After 229 miles in Pennsylvania, the Appalachian Trail (AT) spends a relatively brief 41 miles running through Maryland, mostly following the lengthy ridgeline of South Mountain. While thru-hikers will breeze through the state in 2-3 days, day-trippers can complete the Maryland portion in seven discrete sections. (Note: This is the breakdown outlined in the excellent …
Straddling a windswept section of the Allegheny Front, West Virginia’s Dolly Sods Wilderness offers what is heralded by some as the best hiking on the eastern seaboard. The Dolly Sods North hike is arguably the best of the best: a stunning, 10.6-mile stem-and-loop through blissful meadows and spruce forests with terrific views of the Canaan …
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Montgomery County’s Seneca Creek State Park offers quiet isolation in one of Maryland’s most densely populated areas, particularly the park’s wild southern section. Here two moderate paths—the Seneca Greenway Trail and Seneca Bluffs Trail—snake through the Seneca Creek stream valley between Highway 28 and the Potomac River; combined, the two make for a long day …
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At 1,529 feet, Cadillac Mountain is the tallest peak in Acadia National Park and has no equal on Mount Desert Island that matches its panoramic views. Three arduous trails climb the mountain, though most opt to drive the winding road to the summit. Being one of the easternmost mountains in the United States, visitors flock …
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With its sweeping views and hair-raising ascent, the Beehive Trail is one of Acadia National Park’s most iconic hikes. Along with the Beech Cliff Trail, Jordan Cliffs Trail, and Precipice Trail, Beehive is one of the park’s four “iron rung routes”: strenuous climbs that require negotiating ladders, iron aides, and steep staircases to mount exposed …
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The Acadia Mountain Loop is a challenging hike on Acadia National Park’s quieter west side that affords fantastic views of Mount Desert Island, Echo Lake, and Somes Sound. Granite outcrops make for excellent vantage points—but also significant obstacles—on this 2.9-mile stem-and-loop. After summiting the mountain, the trail drops 600 feet to the banks of Somes …
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The Beech Cliff Trail, situated in Acadia National Park’s peaceful western section, is one of the park’s four “iron rung routes”: strenuous climbs that require negotiating ladders, iron aides, and steep granite staircases to mount exposed cliff sides. Compared with the other three, the Beech Cliff Trail is arguably the least harrowing: the biggest obstacles …
Continue reading Beech Cliff Trail & Canada Cliffs Trail Loop (Acadia National Park, ME)
Continuing where the Dickey Ridge Trail – Section 1 left off, the second half of the Dickey Ridge Trail extends five miles from the Dickey Ridge Picnic Area to Compton Gap in Shenandoah National Park’s North District. Highlights include a beautiful viewpoint from a clear cut near the start and Fort Windham Rocks toward the …
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- Revolutionary War Series - Hamilton Grange National Memorial, a relatively modest home in Harlem, honors the life and achievements of Founding Father Alexander Hamilton, American revolutionary, a key promoter of the US Constitution, and America's first Treasury Secretary. Constructed in 1802, “The Grange” would serve as Hamilton’s home for only two years (he was, …
- Civil War Series - General Grant National Memorial, the largest mausoleum in North America, is situated in a quiet and beautiful corner of New York City and commemorates the life of Civil War hero and 18th US President Ulysses S. Grant. The site—widely known simply as “Grant’s Tomb”—includes a small visitor center that tells …
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