WALKTOBER Trails

Marquis De Lafayette front entrance Statue

We’re back for the continuation of our Walktober blog series for the month of October. The Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) and other Maryland agencies, including the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development have had a great opportunity to fund and support incredible walking trails throughout the state. Last week we introduced the Great Allegheny Passage located in Western, Maryland. This week we are trailblazing into Maryland’s Upper Eastern Shore on the Lafayette Trail located in Havre de Grace, Maryland.

This trail is in Harford County and has been a part of the town since 1782. It was originally named after Marquis de Lafayette who was the last surviving French General of the Revolutionary War. His statue overlooks the entrance of the downtown Lafayette area greeting visitors and locals daily. This self-guided trail offers a continuous three-mile loop with over 800 historic structures in which visitors are allowed to walk, drive or ride a bike along a beautiful tree-lined street pathway. The trail has about 37 stops for historic information covering 57 different properties including houses and businesses of late famous citizens in that area.

Havre de Grace was recognized as a Sustainable Community in 2012. Additionally, the City of Aberdeen, the Town of Bel Air and the community of Edgewood hold this distinguished recognition in Harford County. The Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development’s Neighborhood Revitalization program has awarded and invested $1.5 million into the City of Havre de Grace. This funding allows the city’s elected officials and community leaders to focus on economic and social responsibilities for the community’s growth. Havre de Grace is not only a Sustainable Community, it is also a designated Main Street community in Maryland. Visitors can check out the Lafayette trail app called “DISTRX”. The app allows visitors to hear the voices of past Havre de Grace citizens in an audio format and provide illustrations of historical pictures of the area while enjoying the trail or tour. The tour is available by downloading the DISTRX app on iPhone and Android phones.

Once you complete this beautiful historic trail there are great family-owned restaurants in the town to check out and enjoy with friends or family. For a more romantic evening it is best to get food and enjoy the sunset off the river overlooking the Upper Bay.

Lafayette bridge overlooking the river