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Hiking Trails Under 5 km in Maryland

The directory currently contains 239 quality-checked routes matching this guide in Maryland. Their average mapped distance is 1.8 km and average recorded ascent is 36 m (118 ft); the longest route in the set is 4.9 km.

This subset represents 77% of the 309 quality-checked routes in Maryland. Its average distance is 1.8 km, compared with 11.6 km across the full local set. Average recorded ascent is 36 m (118 ft), versus 138 m (453 ft) for all quality-checked routes in the same area.

Every route in this set has a mapped distance of 5 km or less. Time and suitability still depend on ascent, surface and conditions. Within this set, 175 routes (73%) are rated easy, 0 (0%) are rated hard or expert, and 64 (27%) 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

0.4 km

Pennsylvania Avenue Heritage Trail

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

Lowest recorded ascent in this sample

14 m

Pennsylvania Avenue Heritage Trail

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

NPS Photo / Samantha Zurbuch
Moderate

Overlook Cliff Trail

Maryland · United States

Distance
1.1 km
/ 0.7 mi
Elevation gain
36 m
Typical duration
17 min
  • Coastal
  • Panoramic viewpoint
  • Waymarked route
Hikers along the ridge of Catoctin
Moderate

Blue Ridge Summit Trail

Maryland · United States

Distance
2.8 km
/ 1.8 mi
Elevation gain
35 m
Typical duration
38 min
  • Mountain
  • Summit push
  • Panoramic viewpoint
Easy

Orange Trail

Maryland · United States

Distance
0.8 km
/ 0.5 mi
Elevation gain
25 m
Typical duration
12 min
  • Waterfall
  • River
  • Waymarked route
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
Moderate

Cliff Trail

Maryland · United States

Distance
1.1 km
/ 0.7 mi
Elevation gain
101 m
Typical duration
23 min
  • Coastal
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Hunting Ridge Trail

Maryland · United States

Distance
0.6 km
/ 0.4 mi
Typical duration
7 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Early fall vista from Chimney Rock
Moderate

Thurmont Vista Loop Trail

Maryland · United States

Distance
3.8 km
/ 2.3 mi
Elevation gain
98 m
Typical duration
56 min
  • Panoramic viewpoint
  • Waymarked route
Early fall vista from Chimney Rock
Moderate

Thurmont Vista Overlook

Maryland · United States

Distance
0.8 km
/ 0.5 mi
Elevation gain
58 m
Typical duration
15 min
  • Panoramic viewpoint
  • Waymarked route
Easy

White Oak Trail

Maryland · United States

Distance
1.5 km
/ 1.0 mi
Elevation gain
61 m
Typical duration
25 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Griffin Meadow Trail

Maryland · United States

Distance
1.6 km
/ 1.0 mi
Elevation gain
9 m
Typical duration
21 min
  • Alpine meadow
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Meadow Trail (yellow)

Maryland · United States

Distance
0.4 km
/ 0.2 mi
Typical duration
5 min
  • Alpine meadow
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Stone Fort Trail

Maryland · United States

Distance
3.6 km
/ 2.2 mi
Elevation gain
162 m
Typical duration
59 min
  • Castle and ruins
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Stream Trail

Maryland · United States

Distance
0.8 km
/ 0.5 mi
Typical duration
10 min
  • River
  • Waymarked route
Easy

South River Overlook

Maryland · United States

Distance
0.5 km
/ 0.3 mi
Elevation gain
7 m
Typical duration
7 min
  • River
  • Panoramic viewpoint
Easy

White Trail

Maryland · United States

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

Black Locust Trail

Maryland · United States

Distance
4.7 km
/ 2.9 mi
Elevation gain
217 m
Typical duration
1 hr 19 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Combined Trail

Maryland · United States

Distance
1.5 km
/ 0.9 mi
Elevation gain
188 m
Typical duration
36 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Old Misery Trail

Maryland · United States

Distance
1.9 km
/ 1.2 mi
Elevation gain
71 m
Typical duration
30 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

A.M. Thomas Trail

Maryland · United States

Distance
0.4 km
/ 0.3 mi
Typical duration
6 min
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Diabase Trail

Maryland · United States

Distance
2.4 km
/ 1.5 mi
Elevation gain
50 m
Typical duration
35 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Gateway Trail

Maryland · United States

Distance
4.3 km
/ 2.7 mi
Elevation gain
261 m
Typical duration
1 hr 17 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Gelston Heights Trail

Maryland · United States

Distance
1.1 km
/ 0.7 mi
Elevation gain
85 m
Typical duration
21 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Heide Trail

Maryland · United States

Distance
1.0 km
/ 0.6 mi
Elevation gain
75 m
Typical duration
19 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Laurel Trail

Maryland · United States

Distance
0.7 km
/ 0.4 mi
Elevation gain
51 m
Typical duration
14 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Loggers Trail

Maryland · United States

Distance
3.5 km
/ 2.2 mi
Elevation gain
85 m
Typical duration
51 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Purple Trail

Maryland · United States

Distance
1.0 km
/ 0.6 mi
Elevation gain
21 m
Typical duration
14 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Rognel Heights Trail

Maryland · United States

Distance
0.7 km
/ 0.4 mi
Typical duration
9 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

The Monadnock Trail

Maryland · United States

Distance
0.6 km
/ 0.4 mi
Elevation gain
80 m
Typical duration
14 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

The Sunrise Trail

Maryland · United States

Distance
0.5 km
/ 0.3 mi
Typical duration
6 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Willow Grove Trail (red)

Maryland · United States

Distance
1.6 km
/ 1.0 mi
Elevation gain
97 m
Typical duration
29 min
  • Waymarked route
500px provided description: A view of the Antioch church from Oregon Ridge. [#g12 ,#powershot g12 ,#Snow ,#Winter ,#Park ,#Cold ,#Church ,#Maryland ,#Antioch ,#Distance ,#Baltimore County ,#January ,#Hike ,#Dome ,#Oregon Ridge ,#2017 ,#Jaso
Easy

Baltimore Gneiss Trail

Maryland · United States

Distance
0.8 km
/ 0.5 mi
Elevation gain
24 m
Typical duration
12 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Billy Goat Trail Section A

Maryland · United States

Distance
2.9 km
/ 1.8 mi
Elevation gain
39 m
Typical duration
39 min
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Billy Goat Trail Section C

Maryland · United States

Distance
2.5 km
/ 1.6 mi
Elevation gain
46 m
Typical duration
36 min
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Blue Trail

Maryland · United States

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

Browns Farm Trail

Maryland · United States

Distance
0.8 km
/ 0.5 mi
Elevation gain
37 m
Typical duration
13 min
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Cabin Branch Trail

Maryland · United States

Distance
2.2 km
/ 1.4 mi
Elevation gain
7 m
Typical duration
29 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Campground Trail

Maryland · United States

Distance
0.5 km
/ 0.3 mi
Elevation gain
37 m
Typical duration
10 min
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Cemetery Trail

Maryland · United States

Distance
3.2 km
/ 2.0 mi
Elevation gain
33 m
Typical duration
43 min
  • Waymarked route

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
Overlook Cliff TrailMaryland1.1 km36 m17 minModerateApril to October
Blue Ridge Summit TrailMaryland2.8 km35 m38 minModerateApril to October
Orange TrailMaryland0.8 km25 m12 minEasyApril to October
Pennsylvania Avenue Heritage TrailMaryland0.4 km14 m7 minEasyApril to October
Beckman's TrailMaryland2.7 km69 m40 minEasyApril to October
Cliff TrailMaryland1.1 km101 m23 minModerateApril to October
Hunting Ridge TrailMaryland0.6 km0 m7 minEasyApril to October
Thurmont Vista Loop TrailMaryland3.8 km98 m56 minModerateApril to October
Thurmont Vista OverlookMaryland0.8 km58 m15 minModerateApril to October
White Oak TrailMaryland1.5 km61 m25 minEasyApril to October

Overlook Cliff Trail, Blue Ridge Summit Trail, Orange 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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