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Trails in Maryland


Trails provide many economic benefits to local communities and create a wide range of jobs, from B&B's to bike shops. They also help tell the wonderful stories of Maryland and its rich history. And hiking and bicycle trails are for the whole family. They make us all healthier and happier while opening up the natural world around us.

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is currently working closely with the National Park Service, the Maryland Department of Transportation, State Highway Administration, Department of Planning, Office of Tourism, local governments, trail groups, and volunteer citizens on a wide assortment of trails throughout the state.

Check out some of the cool trails we are working on:

  • The Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail (PHNST)

    DNR is partnering with the Potomac Heritage Trail Association and the National Park Service to evaluate an alignment for hiking between Point Lookout State Park and Marshall Hall, potentially connecting 11 DNR-managed lands, including Chapman’s Landing (Chapman State Park), Smallwood State Park, Chicamauxen WMA, Nanjemoy Natural Resource Management Area, Wilson Farm, Purse State Park, Chapel Point State Park (on Port Tobacco River), Cedar Point (1,737 acres), New Towne Neck (776 acres) and St. Inigoes (985 acres). A natural-surface, mostly off-road trail in the Potomac River corridor, if feasible, would be a significant part of a multi-use trail network between the Chesapeake Bay and two northern termini—Point State Park in Pittsburgh and the northern terminus of the Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail near Johnstown.

  • Garrett Trails

    Governor O'Malley has put $300,000 in his proposed budget for trail design and environmental upgrades on state lands in Garrett County. DNR recently finalized a Trail License Agreement with Garrett Trails in Western Maryland for the proposed Meadow Mountain section of the Eastern Continental Divide Loop Trail (ECDL), from I-68 to just south of Frank Brennerman Road.

    The ECDL will eventually connect to the Greater Allegheny Passage (GAP) in Meyersdale, Pennsylvania and run through Savage River State Forest, Deep Creek Lake, Oakland, Herrington Manor and Swallow Falls State Park, Friendsville, and then back into the GAP at Confluence, PA.

    The International Mountain Bike Association (IMBA) and the Mid-Atlantic Off Road Enthusiasts (MORE) are also assisting Garrett Trails in building sustainable mountain bike trails on The Wisp and closing rogue (illegal) trails throughout the county.

  • Western Maryland Rail Trail Phase IV

    The Maryland Department of Transportation and State Highway Administration have appropriated funds through the Transportation Enhancement Program to add another 4.7 miles to the 20-mile-long Western Rail Trail that is managed by DNR and currently runs from historic Ft. Frederick State Park, through the town of Hancock, and ending along the Potomac River at the forgotten canal town of Pearre. Over 135,000 visitors rode this very popular trail last year.

    The new trail extension will bypass the 106-year-old Indigo Tunnel located ten miles southwest of Hancock, MD within the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park. This abandoned railroad tunnel is one of the largest and still healthy hibernaculums, or roosts, in the state and is home to five species of bats including the Eastern Small-footed bat listed by Maryland as endangered and the Indiana bat on the federal endangered species list. In order to reduce any chance of introducing White Nose Syndrome which has decimated bat populations along the eastern seaboard, the trail will bypass the tunnel.

    The National Park Service is the lead on this project and is currently conducting an environmental assessment. The public is welcome to comment. For more information: http://www.journal-news.net/page/content.detail/id/578996/Trail-focus-of-meeting.html?nav=5006

  • The September 11th National Memorial Trail

    The September 11th National Memorial Trail is a planned 1,140-mile on-road and off-road trail connecting the three 9/11 memorial sites in New York City, the Pentagon, and Shanksville, Pa. The trail will be a tribute to all those that perished in America's single worse terrorist attack and serve as a symbol of the resiliency and character of the communities in which the victims and their families lived and worked. The patriotic volunteers at the Memorial Trail Alliance are hoping to create a multi-use, hiking, biking, and driving pilgrimage that will officially be designated by the federal government as a national trail. The Maryland segment, running along the C&O Canal Trail, is already in place all the way to Cumberland and beyond.

  • W3R Trail

    The Washington-Rochambeau was designated a National Historic Trail in 2009, and follows the rambling route taken by General George Washington's Continental Army and French soldiers led by General Jean-Baptiste de Rochambeau, starting in Newport, Rhode Island and ending in Yorktown, Virginia where British General Cornwallis surrendered. The Maryland segment of what is primarily a driving trail will include army encampments at Head of the Elk River, Lower Ferry, Bushtown, White Marsh, Baltimore, Annapolis, Scot's House, Spurrier's Tavern, Snowden's Iron Works, Bladensburg, and Georgetown. There will be an official National Park Service website up and running in early 2012, followed by Facebook and Twitter presence, and a blog for highlighting events, stories, and interactive discussion.

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    Like the flowers of spring, all sorts of interesting and colorful trails are popping up all over the state, from Chesapeake City up near the Delaware Line to way down in St. Mary's County at the mouth of the Potomac River, and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources is proud to help provide new and rewarding recreational opportunities for our citizens and visitors alike. So now that winter is over and spring is back in town, enjoy a Maryland trail. It's guaranteed to make your day!

    Maryland Department of Transportation

    Launches NEW Bike Ped Website

    MDOT launched their new website in early May of 2012 . There’s now a bike/walk tab on the homepage that provides more direct links to some of the maps and bike/walk resources, including some DNR resources. 

    Cycle Maryland Showcase Is Here!

    The Cycle Maryland Showcase submission form and our calendar of bike month events are now up on the Cycle Maryland webpage. We’d greatly appreciate your help spreading the word about the Showcase and encouraging folks to participate. We’ve tweeted and posted to facebook, and will continue to promote there.

    The Showcase gallery will be a collection of great photos that highlight all different kinds of cycling and cyclists across the state. We need help building a photo gallery that will help us tell the story of cycling in Maryland, and hopefully entice more people to get out and ride.

    MDOT's New Bikeways Program Means More Money For Bicycle Projects in Maryland

    The Bikeways Program was designed to support transportation trails (Shared-Use Paths), Cycle Tracks, Bicycle Lanes, Shared Lanes, and Designated Bike Routes.

    Bicycle Maps

    Looking for trail maps? Well here's the one stop shop for free state, county and regional trail maps. Bike Maps.

    County and City Bike Trails

    Looking for county and city trails around Maryland? Well here's the one stop shop for the complete county-by-county rundown on trails throughout the Free State. County and City Bike Trails.

    Maryland Trail Projects *

    The Trails Division of the Department of Natural Resources is working with our federal, state, county, municipal and private partners on a wide variety of projects. Not every project listed below is necessarily a DNR initiative; for some we are merely providing technical assistance.

    * The projects listed below involve multiple government and private initiatives and are not necessarily DNR projects.

    March 2012 – April 2012

  • Revised ADA Regs – The Justice Department has promulgated new ADA regs for state and local governments that have broad implications for trail development and maintenance.
  • Railroad Lines Map – DNR found a very interesting map produced by the State Railroad Administration in March 1990, showing "all" of the railroad lines in the state and who owns them. DNR is working with MDOT to see if the Office of Freight has a map of active and inactive rail lines around the state.
  • MORE Trail Liaisons – DNR attended the MORE trail liaisons dinner and is beginning to develop an overall “Adopt-a-Park” agreement with the organization in order to build, maintain & relocate sustainable trails, close renegade trails, and provide key trail connections.
  • DNR Trail Atlas – DNR is working with MDOT & SHA to update the state trail atlas on the DNR site. This will be an on-going effort.
  • Cycle Maryland – DNR will be hosting a Cycle Maryland event on Friday May 18th, as part of Bike to Work Day. The event will take place along the Grist Mill Trail in Patapsco State Park.
  • State Trails Maps – Staff from the Governor’s Office, DNR, SHA, MDOT, the MD Office of Tourism, and IT & GIS staff are continuing to coordinate trail map information with the goal of creating a single portal for all of the various state trail maps.
  • State Trail App – The DNR Parks Department is working with the DNR Trails Planner and the DNR Office of Communication to develop a trails app that could accessed for a fee by the public using their phones.
  • TrailStat – DNR, MDOT, & SHA staff are continuing to develop a TrailStat program to measure miles of trail connections and a list of public lands and points of interest added to the state trail network.
  • DNR Trails Team – Staff from various departments in DNR met with Don Briggs, the NPS Superintendent of the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail, are conducting our interdepartmental review the draft alignment of the southern section of the trail from the Wilson Bridge to Point Lookout State Park, utilizing 11 DNR-owned properties.
  • State Trails Team – The State Trails Team, comprised of representatives from all of the state agencies that deal with trails: MDP, DBED, Water Trails, Environmental Review, TEP, RTP, MDE, SHA, MDOT, DNR, MDA, and Critical Area Commission, held their kickoff meeting in February. The goal of the Team is to meet periodically to discuss specific trails projects that potentially impact our various sister state agencies, so we can anticipate and address issues & concerns early on in the process, and partner together where our interests and missions overlap.
  • Citizens-Soldier Trail – This trail is part of the North Point State Battlefield, Battle Acre, and the Star Spangled Banner National Historic Trail & Scenic Maryland Line & Joshua Barney's Inheritance Foot Trail to connect Bear Creek Park to the State Battlefield. This Foot Trail would be an essential Tourism Destination Experience for the War of 1812 Bicentennial. Advocates are currently meeting with Baltimore County staff and elected officials to develop partnerships and support.
  • Western Maryland Rail Trail – Phase IV – SHA & MDOT have appropriated funds through the Transportation Enhancement Program to extend the Western Rail Trail, beginning at Pearre and bypassing two rail tunnels where brown bats roost. The first tunnel bypass is 1.5 miles long and connects to the C&O Canal Trail, and the second bypass is 1.6 miles long and also connects to the C&O Canal. The National Park Service is the lead on this project and is currently conducting an environmental assessment. The public is welcome to comment.
  • Emmitsburg Mountain Bike Trails – The town of Emmitsburg, in conjunction with MORE, is developing a stacked loop mountain bike trail system around Emmitsburg, linking the town with Mount Saint Mary’s University, and the adjoining federal facilities.
  • The Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail (PHNST) – DNR is working with the Friends of the PHNST and the National Park Service on determining an alignment for the southern section of the trail, from the Wilson Bridge to Point Lookout State Park, utilizing 11 DNR-owned properties. This will mostly be a pervious-surface, off-road trail near the Potomac River Trail.
  • Garrett Trails – The Governor has put $300,000 in his proposed budget for trail design and environmental upgrades on state lands in Garrett County. DNR has finalized the Trail License Agreement with Garrett Trails in Western Maryland for the proposed Meadow Mountain section of the Eastern Continental Divide Loop Trail, and other priority trail projects in Garrett County.
  • The September 11th National Memorial Trail – A multi-use trail to commemorate the 9/11 disaster, running from the Pentagon to Shanksville, PA to New York City is being established as a national trail.
  • Patapsco Trails – DNR is working with park managers to address erosion problems on the trails and create a Patapsco Trail group that can help maintain park trails. DNR staff joined MORE on 4/1, to realign the Valley View Trail so that it is sustainable.
  • Off Road Vehicles (ORV’s) – DNR and the ORV Advisory Committee continues to explore potential sites on public & private lands that could be developed for ORV’s. DNR staff met with the MDE mine regulators to discuss the process for utilizing re-claimed mines for ORV facilities. An e-mail will be going out to all mine owners in the state to ascertain interest.
  • Stony Run Path – DNR is working with local community leaders and Baltimore City to construct the Stony Run Path in Baltimore City, connecting Gilman School with Wyman Park and the Jones Falls Trail.
  • Civil War Railroad Trail – DNR staff continued to work with Dick Cushwa, the Hagerstown Bicycle Advisory Group, Hagerstown DPW staff, and the Washington County Tourism Director to review the abandoned Weverton-Roxbury railroad line that is owned by DNR and which runs from Hagerstown to the C&O Canal. Hagerstown, Washington County, and Keedysville, have all sent letters to the Secretary of DNR, asking that the trail be approved.
  • W3R Trail – The Washington-Rochambeau NHT will have an official NPS website up and running in early 2012, followed by Facebook and Twitter presence, and a blog for highlighting events, stories, and discussion.
  • Lynch Preserve – DNR staff is working with the Eastern Shore Land Conservancy to develop signage for public access to this waterfront conservation easement property.
  • Allegany Bike/Ped Plan – Allegany County is developing its Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan and welcomes public input.
  • Children in Nature – The Maryland Children in Nature Committee held its quarterly meeting at the Maryland Department of Agriculture to develop it 2012 Action Plan. CIN is looking for organizations willing to sign a Memorandum of Understanding that commits them to partnering in the program. Please let me know if your group would like to partner with DNR on this initiative.
  • Equestrian – DNR is working with TROT and Maryland Horse Industry Council to determine where equestrian use is permitted on each state land unit, and then update the DNR website to reflect equestrian opportunities. Developing regional equestrian camping facilities will also be a high priority. TROT is working with the owner of the Little Orleans Campground and the Green Ridge State Forest manager to develop an equestrian campground in the forest.
  • PG County Trails – DNR legal staff is reviewing the PG County Attorney’s comments on a lease agreement for PG County trails along the Patuxent River watershed.
  • Bicycle Friendly Building – DNR has put together a “Green Team” from all departments to initiate green practices, including having the Tawes Office Building designated as Bicycle Friendly Building.
  • Conowingo Dam – DNR staff is working with local cycling advocates from Perryville regarding a trail crossing below the dam connecting to DNR lands @ Conowingo Village which is owned by DNR.
  • Land Preservation Parks and Recreation Plans – DNR is currently reviewing the draft 5-year recreation plans for each of the 23 jurisdictions in the state. The plans are currently in the public comment period and will be formally approved in July.
  • Havre de Grace Trail  –  DNR is working with the Vulcan Mining Company who own the large open pit mine to the south of Havre de Grace to develop a multi-use trail around the quarry, linking the town of Havre de Grace and Susquehanna State Park along the Mason Dixon hiking trail.
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    For more information, please contact:

    Steve Carr
    Land Trails Planner
    Land Acquisition & Planning
    Maryland Department of Natural Resources
    580 Taylor Avenue, E-4
    Annapolis, MD 21401

    Phone: 410-260-8478
    FAX: 410-260-8404
    scarr@dnr.state.md.us

    Trails Inventory

    We are also working to develop a comprehensive inventory and data base for all existing and planned public trails and trail systems in Maryland.

    If you are aware of a trail or trail system that is not currently listed on this website, please contact the state Land Trails Planner Steve Carr at scarr@dnr.state.md.us so we can add your trail information to this growing list.

  • National Trails
  • Long Distance Trails
  • National Parks & Refuges
  • Maryland DNR Trails
  • Rails-to-Trails Projects
  • Regional & Local Trails
  • Maryland Byways and Heritage Areas
  • Maryland Bicycle Trails
  • Maryland Equestrian Trails
  • Maryland Water Trails
  • Maryland's Online Boating Access Guide
  • National Water Trails Projects
  • Hubs & Visitor Centers
  • Trails with Road Components and Automobile Trails
  • Off-Road Vehicle Trails
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    Let's Get Connected!

    Momentum is Building to make Trails in Maryland "Second-to-None."