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Best Mountain Hikes near Washington

The directory currently contains 12 quality-checked routes matching this guide near Washington. Their average mapped distance is 45.2 km and average recorded ascent is 360 m (1,181 ft); the longest route in the set is 173 km.

This subset represents 8% of the 146 quality-checked routes near Washington. Its average distance is 45.2 km, compared with 7.5 km across the full local set. Average recorded ascent is 360 m (1,181 ft), versus 73 m (240 ft) for all quality-checked routes in the same area.

These routes carry the mountain tag. Their measured distance and ascent are shown separately so the label is not used as a proxy for difficulty. Within this set, 2 routes (17%) are rated easy, 7 (58%) are rated hard or expert, and 0 (0%) 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

5.2 km

Mountain Loop Trail

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

Lowest recorded ascent in this sample

199 m

ADT - Maryland - Seg 3

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

Return logistics

0 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

The pastoral center of the Archdiocese of Washington in Hyattsville, Maryland.
Hard

ADT - Maryland - Seg 3

District of Columbia · United States

Distance
33.4 km
/ 20.8 mi
Elevation gain
199 m
Typical duration
7 hr 49 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Crofton is a census-designated place and planned community in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, United States. Crofton is located 24 miles (39 km) south of Baltimore, 14 miles (23 km) west of Annapolis, and 24 miles (39 km) east-northeast of W
Expert

ADT - Maryland - Seg 2

Maryland · United States

Distance
69.1 km
/ 42.9 mi
Elevation gain
254 m
Typical duration
16 hr
  • Mountain
  • Long-distance path
Roadway entrance to Sugarloaf Mountain Reservation, Urbana, Maryland, USA
Moderate

Mountain Loop Trail

Maryland · United States

Distance
5.2 km
/ 3.2 mi
Elevation gain
210 m
Typical duration
1 hr 23 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Hunting Ridge Trail

Maryland · United States

Distance
0.6 km
/ 0.4 mi
Typical duration
7 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Seneca Ridge Trail

Maryland · United States

Distance
10.7 km
/ 6.6 mi
Elevation gain
179 m
Typical duration
2 hr 30 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Western Ridge Trail

District of Columbia · United States

Distance
7.4 km
/ 4.6 mi
Elevation gain
233 m
Typical duration
1 hr 53 min
  • Mountain
Easy

Windy Ridge Trail

Maryland · United States

Distance
2.3 km
/ 1.4 mi
Elevation gain
42 m
Typical duration
33 min
  • Mountain

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
ADT - Maryland - Seg 3District of Columbia33.4 km199 m7 hr 49 minHardApril to October
ADT - Maryland - Seg 2Maryland69.1 km254 m16 hrExpertApril to October
Patapsco Traverse (north hiking)Maryland51.5 km676 m12 hrExpertApril to October
Patapsco Traverse (south hiking)Maryland51.9 km752 m13 hrExpertApril to October
Patapsco Howard County Thru TrailMaryland50.0 km604 m12 hrExpertApril to October
Mountain Loop TrailMaryland5.2 km210 m1 hr 23 minModerateApril to October
Hunting Ridge TrailMaryland0.6 km0 m7 minEasyApril to October
Seneca Ridge TrailMaryland10.7 km179 m2 hr 30 minModerateApril to October
Liberty Reservoir Survivor ExpeditionMaryland86.9 km575 m21 hrExpertApril to October
Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail (right bank)District of Columbia173 km600 m41 hrExpertApril to October

ADT - Maryland - Seg 3, ADT - Maryland - Seg 2, Patapsco Traverse (south hiking) 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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