Perched at the southern tip of South Mountain, more than 500 feet above the Potomac River, Weverton Cliffs in central Maryland is easily one of the state’s most scintillating viewpoints. It is also relatively easily accessible—less than a mile’s hike up the famed Appalachian Trail from the small community of Weverton, which in turn is …
Continue reading Appalachian Trail to Weverton Cliffs (South Mountain State Park, MD)
Although named for the tall, wily trees populating the area, the real highlight of the Yellow Poplar Trail in Maryland’s Gambrill State Park is the ubiquitous, yellow-green ferns seemingly present at every turn. Straddling Catoctin Mountain—the easternmost ridge of the Appalachian Mountains in Maryland—the Yellow Poplar Trail offers some limited vistas but, sparsely traveled even …
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Cunningham Falls, Maryland’s tallest, is the focal park of the state park bearing its name, but there are plenty of other worth destinations in this 6,000-acre wilderness a short striking distance from Frederick, Maryland. Cat Rock offers nice, albeit not fantastic, views of the surrounding Catoctin Mountains, but the real gem is the “rock” itself: …
Continue reading Cat Rock Loop (Cunningham Falls State Park, MD)
At 78 feet, Cunningham Falls, the centerpiece of the state park bearing its name, is Maryland’s tallest waterfall and one of the state’s most visited. Situated in the heart of the Catoctin Mountains, this scenic landmark is less than a 1 ½ hour-drive from Baltimore or Washington, DC. Come during the offseason to get the …
Continue reading Cliff Trail – Lower Trail Loop (Cunningham Falls State Park, MD)
The 2.5-mile trek to Annapolis Rocks is one of the most popular hikes in northwest Maryland and features sweeping views of Hagerstown Valley, Greenbrier Lake, and beyond. One mile farther, hikers can get an even better—and more private—vista from Black Rock. The hike follows a short section of the famed Appalachian Trail (AT) and climbs …
Continue reading Appalachian Trail to Annapolis Rocks and Black Rock (South Mountain State Park, MD)
Many Washington, DC residents will know the Billy Goat Trail of Great Falls, Maryland; despite having three parts—Sections A, B, and C—the first is by far the most popular and iconic. While teeming with visitors on a nice summer day, Section A has a tremendous upside for hikers seeking a challenge within a half hour’s …
Continue reading Billy Goat Trail – Section A (Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park, MD)
Live and Let Hike 