Whether it feels like it or not, warm spring weather does arrive in Maryland eventually. Get outdoors this spring and explore these 10 beautiful spots around Maryland. These places offer relatively easy treks that the whole family can enjoy! We think these are some of the best hikes in Maryland (and around Maryland!), and hopefully, you’ll love them as much as we do.
- C & O Canal (Cumberland to DC)
Flickr / Jerry Edmundson The C & O Canal is a little over 84 miles in length so you can hop on the towpath at any point. Enjoy walking, jogging, or cycling along this historic spot. During spring, many areas along the towpath and surrounding trails are covered in wildflowers, making for a colorful sight. This is an epic canal trail in Maryland you’ll want to do more than once! C & O Canal National Historic Park Headquarters, 142 W Potomac St, Williamsport, MD 21795, USA
- Rock Creek Regional Park (Derwood to DC)
Flickr / NatureServe This super-fun park in Maryland has a lengthy paved path that’s perfect for family cycling, where you’ll be surrounded by rustic sights along the way. This place is also great when the weather becomes hot because the trees keep most of the trail shaded and cool. Rock Creek Regional Park, 6700 Needwood Rd, Derwood, MD 20855, USA
- Calvert Cliffs State Park (Lusby)
Flickr / Kyle Hartshorn Take the Red Trail to the cliffs, which is about two miles in length. Along the way you’ll spot water views and all sorts of wildlife, including turtles. Once you reach the beach, take your time searching for fossils, including shark teeth! This Maryland state park is a true treat for anyone who loves the great outdoors (and looking for fossils). Calvert Cliffs State Park, 10540 H G Trueman Rd, Lusby, MD 20657, USA
- Swallow Falls State Park (Oakland)
Flickr / marabuchi This just may be the most beautiful state park in Maryland. Be sure to bring a camera to snap photos of the beautiful waterfalls. You can hike between the two along a trail that’s a little over a mile in length. Swallow Falls State Park, 2470 Maple Glade Rd, Oakland, MD 21550, USA
- Elk Neck State Park (North East)
Flickr / Dave You can expect sprawling water views at Elk Neck State Park, with the Elk River on one side, and the Chesapeake Bay on the other. Enjoy seeing the lighthouse up close, visit the beach, and be sure to hike along the gorgeous clay cliffs. Elk Neck State Park, 4395 Turkey Point Rd, North East, MD 21901, USA
- Washington Monument State Park (Middletown)
Flickr / J. Stephen Conn See the first monument dedicated to George Washington at this unique state park. You can climb to the top and take in the views or hike the nearby trails, which include some of the Appalachian trail. Washington Monument State Park, 6620 Zittlestown Rd, Middletown, MD 21769, USA
- Centennial Park (Ellicott City)
Flickr / Jose Miletti There’s a loop around this picturesque lake that’s a little over two miles in length. This park is perfect for families, as it also offers a playground, paddle boats, and more. Bring a picnic and make a day of it! It’s one of our favorite kid-friendly parks in Maryland as well. Centennial Park, 10000 Clarksville Pike, Ellicott City, MD 21042, USA
- Terrapin Nature Park (Stevensville)
Flickr / Forsaken Fotos One of the best things about this park are the great views of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. You can simply relax at the beach or take to the trails, which provide diverse and scenic sights along the way. This stunning nature park in Maryland is one you’ll love to return to time and time again. Terrapin Nature Park, 191 Log Canoe Cir, Stevensville, MD 21666, USA
- Chapman State Park (Indian Head)
Flickr / F Delventhal This historic park has man-made sights to see, as well as natural views. Visit the old plantation house, which beckons to the past. Take to the trails and you’ll find weathered old barns, a hidden cemetery, and more. This park, and its trails, feels like some kind of fairy-tale scenic place in Maryland. Chapman State Park, 3452 Ferry Pl, Indian Head, MD 20640, USA
- Patuxent River Park (Upper Marlboro)
Flickr / Karen Mallonee This place offers unique sights and the boardwalk path here is quite impressive. Keep an eye out for an assortment of wildlife. This is one state park in Maryland you’re sure to love as much as the trails! Patuxent River Park, 16000 Croom Airport Rd, Upper Marlboro, MD 20772, USA
What are some other spots that are perfect for exploring during spring? Which hikes in Maryland are your picks for the best hikes in Maryland? Feel free to tell us about them in the comments! Need more? Check out this list of some of the best low-key hikes in Maryland to do ASAP.
Flickr / Jerry Edmundson
The C & O Canal is a little over 84 miles in length so you can hop on the towpath at any point. Enjoy walking, jogging, or cycling along this historic spot. During spring, many areas along the towpath and surrounding trails are covered in wildflowers, making for a colorful sight. This is an epic canal trail in Maryland you’ll want to do more than once!
C & O Canal National Historic Park Headquarters, 142 W Potomac St, Williamsport, MD 21795, USA
Flickr / NatureServe
This super-fun park in Maryland has a lengthy paved path that’s perfect for family cycling, where you’ll be surrounded by rustic sights along the way. This place is also great when the weather becomes hot because the trees keep most of the trail shaded and cool.
Rock Creek Regional Park, 6700 Needwood Rd, Derwood, MD 20855, USA
Flickr / Kyle Hartshorn
Take the Red Trail to the cliffs, which is about two miles in length. Along the way you’ll spot water views and all sorts of wildlife, including turtles. Once you reach the beach, take your time searching for fossils, including shark teeth! This Maryland state park is a true treat for anyone who loves the great outdoors (and looking for fossils).
Calvert Cliffs State Park, 10540 H G Trueman Rd, Lusby, MD 20657, USA
Flickr / marabuchi
This just may be the most beautiful state park in Maryland. Be sure to bring a camera to snap photos of the beautiful waterfalls. You can hike between the two along a trail that’s a little over a mile in length.
Swallow Falls State Park, 2470 Maple Glade Rd, Oakland, MD 21550, USA
Flickr / Dave
You can expect sprawling water views at Elk Neck State Park, with the Elk River on one side, and the Chesapeake Bay on the other. Enjoy seeing the lighthouse up close, visit the beach, and be sure to hike along the gorgeous clay cliffs.
Elk Neck State Park, 4395 Turkey Point Rd, North East, MD 21901, USA
Flickr / J. Stephen Conn
See the first monument dedicated to George Washington at this unique state park. You can climb to the top and take in the views or hike the nearby trails, which include some of the Appalachian trail.
Washington Monument State Park, 6620 Zittlestown Rd, Middletown, MD 21769, USA
Flickr / Jose Miletti
There’s a loop around this picturesque lake that’s a little over two miles in length. This park is perfect for families, as it also offers a playground, paddle boats, and more. Bring a picnic and make a day of it! It’s one of our favorite kid-friendly parks in Maryland as well.
Centennial Park, 10000 Clarksville Pike, Ellicott City, MD 21042, USA
Flickr / Forsaken Fotos
One of the best things about this park are the great views of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. You can simply relax at the beach or take to the trails, which provide diverse and scenic sights along the way. This stunning nature park in Maryland is one you’ll love to return to time and time again.
Terrapin Nature Park, 191 Log Canoe Cir, Stevensville, MD 21666, USA
Flickr / F Delventhal
This historic park has man-made sights to see, as well as natural views. Visit the old plantation house, which beckons to the past. Take to the trails and you’ll find weathered old barns, a hidden cemetery, and more. This park, and its trails, feels like some kind of fairy-tale scenic place in Maryland.
Chapman State Park, 3452 Ferry Pl, Indian Head, MD 20640, USA
Flickr / Karen Mallonee
This place offers unique sights and the boardwalk path here is quite impressive. Keep an eye out for an assortment of wildlife. This is one state park in Maryland you’re sure to love as much as the trails!
Patuxent River Park, 16000 Croom Airport Rd, Upper Marlboro, MD 20772, USA
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The OIYS Visitor Center
Best Hikes In Maryland April 15, 2022 Tori Jane What are the most amazing scenic hikes in Maryland? Maryland is a tiny-but-mighty little state with plenty to see, do, and experience, including some excellent hiking trails! In fact, this state might be super small, but did you know there are about 1200 or more hikes to pick from all over the state? For example, do the Annapolis Rock via Appalachian Trail at South Mountain State Park; it’s just over five miles long (5.1 miles total) and is rated as moderately challenging. It’s an epic day hike with some truly wonderful views! The Cascade Falls Loop Trail is another favorite and features one of Maryland’s most amazing waterfalls (we do have those); it’s best hiked following a good, solid rainstorm, so the falls will be healthy and enormous. Then, do the Catoctin Mountain Extended Loop Trail, which is 9.9 miles long total and is actually a combination of all three main loop trails at Catoctin Mountain Park. There are lots of truly amazing scenic hikes around Maryland; good luck picking just one. What are some wonderful easy hikes in Maryland? With well over 1,000 trails to choose from, there are lots of excellent easy hikes in Maryland that are just calling your name, like the Swallow Falls Canyon Trail at Swallow Falls State Park. It’s just over one mile in length and provides some excellent views of a beautiful park with stunning waterfalls. If you like that one, the above-mentioned Cascade Falls Loop Trail is also a must-do, being incredibly scenic AND nice and easy. We also love Falling Branch Trail to Kilgore Falls, which features another waterfall and is just 0.7 miles long; you’ll find that one at Rocks State Park. Finally, you can’t miss hikes like the 1.8-mile easy trail at Gunpowder Falls State Park known as the Little Gunpowder Trail. It’s very green during the warmer months and provides respite from summer heat like few other trails can.
The OIYS Visitor Center
Best Hikes In Maryland
April 15, 2022
Tori Jane
What are the most amazing scenic hikes in Maryland? Maryland is a tiny-but-mighty little state with plenty to see, do, and experience, including some excellent hiking trails! In fact, this state might be super small, but did you know there are about 1200 or more hikes to pick from all over the state? For example, do the Annapolis Rock via Appalachian Trail at South Mountain State Park; it’s just over five miles long (5.1 miles total) and is rated as moderately challenging. It’s an epic day hike with some truly wonderful views! The Cascade Falls Loop Trail is another favorite and features one of Maryland’s most amazing waterfalls (we do have those); it’s best hiked following a good, solid rainstorm, so the falls will be healthy and enormous. Then, do the Catoctin Mountain Extended Loop Trail, which is 9.9 miles long total and is actually a combination of all three main loop trails at Catoctin Mountain Park. There are lots of truly amazing scenic hikes around Maryland; good luck picking just one. What are some wonderful easy hikes in Maryland? With well over 1,000 trails to choose from, there are lots of excellent easy hikes in Maryland that are just calling your name, like the Swallow Falls Canyon Trail at Swallow Falls State Park. It’s just over one mile in length and provides some excellent views of a beautiful park with stunning waterfalls. If you like that one, the above-mentioned Cascade Falls Loop Trail is also a must-do, being incredibly scenic AND nice and easy. We also love Falling Branch Trail to Kilgore Falls, which features another waterfall and is just 0.7 miles long; you’ll find that one at Rocks State Park. Finally, you can’t miss hikes like the 1.8-mile easy trail at Gunpowder Falls State Park known as the Little Gunpowder Trail. It’s very green during the warmer months and provides respite from summer heat like few other trails can.
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
Maryland is a tiny-but-mighty little state with plenty to see, do, and experience, including some excellent hiking trails! In fact, this state might be super small, but did you know there are about 1200 or more hikes to pick from all over the state? For example, do the Annapolis Rock via Appalachian Trail at South Mountain State Park; it’s just over five miles long (5.1 miles total) and is rated as moderately challenging. It’s an epic day hike with some truly wonderful views! The Cascade Falls Loop Trail is another favorite and features one of Maryland’s most amazing waterfalls (we do have those); it’s best hiked following a good, solid rainstorm, so the falls will be healthy and enormous. Then, do the Catoctin Mountain Extended Loop Trail, which is 9.9 miles long total and is actually a combination of all three main loop trails at Catoctin Mountain Park. There are lots of truly amazing scenic hikes around Maryland; good luck picking just one.
What are some wonderful easy hikes in Maryland?
With well over 1,000 trails to choose from, there are lots of excellent easy hikes in Maryland that are just calling your name, like the Swallow Falls Canyon Trail at Swallow Falls State Park. It’s just over one mile in length and provides some excellent views of a beautiful park with stunning waterfalls. If you like that one, the above-mentioned Cascade Falls Loop Trail is also a must-do, being incredibly scenic AND nice and easy. We also love Falling Branch Trail to Kilgore Falls, which features another waterfall and is just 0.7 miles long; you’ll find that one at Rocks State Park. Finally, you can’t miss hikes like the 1.8-mile easy trail at Gunpowder Falls State Park known as the Little Gunpowder Trail. It’s very green during the warmer months and provides respite from summer heat like few other trails can.
