10 Mountains In Maryland
Hiking in Maryland isn’t going to prepare you to take on huge mountains. But the mountains in Maryland are fantastic for hikers that want to experience everything from coastal trails to dense forests and tall waterfalls. There are lots of hiking trails in Maryland that are appropriate for beginner hikers too, so if you’re not an experienced hiker try hiking these mountains in Maryland:
Backbone Mountain
Located in: Garrett County Height: 3,360 feet Nearby City: Red House Known For: Backbone Mountain is the tallest mountain in Maryland. It sits right on the Eastern Continental Divide. Hiking up Backbone Mountain is easy. To reach the summit you just need to hike a one mile trail that has an ascent of 700 feet. If you’re a new hiker looking to get some experience or if you want to take your family, including your children, on an easy hike this is a great one to choose. There are no amenities on this mountain, but there is a small picnic area at the top so you can have lunch on the summit and enjoy some of the pretty views of the surrounding areas. Backbone Mountain is accessible all year, but if you’re going to hike in the summer remember to dress for hot and humid weather and bring water. It’s also a good idea to wear sunscreen and a hat with a brim. The heat and the sun can be intense even on a small peaked mountain like Backbone Mountain. If you’re not an experienced hiker take lots of breaks for water.
Wild Turkey Rock
Located in: Garrett County Height: 3,228 feet Nearby City: Deer Park Known For: Wild Turkey Rock Mountain is another easy mountain to hike in Maryland. From the summit of Wild Turkey Rock Mountain you can look out over the rolling green hills of the surrounding areas and enjoy some beautiful sunsets and sunrises. This is also a great space for horseback riders to come for a trail ride because the ascent isn’t difficult. Wild Turkey Rock Mountain is part of the Appalachian mountain chain but it doesn’t have quite the dramatic effect that the Appalachian mountains have in West Virginia, North Carolina, and Tennessee. When you’re hiking on Wild Turkey Rock Mountain keep an eye out for the many different kinds of wildlife that live in the grassy hills of this slope like rabbits, opossums, and some deer.
Meadow Mountain
Located in: Deep Creek Lake State Park Height: 3,031 feet Nearby City: Swanton Known For: Meadow Mountain is a great hiking mountain located within Deep Creek Lake State Park. The Meadow Mountain Trail is one of the first hiking and biking trails that was created in Deep Creek Lake State Park. The trail is about six miles and will take you across southwestern edge of the summit of Meadow Mountain which looks over Deep Creek Lake. The lake view from the summit is gorgeous and the hike is a nice and easy loop. You can hike this trail but it’s also used for trail running and mountain biking. However, this isn’t a particularly popular trail and so most of the time it’s not crowded. Camping is available in Deep Creek Lake State Park if you want to stay for a few days and explore the rest of the park. A hike to the summit of Meadow Mountain is a great easy afternoon hike but there are also plenty of other hiking trails in the park along with fishing, kayaking, and mountain biking opportunities.
Sugarloaf
Located in: Sugarloaf Mountain Park Height: 1,283 feet Nearby City: Dickerson Known For: Sugarloaf Mountain is one of the most visited mountains in Maryland. It’s a small mountain with an ascent of just 800 feet over the surrounding countryside. However, it’s got some of the prettiest views in all of Maryland, especially in the fall when the forests below are popping with vivid autumn colors. One of the unique things about Sugarloaf Mountain is that it’s mostly private property, although it is a designated National Landmark. There is a private trust created by a businessman who bought most of the mountain in the early 1920s. The trust pays to maintain the Sugarloaf Mountain Park and a beautiful mansion facility that used to be the home of the businessman that owned the property. This facility has been fully restored and can be rented for events like weddings. The park is free and open to the public.
Quirauk Mountain
Located in: South Mountain State Park Height: 2,145 feet Nearby City: Cascade Known For: Quirauk Mountain is actually part of South Mountain. What makes Quirauk Mountain special is High Rock, the summit of Quirauk Mountain. It’s a very small rocky ledge that is almost square. Even though the summit isn’t tall there is a little bit of a scramble to get up on High Rock because of the unique shape of it. The other unique thing about Quirauk Mountain is that it’s one of the premier spots in the country for hang gliding. And that’s because of High Rock. High Rock’s unique shape and elevation make it the perfect launch for a hang glider. here is a paved road that goes almost all the way up Quirauk Mountain so that hang gliders can drive their crafts to the top and launch from High Rock. When the weather is right you can see entire clubs of hang gliders launching from Quirauk Mountain and gliding into the stunning grass fields of South Mountain State Park below. Whether you want a nice easy hike or just to hang out and watch the gliders you can’t beat a trip to Quirauk Mountain in the spring or summer.
Evitts Mountain
Located in: Rocky Gap State Park Height: 2,560 feet Nearby City: Cumberland Known For: Evitts Mountain has an extended ridge-like summit that stretches through Maryland across the Mason-Dixon Line and just across the border in Pennsylvania. Most of the mountain is covered in dense Hemlock forest that can make it a very challenging hike. But if you are hiking on the main trail up the mountain you’ll pass the historical Evitt Farmstead that is directly on the mountain. Evitt’s Homestead is a fantastic example of what a traditional mountain homestead looked like and gives people a chance to see what mountain life was like for the people who originally settled in the area and lived on and near the mountain. It’s a challenging trail for beginner hikers but older kids might find the Homestead really interesting and worth the climb. The primary trail up the mountain is about 3 miles to the summit and 3 miles back and it’s almost all uphill on the ascent after your cross a small creek. The mountain is accessible year round but the climb can be tough in the winter if there is snow.
Catoctin Mountain
Located in: Catoctin Mountain State Park Height: 1,900 feet Nearby City: Thurmont Known For: Catoctin Mountain sit inside Catoctin Mountain State Park and both are connected to a string of other state parks that are in the same area. There are six state parks on the Maryland side and one on the Virginia side all in the Catoctin Mountain area. Why are there so many state parks so close together? There are many state parks in this area because they were all created by the Civilian Conservation Corp during the Great Depression. During the Great Depression President Roosevelt created several government organizations dedicated to preserving public land and building public parks and buildings as part of his commitment to get people working and earning money. He would give jobs to out of work people building trails and creating public parks all over the country so that they could be working and earning money by creating something of value to the country. Catoctin Mountain and Catoctin Mountain State Park are second growth forest areas and those forests were started by CCC workers. They also built visitor centers and created a framework of trails for hiking and biking.
Annapolis Rock
Located in: South Mountain State Park Height: 1,700 feet Nearby City: Boonsboro Known For: Annapolis Rock is a hike, not a mountain, but it’s one of the most popular hiking trails in Maryland. The Annapolis Trail will take you up and over South Mountain but almost the entire way the trail piggybacks on the Appalachian Trail. There are stunning views at the top of South Mountain and it’s a relatively easy hike on a nice wide path. Annapolis Rock Trail is a 5 mile out and back trail that provides magnificent views of the Cumberland Valley from the summit. There is ample parking at the trail head as long as you get there relatively early in the morning. And if you want to extend your hike you can use the Annapolis Rock trail to connect with the Appalachian Trai or other trails that will give you 2-3 days of solid mountain hiking connecting with several other mountains in Maryland and Virginia.
South Mountain
Located in: South Mountain State Park Height: 2,150 feet Nearby City: Boonsboro Known For: South Mountain is at the end of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Maryland. This mountain is unique because it starts out at a small ridge that is barely above the edge of the Potomac River and then it grows and continues to get wider, longer, and steeper until it reaches a peak of 1,500 feet. South Mountain is home to Quirauk Mountain and the Annapolis Rock Trail so you and your family will have lots of great mountain views to see. You can also enjoy hiking and biking along forty miles of trail in the South Mountain State Park. Camping is available in cabins or on camp sites so you can take several days in the park to enjoy the beauty of this area and get in some great hiking and outdoor exercise.
Weverton Cliffs
Located in: Washington County Height: 1,500 feet Nearby City: Knoxville Known For: Weverton Cliffs are actually part of the Appalachian Trail that goes over South Mountain, but they rank as one of the best mountains in Maryland. That’s because the view from Weverton Cliffs is one of the most beautiful in the entire United States. People come from all over the country to hike the Appalachian Trail up to Weverton Cliffs so that they can look out on the rolling hills of Maryland and West Virginia, the Potomac River, and the gorgeous Blue Ridge Mountains. The trailhead is easily accessible and there is parking that’s accessible. Just look for the Appalachian Trail blaze and follow the white AT blazes to the Weverton Cliffs. It’s only about a mile and a half hike from the parking area and it’s a very accessible trail. Kids can do this trail easily. You can also brin your dog as long as it’s leashed.
10 Tallest Mountains In Maryland
Backbone MountainMarsh Hill Negro Mountain Snaggy Mountain Meadow Mountain Roman Nose Hill Four Mile Ridge Big Savage Mountain Lewis KnobGeorge Hill
Highest Point In Maryland
Backbone Mountain -3,360 feet
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Backbone Mountain, at 3,360 feet, is the highest point in Maryland. Why are there so many state parks in Maryland? Catoctin Mountain sit inside Catoctin Mountain State Park and both are connected to a string of other state parks that are in the same area. There are six state parks on the Maryland side and one on the Virginia side all in the Catoctin Mountain area. Why are there so many state parks so close together? There are many state parks in this area because they were all created by the Civilian Conservation Corp during the Great Depression.
