This guide to 60 of the best hikes in the Baltimore area leads you to scenic overlooks, wildlife hot spots, and historical settings.

It’s Time to Take a Hike in Baltimore, Maryland!

The best way to experience Baltimore is by hiking it! Get outdoors with authors Allison Sturm and Evan Balkan, with the new full-color edition of 60 Hikes Within 60 Miles: Baltimore. A perfect blend of popular trails and hidden gems, the selected trails transport you to scenic overlooks, wildlife hot spots, and historical settings that renew your spirit and recharge your body. You’ll learn about the area and experience nature through 60 of Charm City’s best hikes!

Each hike description features key at-a-glance information on distance, difficulty, scenery, traffic, hiking time, and more, so you can quickly and easily learn about each trail. Detailed directions, GPS-based trail maps, and elevation profiles help to ensure that you know where you are and where you’re going. Tips on nearby activities further enhance your enjoyment of every outing. Whether you’re a local looking for new places to explore or a visitor to the area, 60 Hikes Within 60 Miles: Baltimore provides plenty of options for a couple hours or a full day of adventure, all within about an hour from Baltimore and the surrounding communities.

Overview Map

Acknowledgments

Foreword

About the Author

Preface

60 Hikes by Category

Introduction

Anne Arundel County

• Baltimore & Annapolis (B&A) Trail
• BWI Trail
• Downs Park
• Kinder Farm Park

City of Baltimore

• Baltimore Waterfront Promenade
• Cylburn Arboretum
• Gwynns Falls Park
• Gwynns Falls Trail from Leon Day Park to Cherry Hill Park
• Herring Run Park-Lake Montebello
• Jones Falls Trail
• Leakin Park-Gwynns Falls Trail Portion
• Patterson Park
• JHU-Wyman Park-Stoney Run Trail

Baltimore County

• Banneker Historical Park - No. 9 Trolley Line Trail
• Cromwell Valley Park with Loch Raven Add-on
• Double Rock Park
• Gunpowder Falls State Park (Hereford Area): Gunpowder North-South Circuit
• Gunpowder Falls State Park: Jerusalem Village Trail with Jericho Covered Bridge Trail
• Loch Raven Reservoir: Deadman's Cove Trail
• Loch Raven Reservoir: Glen Ellen-Seminary Road
• Loch Raven Reservoir: Merryman Trail
• Loch Raven Reservoir: Northwest Area Trails
• Torrey Brown-NCRR Trail
• North Point State Park
• Oregon Ridge Park
• Patapsco Valley State Park: Alberton and Daniels Area
• Patapsco Valley State Park: Glen Artney Area
• Patapsco Valley State Park: Hilton Area
• Patapsco Valley State Park: McKeldin Area
• Patapsco Valley State Park: Pickall and Hollofield Areas
• Prettyboy Reservoir: CCC Trail
• Prettyboy Reservoir: Gunpowder River
• Prettyboy Reservoir: Hemlock Trail
• Lake Roland Park
• Robert E. Lee Park: Serpentine-Bare Hills
• Soldiers Delight Natural Environmental Area

Carroll County

• Hashawha Environmental Appreciation Area at Bear Branch Nature Center
• Liberty Reservoir: Liberty West-Morgan Run
• Liberty Reservoir: Middle Run Trail
• Morgan Run Natural Environmental Area
• Piney Run Park
• Union Mills

Cecil County

• Elk Neck State Forest
• Elk Neck State Park

Harford County

• Gunpowder Falls State Park: Pleasantville-Bottom Loop
• Gunpowder Falls State Park: Sweathouse Branch Wildlands
• Gunpowder Falls State Park: Sweet Air
• Rocks State Park
• Rocks State Park: Falling Branch
• Susquehanna State Park: River Trails
• Suesquehanna State Park: Woodland-Farm Trails

Howard County

• Centennial Park
• Lake Kittamaqundi
• Middle Patuxent Environmental Area
• Patapsco Valley State Park: Hollofield Area
• Patapsco Valley State Park: Orange Grove and Avalon Areas
• Patapsco Valley State Park, Unmaintained Area: Granite-Woodstock
• Patuxent Branch Trail
• Savage Park

Appendix A: Hiking Stores

Appendix B: Map Stores

Appendix C: Hiking Clubs

Index