Summary

Location: Myersville, MD

Duration: 3 hours (plus 15 minutes for lunch)

Length: 6.9 miles

Gear: water, 1 pre-cooked lunch

Highlights: visiting the Washington Monument

Stats:

An Easy Day Hike for Everyone

The portion of the Appalachian Trail which runs through Maryland is known for being relatively flat.  This makes the MD sections enjoyable for larger groups and less hike-savvy family members.  It is not too long nor too difficult but has just enough of elevation gain to get your heart beating.

As a bonus, you are rewarded with a historic monument towards the end with a decent view.  The view itself isn’t anything spectacular, but this hike is perfect to get a quick breath of fresh air and enjoy some history.

For the history buffs out there, this is a great hike.  Further south along this trail (pas the monument) there are plenty more Civil War monuments and memorials!  Side note: 20 miles south along this trail will bring you to Harpers Ferry.

Hobbyists also come by to track migratory patterns of predatory birds.  On any given clear day, I manage to see at least 10 different birds including turkey vultures, ospreys, and other hawks.  The versatility of this trail and its adaptation to many hobbies other than just backpacking is what makes it such a gem.

The Trail

The starting point for this hike is exactly at the halfway point (location is shown towards the top) of the MD Challenge, which is located just before the intersection of I-70 and Route 40. (more on this later)

As you can see from the elevation plot above, there are some steep ascents that don’t last particularly long, making the total gain ~1,184 feet.

The trail has some open spots, particularly during road crossings (of which there are 2) and several more sprinkled throughout.  The majority of the trail is inside of a forest.  For this reason, it is most scenic during the fall when the leaves are changing, and during snowfall.

3.2 miles into this trail is the Washington Monument, which is the ending point of this hike.  The trip to the monument takes you from the parking lot, through Greenbrier State Park, and to Washington Monument State Park.  In fact, about a mile or so into this trail, you will reach the intersection of the Bartman Hill Trail which is located in Greenbrier State Park.  Side note: the entrance to Greenbrier State Park is just a short drive past this parking lot (you will see the entrance to your left).

History In Your Backyard

Reaching the tower provides a sense of nostalgia, bringing me back to the days of my elementary school classroom.  I’m all in favor of traveling overseas to get a taste of history and architecture, but there is just so much history and plenty of artifacts along the southern portion of the AT that is unfortunately overlooked.  Not to mention, visiting these historic sites is usually free!

From the tower, I believe you can see MD, VA, PA, and WV (or at least 3 out of these 4).

[kad_youtube url=”https://youtu.be/w3nRZwb4TiA” ]

Washington Monument in Boonsboro

Washington Monument descriptive plaque

Washington Monument, another descriptive plaque

There is seating near the base of the tower.  To the side of the tower is a shelter and parking lot equipped with a visitor center and facilities.  This is the perfect place to enjoy a mid-hike lunch to fuel up for the return trip.

Eating lunch by the Washington Monument in Boonsboro