Lake Kittamaqundi
4.7(130)google
4.6(31)yelp
LakewalkingKayakingFamilyHealingPhoto Spot
Overview
Lake Kittamaqundi is a man made 27-acre (110,000 m2) reservoir located in Columbia, Maryland in the vicinity of the Mall in Columbia as well as Merriweather Post Pavilion. It is also adjacent to offices and visible from US-29. The lake was created by The Rouse Company in 1966 during the development of Columbia.
Practical Info
Suggested Duration1.5-2.5 hours
Best TimeSummer through early autumn (June to September) during the evening golden hour from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM is magic. Watching the sun dip behind the opposite shoreline leaves the lake glowing crimson, often aligning with lakeside live music events along the lively public pier boardwalk.
Getting ThereHighly accessible via public transit: ride RTA Bus Route 401 or 501 directly to the Clyde's / Columbia Lakefront loop stop. For motorists, free parking is abundantly available in the massive surface lots shared with Whole Foods Market directly bordering the boardwalk.
Travel Tips
- The Columbia Waterfront retail lots freeze completely during summer lake concerts; save time by executing an immediate detour to the massive, free multi-level Columbia Mall parking decks directly opposite.
- County ordinances strictly ban public swimming, shore wading, and unauthorized non-licensed personal paddleboard launching across the entire 1.4-mile waterfront loop, carrying stiff legal fines.
Photo Tips
Photo Spots
- The northern floating dock edge provides the premium angle for capturing the iconic lakefront wood windmill; photograph at 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM to burn twilight reflections across the water.
Reviews
Positive
- A picturesque 27-acre suburban lake in downtown Columbia, featuring a scenic concrete waterfront plaza, beautiful weeping willows, and a grand soaring lake fountain.
- Superb pedestrian convenience; the flat paved boardwalk smoothly connects directly to the massive Columbia Mall complex and dozens of trendy lakefront dining patios.
- Completely free public attraction; the lake plaza offers an abundance of municipal benches and eco-friendly waste bins, boasting a wonderful, welcoming twilight vibe.
- Excellent public order with proactive corporate security patrols; adjacent business high-rises provide massive multi-level parking structures that are free on weekends.
Heads up
- Faces high crowd density during pleasant summer evenings and live lakeside sunset music events, with bustling crowds destroying any sense of natural isolation.
- The wooded back half of the lake path lacks proper illumination after dark, creating patchy shadows that can make solo night strollers feel a bit uneasy.
- Resident geese frequently take over the concrete boardwalk sections, leaving behind messy droppings that can create slippery footing and odors if not swept promptly.
- Highly commercialized and suburban; surrounded by asphalt lots and chain hotels, rendering it poor fit for nature purists seeking an untouched, wild ecosystem hike.