Baltimore: Upper Loch Raven Reservoir
Breathe easy on this hilly 6.8-mile out-and-back to the calm banks of the Upper Loch Raven Reservoir, a beautiful waterscape just north of the city.
Maryland Trails
Hiking in Maryland gives backpackers the opportunity to experience some of the eastern seaboard’s most entrancing landscapes.
The Chesapeake Bay dominates eastern Maryland, creating covers, creeks, salt marshes and islands. Sandy beaches trace the coastline along the Atlantic Ocean. In central Maryland, hills of the Piedmont Plateau dominate the landscape and run into the Blue Ridge Mountains. The heavily forested Allegheny Mountains occupy western Maryland, while the Potomac River runs along the southern border of the state.
Hiking the Billy Goat Trail
Make like a goat and hoof it to the trail: just a hop, skip, and a jump from D.C.
Latest in Maryland Trails
Baltimore: Cascade Falls
Hike, bike, or snowshoe this 3.1-mile loop to pioneer ruins and a relaxing waterfall in Patapsco State Park, a short drive from downtown.
Chesapeake and Ohio Canal NHP: Billy Goat Trail-Towpath Loop
Revisit the early shipping days of the Potomac Valley on a 5.6-mile circuit of this 155-year-old route. Along the way, marvel at the East's steepest, most spectacular fall-line rapid.
Baltimore: Sugarloaf Mountain Loop
Climb a lone sentinel rising above the rolling Maryland farmland on this short-and-sweet 5.7-mile loop to a mountain oasis in the sky.
Chesapeake and Ohio Canal NHP: Swains Lock to Violettes Lock
Hike or bike 11.6 out-and-back miles on an old mule path to views of the Potomac and historical relics. A flat profile makes this trip suitable for young hikers.
Washington, DC: Perimeter Trail
This 5.3-miler in Greenbelt Park loops through a wooded urban jungle and along gentle streams, just 15 minutes from The National Mall.
Washington, DC: Schaeffer Farms Loop
Spin your wheels on twisty singletrack that whizzes over hills and across streams on this action-packed 3.1-mile loop through the renowned Schaeffer Farms.
Washington, DC: Maryland Heights Loop
Immerse yourself in history as you explore long-abandoned Civil War batteries on this 6.1-mile hike to a commanding view of Harpers Ferry.
Washington, DC: Little Bennett Regional Park
Swing off the Beltway for a 9.2-mile loop through the boggy lowlands, grassy meadows, and open ridges of this once-bustling historic valley.
Chesapeake and Ohio Canal NHP: Edwards Ferry to Violettes Lock
Life on the old canal was tough, but you can take it easy as you hike or bike these pleasant, flat-as-a-pancake 8.7 miles in a historical setting.
Washington, DC: Perimeter Trail
This 5.3-miler in Greenbelt Park loops through a wooded urban jungle and along gentle streams, just 15 minutes from The National Mall.
Baltimore: Wye Island Paddle
On this 7-mile paddling route, you'll tour the inner reaches of Chesapeake Bay, passing riverbanks and wooded wetlands with picturesque trails.
Chesapeake and Ohio Canal NHP: Billy Goat Trail, Sections B & C
If you like the sound of raging whitewater, this less-traveled 6.4-mile route offers plenty of acoustical inspiration and scenic Potomac River views.
Washington, DC: Perimeter Trail
Skip the tourist spots and take the bus to Greenbelt Park for a 5.4-mile loop through a quiet, leafy urban forest.
Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historic Park: Swains Lock to Great Falls
This storied trail used to be all work; now it's all play for hikers and bikers interested in historic buildings and DC's most famous waterfall.
Baltimore, MD: Patapsco Valley State Park
You'll find two wooded creeks and plenty of solitude on this 2.8-mile lollipop loop nestled in the heart of Patapsco Valley State Park.
Baltimore, MD: Susquehanna River Loop
Backpack one of northern Maryland's most versatile trails.
Baltimore, MD: Soldiers Delight
Discover the beauty of a Midwest prairie--in central Maryland--on this 6.3-mile dayhike.
Rip & Go: Pine Tree Loop
Paddle to shoreline solitude, then perch on dunes above the Atlantic Ocean in Maryland's Assateague Island National Seashore.