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Hard Hiking Trails near Baltimore

The directory currently contains 13 quality-checked routes matching this guide near Baltimore. Their average mapped distance is 40.3 km and average recorded ascent is 309 m (1,014 ft); the longest route in the set is 86.9 km.

This subset represents 8% of the 166 quality-checked routes near Baltimore. Its average distance is 40.3 km, compared with 5.5 km across the full local set. Average recorded ascent is 309 m (1,014 ft), versus 63 m (207 ft) for all quality-checked routes in the same area.

This set contains routes rated hard or expert from their available distance and elevation measurements. Within this set, 0 routes (0%) are rated easy, 13 (100%) 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

18.4 km

Gwynns Falls Trail (Inbound)

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

Lowest recorded ascent in this sample

95 m

Gwynns Falls Trail (Inbound)

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
Photograph by Eli Pousson, 12 February 2015.
Hard

Gwynns Falls Trail (Inbound)

Maryland · United States

Distance
18.4 km
/ 11.4 mi
Elevation gain
95 m
Typical duration
4 hr 4 min
  • Waterfall
  • Waymarked route
Great Seneca Ele_1269-a
Expert

Seneca Creek Greenway

Maryland · United States

Distance
44.3 km
/ 27.5 mi
Elevation gain
347 m
Typical duration
10 hr
  • River
Hard

Rachel Carson Greenway Trail

Maryland · United States

Distance
20.1 km
/ 12.5 mi
Elevation gain
213 m
Typical duration
4 hr 40 min
  • Waymarked route
CSX Metropolitan Subdivision crossing of Rock Creek and Beach Drive in Garrett Park, Maryland in 2020
Hard

Rock Creek Hiker/Biker Trail

District of Columbia · United States

Distance
23.2 km
/ 14.4 mi
Elevation gain
43 m
Typical duration
5 hr 9 min
  • River

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
Gwynns Falls Trail (Inbound)Maryland18.4 km95 m4 hr 4 minHardApril to October
Seneca Creek GreenwayMaryland44.3 km347 m10 hrExpertApril to October
Liberty Reservoir Survivor ExpeditionMaryland86.9 km575 m21 hrExpertApril to October
Torrey C. Brown Rail TrailMaryland32.0 km89 m7 hr 19 minHardApril to October
Rachel Carson Greenway TrailMaryland20.1 km213 m4 hr 40 minHardApril to October

ADT - Maryland - Seg 3, ADT - Maryland - Seg 2, Patapsco Howard County Thru 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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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