enjoying what Gunpowder Falls State Park has to offer, the area offers a unique, peaceful and natural vacation. Prettyboy Reservoir is located just a short drive from Baltimore - Washington International Airport, making it a great destination for those who love nature.