The Bacon Ridge Natural Area (BRNA) is any conservation land owned by Anne Arundel County in the Bacon Ridge Branch of the South River. This includes the 83 acres of the original Bacon Ridge Natural Area (which the County has owned since the 1920s), the 547 acres of the Crownsville Hospital Grounds west of I-97 (which the County took ownership of in December of 2010), and any additional land purchased by the County for conservation in the area (as of February 2011, over 200 acres).

The BRNA is a true natural gem, with expansive marshes, mature forests, and at the center, its namesake creek. The central 630 acres is protected by a conservation easement with SRLT and the Maryland Environmental Trust to preserve these natural features. The terms of the easement do allow for the land to be open to the public as a park for what is called passive recreation, primarily hiking and nature study. The delicate balance of preservation and public enjoyment is overseen by the BRNA Stewardship Committee, which makes recommendations to the County on how the parkland is managed. The committee welcomes suggestions on how this public asset should be used. See their website here.

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