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Best Lake Hikes in Maryland

The directory currently contains 9 quality-checked routes matching this guide in Maryland. Their average mapped distance is 6.8 km and average recorded ascent is 150 m (492 ft); the longest route in the set is 42.8 km.

This subset represents 3% of the 309 quality-checked routes in Maryland. Its average distance is 6.8 km, compared with 11.6 km across the full local set.

Every route in this set carries a lake tag in the directory. Whether the mapped line reaches the shore and whether swimming is allowed must be checked locally. Within this set, 7 routes (78%) are rated easy, 1 (11%) are rated hard or expert, and 3 (33%) 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

0.5 km

Loch Raven Drive Trail (purple)

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

Lowest recorded ascent in this sample

0 m

Cash lake Trail

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

Return logistics

1 recorded loop

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

Meadow Mountain Trail

Maryland · United States

Distance
5.4 km
/ 3.3 mi
Elevation gain
86 m
Typical duration
1 hr 15 min
  • Lake
  • River
  • Mountain
Easy

Beckman's Trail

Maryland · United States

Distance
2.7 km
/ 1.7 mi
Elevation gain
69 m
Typical duration
40 min
  • Lake
  • River
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Cash lake Trail

Maryland · United States

Distance
2.4 km
/ 1.5 mi
Typical duration
30 min
  • Lake
Easy

Lake Elkhorn Loop

Maryland · United States

Distance
3.0 km
/ 1.9 mi
Elevation gain
6 m
Typical duration
38 min
  • Lake
Moderate

Lake Trail

Maryland · United States

Distance
0.5 km
/ 0.3 mi
Elevation gain
11 m
Typical duration
7 min
  • Lake
Wilde Lake , Columbia , Maryland
Easy

Wilde Lake Loop

Maryland · United States

Distance
2.2 km
/ 1.4 mi
Elevation gain
14 m
Typical duration
29 min
  • Lake

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
Catoctin National Recreation TrailMaryland42.8 km1,151 m11 hrExpertApril to October
Meadow Mountain TrailMaryland5.4 km86 m1 hr 15 minEasyApril to October
Beckman's TrailMaryland2.7 km69 m40 minEasyApril to October
Loch Raven Drive Trail (purple)Maryland0.5 km11 m7 minEasyApril to October
Cash lake TrailMaryland2.4 km0 m30 minEasyApril to October
Lake Elkhorn LoopMaryland3.0 km6 m38 minEasyApril to October
Lake TrailMaryland0.5 km11 m7 minModerateApril to October
Wilde Lake LoopMaryland2.2 km14 m29 minEasyApril to October
Loch Lynn Heights Wetland TrailMaryland1.4 km0 m18 minEasyApril to October

Catoctin National Recreation Trail, Meadow Mountain Trail, Beckman's Trail 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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