Hike It, Bike It, Ride It, Roll It ... Just Do It! With hundreds of miles of trails traversing terrain from beaches and mountains to forests and riverbanks, exploring our trail system is the ultimate way to experience the beauty and wonder of Maryland’s distinctive landscapes. Fulfilling the GAP The award-winning, beautiful Great Allegheny Passage (GAP) trail stretches 159 miles from Cumberland to Pittsburgh. The terrain is mostly flat and smooth and takes you through a series of tunnels, viaducts and bridges. As you wind through the Appalachian Mountains , you’ll find plenty of charming small towns that roll out the welcome mat for cyclists. The trail connects to the C&O Canal Towpath , making it easy to turn a day trip into a longer trek. If you aren’t up for biking, the trail is also great for hiking, and some portions can be explored on horseback. Guided rides are available through Spring Gap Farm . C&O Canal Towpath Hike Through History Rail Trail Utopia Instagram: @tryppadams The 19.7-mile Torrey C. Brown Rail Trail traces the path of the former Northern Central Railway in northern Baltimore County through Gunpowder Falls State Park . Hikers, joggers, bicyclists and horseback riders can enjoy the flat trail and stunning views of the park’s namesake river. On the way back to town, stop at Hereford Zone Snoballs to cool off with Maryland’s favorite shaved-ice treat. And all rail trails are electric-bike friendly, too. The C&O Canal is a beautiful transportation artifact of 20th-century engineering. Now, it’s a beloved route for thru-hikers and bikers as well as day trippers. It’s also a hub for outdoor activities like hiking, biking, bird-watching and even old-fashioned, mule-drawn barge rides. At the heart of this remarkable trail is the C&O Canal National Historical Park with its 74 unique lift locks and the 184.5-mile C&O Canal Towpath . Along the way from Cumberland to Washington, D.C., you’ll find fascinating and informative visitor centers, convenient campsites, welcoming canal towns and great recreational activities with guides offering everything from tire patches and picnics to white-water adventures. VISITMARYLAND.ORG 69
Maryland Official Visitors Guide 2024 Maryland Official Visitors Guide: Page 69
