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Best Forest Hikes in Maryland

The directory currently contains 12 quality-checked routes matching this guide in Maryland. Their average mapped distance is 7.5 km and average recorded ascent is 150 m (492 ft); the longest route in the set is 26.3 km.

This subset represents 4% of the 309 quality-checked routes in Maryland. Its average distance is 7.5 km, compared with 11.6 km across the full local set.

These routes carry the forest tag. The data does not quantify canopy cover or guarantee shade along every section. Within this set, 8 routes (67%) are rated easy, 3 (25%) are rated hard or expert, and 3 (25%) are recorded as loops. Ratings are computed from available distance and elevation data and do not establish current terrain or access.

Data refreshed September 2026

Choose by the details

How do these routes differ?

A closer look at the first 6 routes in this page’s default ordering. These comparisons describe this sample, not the entire destination or a field-tested recommendation.

Shortest mapped distance in this sample

0.6 km

White Trail

Compare the climbing too; shortest does not necessarily mean easiest.

Lowest recorded ascent in this sample

8 m

Forest Trail

6 of 6 have ascent data. Missing measurements are excluded.

Return logistics

2 recorded loops

Check start and finish for every option. An unknown shape does not mean a loop, and a loop does not establish access to its start.

Plan the return journey →

Distances follow stored route lines; ascent and time are estimates. Current access, surface and technical difficulty need separate checks. How to turn a comparison into a shortlist.

Trails

Easy

White Trail

Maryland · United States

Distance
0.6 km
/ 0.4 mi
Elevation gain
32 m
Typical duration
10 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Meadow Mountain Trail

Maryland · United States

Distance
18.9 km
/ 11.7 mi
Elevation gain
343 m
Typical duration
4 hr 34 min
  • Mountain
  • Forest
  • Alpine meadow
Hard

Big Savage Mountain Trail

Maryland · United States

Distance
26.3 km
/ 16.4 mi
Elevation gain
284 m
Typical duration
6 hr 15 min
  • Mountain
  • Forest
Easy

Forest Trail

Maryland · United States

Distance
1.4 km
/ 0.9 mi
Elevation gain
8 m
Typical duration
18 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Big Woods Trail

Maryland · United States

Distance
1.7 km
/ 1.1 mi
Elevation gain
46 m
Typical duration
25 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Morgan Mill Trail

Maryland · United States

Distance
6.1 km
/ 3.8 mi
Elevation gain
159 m
Typical duration
1 hr 30 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Wood Pecker Trail

Maryland · United States

Distance
0.5 km
/ 0.3 mi
Typical duration
7 min
  • Forest
Easy

Forest Trail

Maryland · United States

Distance
0.9 km
/ 0.5 mi
Elevation gain
21 m
Typical duration
13 min
  • Forest
Easy

Forest Trail

Maryland · United States

Distance
0.5 km
/ 0.3 mi
Elevation gain
8 m
Typical duration
7 min
  • Forest

The shortlist, side by side

The ten highest scoring routes on this page, so you can compare effort before opening any of them.

Distance, ascent, walking time and difficulty for the top routes
RouteDistanceAscentTimeDifficultyBest season
Great Eastern Trail - Green Ridge State ForestMaryland25.4 km865 m6 hr 54 minHardApril to October
Wellington Woods Trail (green)Maryland0.9 km34 m14 minEasyApril to October
White TrailMaryland0.6 km32 m10 minEasyApril to October
Meadow Mountain TrailMaryland18.9 km343 m4 hr 34 minHardApril to October
Big Savage Mountain TrailMaryland26.3 km284 m6 hr 15 minHardApril to October
Forest TrailMaryland1.4 km8 m18 minEasyApril to October
Big Woods TrailMaryland1.7 km46 m25 minEasyApril to October
Monroe Run Hiking TrailMaryland6.9 km0 m1 hr 26 minModerateApril to October
Morgan Mill TrailMaryland6.1 km159 m1 hr 30 minEasyApril to October
Wood Pecker TrailMaryland0.5 km0 m7 minEasyApril to October

Great Eastern Trail - Green Ridge State Forest, White Trail, Wellington Woods Trail (green) currently rank highest in this filtered set according to the directory score. Open an individual route to inspect its mapped line, elevation profile, data source and planning caveats. Check live access, conditions and local rules with an official source before travelling.

Frequently asked questions

Plan with more confidence

All planning articles →

Choosing a route

How to choose a hike beyond the difficulty label

Compare distance, climbing, route shape and missing information to build a shortlist that fits your day.

Read article →

Understanding the map

Read an elevation profile without misreading the climb

Understand total ascent, net height change, profile scale and the section breakdown on each mapped route.

Read article →

Planning your day

Build a hiking time plan with room for your own pace

Separate moving time, climbing allowance and stops, then explore how changing your assumptions changes the plan.

Read article →

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Other shortlists covering the same area or the same kind of terrain.

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