Hiking Trails & Parks in Maryland
13,384 mapped hiking and walking trails, plus 223 parks, recreation areas, and campgrounds across Maryland. Free trail maps for every listing — browse by county or city, or jump straight to the full list.
About Hiking in Maryland
Maryland has 13,384 mapped hiking trails and 223 federally managed parks and recreation areas spread across 87 counties. Trail data comes from OpenStreetMap contributors; parks and campgrounds from Recreation.gov.
Trying to narrow down? Browse all trails, all parks, all 87 counties, or pick a county below to see only its options.
Where to Go in Maryland
A spatially-sampled view of 477 trail and park locations across Maryland’s counties.
Maryland Counties
Top 24 counties shown — 87 total indexed.
Trails by Difficulty in Maryland
Parks & Campgrounds in Maryland
Longest Trails in Maryland
Curated Guides for Maryland
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there hiking trails in Maryland?
Yes — we have 13,384 mapped hiking and walking trails in Maryland, sourced from OpenStreetMap. Browse the full list below, with distance, elevation, and difficulty for each.
What is the longest hiking trail in Maryland?
The longest mapped trail in Maryland is Gold Mine Loop at 1.6 miles near Greenway. This reflects only trails with a mapped distance in our OpenStreetMap-sourced data — longer routes may exist that aren't fully tagged yet.
What is the shortest hiking trail in Maryland?
The shortest mapped trail in Maryland with a known distance is Overlook Spur at 0.1 miles near Greenway.
What is the most difficult hiking trail in Maryland?
Gunpowder Falls Trail near Upper Falls is rated expert — the toughest classification among Maryland's mapped trails.
What is the best hiking trail in Maryland for families?
Overlook Spur near Greenway is one of the best family picks in Maryland — easy difficulty and 0.1 miles round trip, short enough for kids and first-timers. See the full family hiking guide below for more options.
Is there a trail map for Maryland?
Each of the 13,384 trails in Maryland has its own page with an interactive map, GPS coordinates, and a link to view it on OpenStreetMap — no app or account needed.
What parks and recreation areas are in Maryland?
Maryland has 223 parks, recreation areas, and federal facilities in our index (51 classified as recreation areas). Each listing includes activities, photos where available, and directions.
Can I go camping in Maryland?
Yes — 19 of Maryland's parks have mapped campsites, from first-come sites to Recreation.gov reservations. The largest is Loft Mountain Campground with 213 sites. See the full campgrounds guide below for the ranked list.
Hiking guides & rankings for Maryland
In-depth articles drawing on the trail and park data above.
Photo: Tobias MrzykThe 10 Longest Hiking Trails in Maryland, Ranked
Maryland's longest mapped hiking trails, ranked by distance with notes on what makes each route worth the commitment.
Photo: Tobias MrzykMaryland's 10 Most Punishing Trails by Elevation Gain
Steep is hard. These are the ten Maryland trails with the most total elevation gain — quad-burners earned by hard climbing.
Photo: Maddi BazzoccoThe Best Beginner-Friendly Hikes in Maryland
Ten gentle, well-marked Maryland trails perfect for first-time hikers, families, or recovery days.
Photo: Tobias MrzykThe 10 Most Challenging Hikes in Maryland
Maryland's ten hardest hikes — expert difficulty, big mileage, or serious exposure. Reserved for experienced hikers.
Photo: Diego LozanoThe Best National Parks & Recreation Areas in Maryland
Federal parks and recreation areas in Maryland ranked by what they actually offer hikers and campers, not just popularity.
Photo: Tobias MrzykBest Waterfall Hikes in Maryland: 10 Trails to See Falls Up Close
Maryland's best hikes to named waterfalls — from short family-friendly viewpoints to all-day cascade chasing.