Patuxent River State Park in Maryland stretches along the upper Patuxent River in Howard and Montgomery counties, preserving a river landscape within the Northeastern coastal forests ecoregion. Planned beginning in 1963 and assembled through state-funded land purchases from 1964 to 1968, it developed as a broad natural corridor rather than a heavily built recreation area. The park is valued for low-key outdoor use shaped by its relatively undeveloped setting, including hunting, fishing, mountain biking, horseback riding, and hiking. With unsigned, untended trails and strong access to the river and woods, it preserves part of the upper Patuxent while keeping a large natural area open to the public.