![]() Or, join the locals for some dine-in or carryout “broasted” chicken, corn fritters, and a black-raspberry milkshake at Thurmont Kountry Kitchen (17 Water St., Thurmont 30). Reserve a spot along Owens Creek and the bubbling brook will serenade you all night.Įat: Picnicking is permitted at the Owens Creek and Chestnut picnic areas. Stay: The park’s Owens Creek Campground has 50 sites set among tall oaks and tulip poplars. Beware of an occasional rattlesnake sunning itself on the rocks at the top. The trail begins with a moderately strenuous climb heading east out of the visitor-center parking lot. The approximately five-mile loop offers a pair of sweeping vistas, particularly from Chimney Rock, which extends 1,419 feet above the valley. Most Challenging Hike: Wolf Rock/Chimney Rock Best Moderate Hike: Falls Nature Trailįrom the visitor center, the 1.4-mile trail heads to Cunningham Falls, the tallest waterfall in Maryland, at 78 feet. Placards tell the story of the dramatic event, during which a deputy sheriff was killed, while a period-appropriate still helps convey how moonshine was made. ![]() Best Easy Hike: Blue Blazes Whiskey Still TrailĪ one-third-mile stroll along this trail leads to the site where a large commercial moonshine operation stood until a raid in 1929. Many of the trails boast great views of the Monocacy River Valley as well as remains left by early settlers who used the land over the years for farming, mining iron ore, and brewing hooch. Why Go: Home to the presidential retreat, Camp David, this Maryland park features 25 miles of hiking trails across 5,810 acres of hardwood forest. Jayne Clark Catoctin Mountain Park Photograph via Flickr user TrailVoice. (The less energetic can trim the 18-mile round trip by simply turning back.) Along the way, it passes a couple of lakes and New Deal–era cabins built by the Civilian Conservation Corps.Įat: Harold & Cathy’s Dumfries Cafe (17670 Fraley Blvd., Dumfries 70), a local haunt, serves classic diner fare. The 8.7-mile trail starts from Oak Ridge Campground and follows the south fork of Quantico Creek. Other evidence of past inhabitants includes a cemetery. Though forest has reclaimed some of the territory, it’s easy to see where crops were cultivated. The three-mile trail, which starts near Oak Ridge Campground, runs through former farmland. Best Moderate Hike: Farms To Forest Trail ![]() This trail is just three-tenths of a mile long but links to other trails for a total 2.5-mile moderate trek. (Pyrite was used to make sulfuric acid.) The mine sites are filled in, but vestiges of various operations and buildings remain, along with educational signs. Best Short Hike: Cabin Branch Pyrite Mine TrailĪ pyrite mine was in operation here from the 1880s until 1920. Historical fun fact: During World War II, it was used as a spy-training facility by the OSS, precursor to the CIA. Yet with 37 miles of hiking trails-including one that stretches for nine miles-it harbors Northern Virginia’s most extensive trail network. Why Go: This 15,000-acre refuge is an often overlooked gem. Jayne Clark Prince William Forest Park Photograph via Flickr user TrailVoice. Nearby: While the historic structures and museum exhibits operated by the National Park Service are currently closed, you can still walk about Harpers Ferry pre- or post-hike. 37412 Adventure Center Ln., Hillsboro, Va. Grab a socially distanced picnic table and sample them alongside snacks from rotating food trucks. It ends at the Split Rock overlook with fabulous views of the Potomac and Shenandoah confluence from a southern perspective.Įat and drink: Harpers Ferry Brewing, known for its quirky beers (such as a blackberry-and-lime gose or coffee-and-coconut-accented barleywine) is set on a cliff overlooking the river. From the information center, cross the Shenandoah River bridge and follow the trail to several scenic lookouts. With an 80-foot gain in elevation, this challenging, 7.5-mile hike isn’t for novices. ![]() The reward: a spectacular view of historic Harpers Ferry and the confluence of the Shenandoah and Potomac rivers. Departing from the information center, it leads to an old stone fort, a naval battery, trenches, and other Civil War relics, many with interpretive signs. The 6.5-mile trail can get crowded on weekends, but there’s a reason for its popularity. Starting at the information center in town (the inside of which is currently closed), the route crosses the Potomac River footbridge and traces the C&O towpath on the most level 2.5 miles of the Appalachian Trail. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |