Looking for hiking trails in western MD and northeastern WV
May 25, 2008 4:31 PM Subscribe
Can anyone recommend some good hiking trails in western Maryland or the northeastern panhandle of West Virginia?
I work in the former (and have family there) and live in the latter, so I have convenient access to both. I've spent a lot of time hiking on the Appalachian Trail through Washington County, and at Maryland Heights, but those no longer hold any surprises. I'd like to find some new trails to explore.
There are a lot of trails in state parks and the like, but most of them are short and/or too easy. I'm not necessarily trying to climb sheer cliffs, but I'd like something that will get the sweat and the endorphins pumping. Interesting ecologies and places off the beaten track (i.e., not full of picnicking families) are especially good.
I work in the former (and have family there) and live in the latter, so I have convenient access to both. I've spent a lot of time hiking on the Appalachian Trail through Washington County, and at Maryland Heights, but those no longer hold any surprises. I'd like to find some new trails to explore.
There are a lot of trails in state parks and the like, but most of them are short and/or too easy. I'm not necessarily trying to climb sheer cliffs, but I'd like something that will get the sweat and the endorphins pumping. Interesting ecologies and places off the beaten track (i.e., not full of picnicking families) are especially good.
In southwestern Pennsylvania, there's the 70-mile Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail and the Tuscarora Trail. In the West Virginia panhandle, there's the big Monongahela National Forest. Check out the Dolly Sods and Otter Creek wilderness areas in particular. Farther south, you can't go wrong with Shenandoah National Park.
posted by driveler at 6:15 PM on May 25, 2008
posted by driveler at 6:15 PM on May 25, 2008
Also, Mid-Atlantic Hikes is a good resource for finding hikes in your area.
posted by driveler at 6:17 PM on May 25, 2008
posted by driveler at 6:17 PM on May 25, 2008
You might want to www.geocaching.com, sign up for a FREE account, go to Hide & See a Cache, pop in the zip codes, and see what comes up. There's sure to be easy hikes, but you'll also likely get harder hikes and lots of "hidden gem" locations (one of the best features of geocaching).
posted by coollibrarian at 7:59 PM on May 25, 2008
posted by coollibrarian at 7:59 PM on May 25, 2008
Savage Mountain maybe? I don't know that there's a lot of really challenging hiking (I have family there). Here's the Savage Mountain Trail.
You also might find some places to hike (and bike!) along the C&O Canal.
Blackwater Falls in West Virginia is beautiful.
posted by citron at 11:02 PM on May 25, 2008
You also might find some places to hike (and bike!) along the C&O Canal.
Blackwater Falls in West Virginia is beautiful.
posted by citron at 11:02 PM on May 25, 2008
Response by poster: Thanks for the suggestions...many of these look great! Now I just need to get on the trail before it gets oppressively hot...
posted by greenie2600 at 11:00 AM on May 26, 2008
posted by greenie2600 at 11:00 AM on May 26, 2008
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Wolfdog at 5:02 PM on May 25, 2008