Trail Mix Not sure where to start? Cumberland’s Mountainside Bike Tours can tailor a course for you, plus set you up with meals and places to stay, while WheelzUp Adventures can hook you up with guided or self-guided tours, rentals and shuttle services. ACCESSIBLE & TRAILS Both of these trails have average grades of less than 1% (or 4–5% at their steepest), with paved, crushed-stone surfaces and hard-packed dirt surfaces that many wheelchairs can navigate. Others to consider: • Patapsco Valley State Park near Ellicott City offers adaptive programs for hiking, fishing, paddling and cycling, and its Tall Poplar Trail , lined with leafy poplars of course, has a wide corridor that accommodates adaptive mountain bikes and has accessible bathrooms along the way. Torrey C. Brown Rail Trail TORREY C. BROWN RAIL TRAIL aka Northern Central Railway (NCR) What was once a 22-stop section of the Baltimore & Susquehanna Railroad, one of the nation’s oldest rail trails is also a favorite of cyclists, birders and hikers in all seasons who like to read historical railroad signs while they stop to smell the native plants. The Torrey C. Brown Rail Trail is 20 often tree-shaded and river-adjacent miles, starting at the Pennsylvania state line and heading south toward Cockeysville . One of the most popular stops for a picnic is the 1898 Monkton Train Station in Gunpowder Falls State Park . Inside, learn about the history of the railroad and then explore the Gunpowder Garden Club’s tranquil beautification efforts. Rent a river tube at Monkton Bike Rentals for a lazy float on the Gunpowder River , and check the calendar at ncrtrailsnails.com for group trail runs to join year-round. More on p. 44 • Acorn Loop in the Fork LODGING TO LOVE Before you’ve arrived at the trail’s southern terminus, book a retreat at Gramercy Mansion in Stevenson for some rest and rehab. Spa tubs, fireplaces, massages and breakfast crafted from the on-site organic farm’s ingredients will have you blissed out in no time. Maryland Department of Natural Resources Run Recreation Area near McHenry is designated for trail users with limited mobility, featuring a wide, crushed-limestone path free of roots and rocks that still has challenging turns and corners that keep things interesting. More on p. 54 VISITMARYLAND.ORG 83
Maryland Official Visitors Guide 2026 Maryland Official Visitors Guide: Page 83
