ATC-BWI-01

Note from the Photographer

The BWI Trail is a 12.5 mile paved loop that fully encircles Baltimore-Washington International Airport, earning it the distinction of being the only airport in the entire United States with a trail that completely wraps around it. Built through a cooperative effort between the Maryland Aviation Administration, Anne Arundel County, and the State Highway Administration, the first section opened in 1994, with the complete loop finished in 1999. The trail runs past the historic Benson-Hammond House and connects to the Linthicum Light Rail Station, offering multiple access points along the way. One of the trail's most rewarding stops is the Thomas A. Dixon Jr. Aircraft Observation Area, where hikers and cyclists can pause and watch planes take off and land at close range, a rare intersection of nature trail and aviation spectacle found almost nowhere else in the country. Wooded stretches, open greenways, and sweeping views of the runways make this an unexpectedly scenic escape, tucked directly alongside one of the busiest airports on the East Coast.