MARYLAND TRAILS Trail Mix BY ASHLEY STIMPSON Summit mountains, kayak the bay and bike back to camp—Maryland’s trail system is second to none. Opportunities for outdoor adventures in Maryland are as diverse as the landscape. From the great heights of Western Maryland to the lapping tides of the Eastern Shore, there’s a trail for everyone in the Old Line State. Whether you’re traveling by foot, bike or boat, taking in history or carving out a new path, you can bet on incredible scenery and indelible memories. Go from sea level to soaring vistas with a trip to Backbone Mountain in Garrett County. At 3,360 feet, the mountain is the highest point in Maryland, though the trail technically begins in West Virginia. A challenging 2.5-mile round trip, this hike offers beautiful views and bragging rights. At the summit (also known as Hoye-Crest), be sure to sign the register and snap a triumphant selfie. WALK IT OUT After a short drive from fast-paced Baltimore, you’ll find peaceful North Point State Park. With well-marked, well-maintained trails and teasing glimpses of the Chesapeake Bay, this park is ideal for an early morning stroll or your trail-running training regimen. Take the Black Marsh Trail to the ruins of the Ferry Grove Pier. Elsewhere in the park, you can cast a line or unfurl a blanket for a waterfront picnic. PEDAL POWER River Valley. For a unique way to experience the towpath, bike its entirety and stay in one of the rustic, riverside campsites located about every five miles along the trail or stay in a former lock tender’s house. Ready to push your limits? Consider connecting with the Great Allegheny Passage towpath that connects with the towpath in Cumberland and offers riders another 150 miles of trail en route to Pittsburgh, PA. Those who prefer their bike rides “rough and tumble” will appreciate Patapsco Valley State Park’s 32 miles of mountain biking trails. The rocky terrain and the undulating hills of Patapsco make for an exhilarating ride, and the 56-mile Tour de Patapsco (linking the Avalon and McKeldin Areas) is especially popular with Baltimore-and D.C.-area bikers. For a post-workout cool down, how about a dip in the park’s namesake river? For nearly a century, the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal was one of the nation’s most important commercial arteries, transporting coal and timber from the Allegheny Mountains to the industrial centers of Washington and Baltimore. Today, the C&O Canal towpath trail is a 184.5-mile avenue for adventure, providing joggers, hikers and bikers the chance to discover the fascinating history and enduring splendor of the Potomac 38 ✥ VISITMARYLAND.ORG | 1-877-209-5883 PHOTO: PLAID PHOTO, JUSTIN TSUCALAS
Maryland Official Visitors Guide 2020 Maryland Official Visitors Guide: Page 38
