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Moderate Hiking Trails near Baltimore

The directory currently contains 46 quality-checked routes matching this guide near Baltimore. Their average mapped distance is 4.0 km and average recorded ascent is 88 m (289 ft); the longest route in the set is 18.0 km.

This subset represents 28% of the 166 quality-checked routes near Baltimore. Its average distance is 4.0 km, compared with 5.5 km across the full local set.

Every route in this set is rated moderate by the directory’s distance-and-elevation model. Technical terrain and live conditions are not part of that rating. Within this set, 0 routes (0%) are rated easy, 0 (0%) are rated hard or expert, and 9 (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

0.7 km

Laurel Trail

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

Lowest recorded ascent in this sample

51 m

Laurel 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

Photograph by Eli Pousson, 12 February 2015.
Moderate

Gwynns Falls Trail (Outbound)

Maryland · United States

Distance
18.0 km
/ 11.2 mi
Elevation gain
95 m
Typical duration
3 hr 59 min
  • Waterfall
  • 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
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
View north along U.S. Route 1 (Belair Road) just north of Little Gunpowder Falls in Pleasant Hills, Harford County, Maryland
Moderate

Little Gunpowder Trail

Maryland · United States

Distance
12.8 km
/ 7.9 mi
Elevation gain
195 m
Typical duration
2 hr 57 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

Willow Grove Trail (red)

Maryland · United States

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

Old Spring Trail

Maryland · United States

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

Pink Trail

Maryland · United States

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

Red Trail

Maryland · United States

Distance
1.8 km
/ 1.1 mi
Elevation gain
32 m
Typical duration
25 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Red Trail

Maryland · United States

Distance
3.2 km
/ 2.0 mi
Elevation gain
19 m
Typical duration
41 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Lake Trail

Maryland · United States

Distance
0.5 km
/ 0.3 mi
Elevation gain
11 m
Typical duration
7 min
  • Lake
Moderate

Rock Creek Trail

District of Columbia · United States

Distance
8.1 km
/ 5.0 mi
Elevation gain
87 m
Typical duration
1 hr 49 min
  • River
Moderate

Ma and Pa Trail

Maryland · United States

Distance
7.3 km
/ 4.5 mi
Elevation gain
89 m
Typical duration
1 hr 39 min
Moderate

Sherwood Trail

Maryland · United States

Distance
5.2 km
/ 3.2 mi
Elevation gain
220 m
Typical duration
1 hr 24 min
Moderate

Valley Trail

District of Columbia · United States

Distance
8.8 km
/ 5.4 mi
Elevation gain
212 m
Typical duration
2 hr 8 min
Moderate

Greenhouse Path

Maryland · United States

Distance
0.5 km
/ 0.3 mi
Elevation gain
10 m
Typical duration
8 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
Moderate

Sacred Grove Trail

Maryland · United States

Distance
0.6 km
/ 0.3 mi
Elevation gain
52 m
Typical duration
12 min
Moderate

Whitehaven Trail

District of Columbia · United States

Distance
1.6 km
/ 1.0 mi
Elevation gain
43 m
Typical duration
24 min
Moderate

Yellow Loop

Maryland · United States

Distance
9.4 km
/ 5.8 mi
Elevation gain
75 m
Typical duration
2 hr 4 min
Moderate

Deer Creek Trail (green)

Maryland · United States

Distance
4.3 km
/ 2.7 mi
Elevation gain
154 m
Typical duration
1 hr 7 min
  • River
Moderate

Sidewinder Trail

Maryland · United States

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

Farm Road Trail (blue)

Maryland · United States

Distance
3.2 km
/ 2.0 mi
Elevation gain
158 m
Typical duration
54 min
Moderate

Rock Run Trail

Maryland · United States

Distance
1.4 km
/ 0.9 mi
Elevation gain
89 m
Typical duration
26 min
Control tower between the Amtrak Susquehanna River Bridge and the equally historic Perryville (MARC station) .
Moderate

Perryville Walking Trail

Maryland · United States

Distance
8.2 km
/ 5.1 mi
Elevation gain
13 m
Typical duration
1 hr 43 min
Moderate

Flint Mill Trail

Maryland · United States

Distance
2.8 km
/ 1.7 mi
Elevation gain
88 m
Typical duration
42 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Iron Works Trail

Maryland · United States

Distance
3.2 km
/ 2.0 mi
Elevation gain
77 m
Typical duration
47 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Hornbeam Trail

Maryland · United States

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

Boundary Trail

Maryland · United States

Distance
8.5 km
/ 5.3 mi
Elevation gain
208 m
Typical duration
2 hr 5 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Panther Trail

Maryland · United States

Distance
3.2 km
/ 2.0 mi
Elevation gain
96 m
Typical duration
49 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Dark Branch Trail

Maryland · United States

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

White Trail

Maryland · United States

Distance
3.8 km
/ 2.3 mi
Elevation gain
180 m
Typical duration
1 hr 3 min
Moderate

Merryman's Mill Trail (Lower)

Maryland · United States

Distance
7.8 km
/ 4.9 mi
Elevation gain
209 m
Typical duration
1 hr 57 min
  • Castle and ruins
Moderate

Yellow Trail

Maryland · United States

Distance
3.2 km
/ 2.0 mi
Elevation gain
81 m
Typical duration
47 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Tobacco Barn Trail

Maryland · United States

Distance
2.4 km
/ 1.5 mi
Elevation gain
37 m
Typical duration
33 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
Gwynns Falls Trail (Outbound)Maryland18.0 km95 m3 hr 59 minModerateApril to October
Western Ridge TrailDistrict of Columbia7.4 km233 m1 hr 53 minModerateApril to October
Barrans-Baldwin Trail (green)Maryland2.8 km138 m48 minModerateApril to October
Gelston Heights TrailMaryland1.1 km85 m21 minModerateApril to October
Heide TrailMaryland1.0 km75 m19 minModerateApril to October
Laurel TrailMaryland0.7 km51 m14 minModerateApril to October
Little Gunpowder TrailMaryland12.8 km195 m2 hr 57 minModerateApril to October
Loggers TrailMaryland3.5 km85 m51 minModerateApril to October
Purple TrailMaryland1.0 km21 m14 minModerateApril to October
Rognel Heights TrailMaryland0.7 km0 m9 minModerateApril to October

Gwynns Falls Trail (Outbound), Red Trail, Windsor Hills Conservation 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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