Skip to content

Hiking Trails Under 5 km near Leesburg

The directory currently contains 49 quality-checked routes matching this guide near Leesburg. Their average mapped distance is 2.0 km and average recorded ascent is 45 m (148 ft); the longest route in the set is 4.7 km.

This subset represents 79% of the 62 quality-checked routes near Leesburg. Its average distance is 2.0 km, compared with 4.3 km across the full local set. Average recorded ascent is 45 m (148 ft), versus 77 m (253 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, 34 routes (69%) are rated easy, 0 (0%) are rated hard or expert, and 10 (20%) 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

A.M. Thomas Trail

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

Lowest recorded ascent in this sample

0 m

A.M. Thomas 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

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
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
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
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

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

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

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

Cabin Branch Trail

Maryland · United States

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

Field Crest Spur

Maryland · United States

Distance
1.3 km
/ 0.8 mi
Elevation gain
14 m
Typical duration
17 min
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Hamilton Trail

Maryland · United States

Distance
2.8 km
/ 1.7 mi
Elevation gain
29 m
Typical duration
37 min
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Hard Rock Trail

Maryland · United States

Distance
2.9 km
/ 1.8 mi
Elevation gain
66 m
Typical duration
42 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Green Ash Trail

Maryland · United States

Distance
3.5 km
/ 2.2 mi
Elevation gain
187 m
Typical duration
1 hr 1 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Red Maple Trail

Maryland · United States

Distance
1.6 km
/ 1.0 mi
Elevation gain
51 m
Typical duration
24 min
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Meadow Loop

Maryland · United States

Distance
1.2 km
/ 0.7 mi
Elevation gain
10 m
Typical duration
16 min
  • Alpine meadow
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Crystal Rock Trail

Maryland · United States

Distance
0.7 km
/ 0.4 mi
Elevation gain
12 m
Typical duration
10 min
View west along Maryland State Route 115 (Muncaster Mill Road) at Avery Road in Redland, Montgomery County, Maryland
Moderate

Muncaster Mill Trail

Maryland · United States

Distance
2.2 km
/ 1.4 mi
Elevation gain
22 m
Typical duration
29 min
Easy

Fileds Edge Trail

Maryland · United States

Distance
2.4 km
/ 1.5 mi
Elevation gain
45 m
Typical duration
34 min
  • Waymarked route
Easy

River Trail

Maryland · United States

Distance
1.6 km
/ 1.0 mi
Typical duration
20 min
  • River
Moderate

Sidewinder Trail

Maryland · United States

Distance
3.2 km
/ 2.0 mi
Elevation gain
90 m
Typical duration
48 min
Easy

Monocacy Loop

Maryland · United States

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

Potomac Hunt Trail

Maryland · United States

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

Two Bridges Trail

Maryland · United States

Distance
0.8 km
/ 0.5 mi
Typical duration
10 min
  • 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

Windy Ridge Trail

Maryland · United States

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

Bucklodge Loop

Maryland · United States

Distance
3.5 km
/ 2.1 mi
Elevation gain
24 m
Typical duration
45 min
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Red Trail

Maryland · United States

Distance
0.7 km
/ 0.4 mi
Elevation gain
6 m
Typical duration
9 min
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Pine Grove Trail

Maryland · United States

Distance
1.3 km
/ 0.8 mi
Elevation gain
41 m
Typical duration
20 min
Easy

Timber Ridge Trail

Maryland · United States

Distance
1.3 km
/ 0.8 mi
Elevation gain
32 m
Typical duration
19 min
  • Mountain
Moderate

Dark Branch Trail

Maryland · United States

Distance
1.9 km
/ 1.2 mi
Elevation gain
52 m
Typical duration
28 min
Easy

Blue Trail

Maryland · United States

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

Diabase Connector

Maryland · United States

Distance
1.3 km
/ 0.8 mi
Elevation gain
26 m
Typical duration
18 min
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Green Trail

Maryland · United States

Distance
1.6 km
/ 1.0 mi
Elevation gain
40 m
Typical duration
23 min
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Greenburg Challenge Loop

Maryland · United States

Distance
4.0 km
/ 2.5 mi
Elevation gain
53 m
Typical duration
55 min
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Rickman Field Trail

Maryland · United States

Distance
1.3 km
/ 0.8 mi
Elevation gain
8 m
Typical duration
17 min
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Stone Barn Loop

Maryland · United States

Distance
3.5 km
/ 2.2 mi
Elevation gain
28 m
Typical duration
47 min
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Browning Run Trail

Maryland · United States

Distance
3.9 km
/ 2.4 mi
Elevation gain
29 m
Typical duration
51 min
Easy

Hard Cider Trail

Maryland · United States

Distance
1.7 km
/ 1.0 mi
Elevation gain
11 m
Typical duration
22 min
Easy

Kinglsey Trail

Maryland · United States

Distance
1.4 km
/ 0.9 mi
Typical duration
18 min
Easy

Loggers Trail

Maryland · United States

Distance
2.0 km
/ 1.2 mi
Elevation gain
16 m
Typical duration
26 min
Easy

Pardum Trail

Maryland · United States

Distance
2.6 km
/ 1.6 mi
Elevation gain
77 m
Typical duration
39 min
Easy

Pine Knob Trail

Maryland · United States

Distance
0.9 km
/ 0.6 mi
Elevation gain
26 m
Typical duration
14 min
Easy

Western Piedmont Trail

Maryland · United States

Distance
2.4 km
/ 1.5 mi
Elevation gain
14 m
Typical duration
31 min

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
White Oak TrailMaryland1.5 km61 m25 minEasyApril to October
Stone Fort TrailMaryland3.6 km162 m59 minModerateApril to October
Black Locust TrailMaryland4.7 km217 m1 hr 19 minModerateApril to October
Combined TrailMaryland1.5 km188 m36 minModerateApril to October
A.M. Thomas TrailMaryland0.4 km0 m6 minModerateApril to October
Diabase TrailMaryland2.4 km50 m35 minEasyApril to October
The Monadnock TrailMaryland0.6 km80 m14 minModerateApril to October
The Sunrise TrailMaryland0.5 km0 m6 minModerateApril to October
Billy Goat Trail Section AMaryland2.9 km39 m39 minModerateApril to October

Overlook Cliff Trail, Stone Fort Trail, White Oak 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 →

Related guides

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

People also search for