Dog walking

A crushed-stone rail-trail on a 19th-century railroad bed connecting the beach towns of Lewes and Rehoboth Beach, running through hardwood forest, open farm fields and wetland boardwalk sections.

Flat crushed-stone path and elevated boardwalk skirting the 900-acre Gordons Pond saltwater lagoon between Rehoboth Beach and the Cape Henlopen dunes; prime birdwatching for herons, ospreys and bald eagles.

An easy ~2.6-mile loop through the forested, shifting sand dunes at Cape Henlopen near Lewes, showcasing the park's slowly migrating 'walking dunes'.

Blue-blazed side trail climbing the west slope of South Mountain to meet the Appalachian Trail; the popular access route to Black Rock cliff—Maryland's best view—and Annapolis Rock. Steep, wooded ascent.

Three-quarter-mile self-guiding loop over open sand through the island's dune ecosystem, tracing shifting dunes and the effects of ocean wind and waves on barrier-island life.

Half-mile interpretive loop on an elevated boardwalk over the salt marsh along Sinepuxent Bay, with views of crabs, fish, wading birds and often the island's wild horses.

Half-mile self-guiding loop through maritime loblolly-pine forest that opens onto a boardwalk with viewing platforms over the salt marsh and Sinepuxent Bay.

Yellow-blazed loop from the visitor center climbing to Thurmont Vista, an eastern overlook above the town of Thurmont and the Monocacy Valley.

Short trail to a reconstructed Prohibition-era moonshine still, site of a deadly 1929 raid, interpreting Catoctin's whiskey-making history; roughly 0.6 mi round trip.

A steep, strenuous yellow-blazed climb to Cat Rock, a quartzite outcrop at 1,560 feet with scenic views over the Catoctin Mountains; a rugged alternative to the park's gentle falls trails.

The shortest and easiest route to Cunningham Falls, a 78-foot cascading waterfall that is the largest in Maryland; a red-blazed, interpretive trail leading a half mile down to the base of the falls.

Wooded loop through low-lying maritime forest named for the wild osmanthus (devilwood) shrubs along it. Mostly flat dirt, popular with joggers and hikers; foot traffic only.

Singletrack spur off the Long Creek Trail running along the tidal beach of Broad Bay, with sections that flood at high tide. Sandy footing and bay views popular for birding; foot traffic only.

First Landing's signature loop, winding through bald-cypress swamp on dirt path and boardwalk with observation platforms. Shaded and nearly flat; foot traffic only, no bikes. Starts at the Trail Center.

Mostly flat trail following the Big Gunpowder Falls in the Hereford Area, linking with the Sawmill Trail for a popular loop from the Masemore steel bridge. Level riverside walking with a short wooded climb.

Riverside trail through the Sweathouse Branch Wildlands, following the north side of Big Gunpowder Falls. It anchors the top-rated Sweathouse Branch and Wildlands loop, a 4.7-mile favorite passing a small waterfall.

Short, rocky climbing trail out of the Big Gunpowder valley near the U.S. Route 1 underpass in the Sweathouse Branch Wildlands. Often combined with the Sweathouse Trail to form a popular riverside loop.

The park's main marked hiking trail, following the north bank of the upper Patuxent River through pine stands, mountain laurel, and a scenic rock garden; often walked as a riverside loop.

Steep, switchbacking trail from the Seneca Rocks Discovery Center that climbs to a wooden observation platform below the crags, with sweeping views over the North Fork Valley and the Tuscarora quartzite fins.

Blue-blazed trail through fields and past ponds in the Lost Mountain area; pairs with the Lost Mountain Trail to form a roughly 4-mile pastoral loop with westward views.

Yellow-blazed trail in the quieter Lost Mountain area east of Route 17, climbing to a westerly overlook on Lost Mountain; often paired with Rolling Meadows for a loop of about 4 miles.

Blue-blazed climb through cow pasture and forest to the Blue Ridge crest and Appalachian Trail; one of the park's steeper, rockier trails and the ascent leg of the classic loop.

Blue-blazed ridge trail forming the return leg of the main loop, passing three viewpoints: the Historic Area Overlook, South Ridge Overlook and a spur to George's Overlook.

Light-blue-blazed trail off the Appalachian Trail leading to the Piedmont Memorial (Whitehouse) Overlook, a stone-terraced viewpoint over the valley; part of the popular Sky Meadows loop.

Short but steep climb from the historic farm up open hillside meadow to the Piedmont Overlook, with sweeping views over the Crooked Run Valley and Piedmont; the park's signature view.

A gentle half-mile loop circling the summit of Spruce Knob, at 4,863 feet the highest point in West Virginia; passes a stone observation tower with panoramic views and interpretive signs on the high country.

Perimeter loop around Trap Pond with pondside views of its bald-cypress swamp, the northernmost natural stand of bald cypress in the U.S. Formerly the Loblolly Trail, renamed for trails advocate Bob Venables.

Short crushed-stone nature trail through hardwood forest of loblolly pine, bald cypress and its namesake American holly; a scenic alternative to the park's longer loops.

Longest trail at Tuckahoe State Park, a blue-blazed point-to-point route along Tuckahoe Creek through hardwood forest, split by Adkins Arboretum. Nearly flat with creek crossings, wildflowers and birding; shared with bikes and horses.

Yellow-blazed trail hugging Tuckahoe Creek beneath clay bluffs that are rare on Maryland's flat Eastern Shore. Rocky footing and steep drop-offs along the water; often hiked as a loop with the Tuckahoe Valley Trail.

The park’s longest trail, looping through hardwood forest with a boardwalk across tidal marsh and wildlife habitat above the Potomac. The most elevation gain of the park’s trails.

Moderate woodland trail with rolling terrain and benches, winding to Laurel Point through forest above the Potomac. Popular for birding and walking.

The park’s most popular trail, descending through forest and tidal marsh to Fossil Beach on the Potomac, where visitors sift for Miocene shark teeth and fossil shells.

Easy riverside trail in the McKeldin Area leading to the McKeldin Rapids, where the North Branch tumbles over rock ledges. Often combined with the Switchback Trail for a longer loop.

Red-blazed loop through Soldiers Delight's rare serpentine barrens: open grassland and stunted oaks on chromium-rich soil, near an overlook at one of Baltimore County's highest points.

Trail to the historic Choate chromite mine, a fenced 19th-century adit from Isaac Tyson's serpentine-barrens operations that once supplied much of the world's chromium; often looped with the Serpentine Trail.

1.25-mile loop from Auto Tour Stop 4 crossing the Cornfield, site of the ferocious early-morning fighting of September 17, 1862; interpretive markers explain one of the battle's bloodiest phases.

1.6-mile trail through the battlefield's quiet northern farm country, linking the Bloody Lane and Sherrick Farm trails past the Roulette, Parks and Newcomer farmsteads that stood during the 1862 battle.

1.6-mile loop from the visitor center passing the Mumma and Roulette Farms to the Sunken Road—the "Bloody Lane"—where Union assaults finally broke the Confederate center during midday fighting.

1.3-mile trail meandering through farm fields and woodlots on hilly terrain down to Burnside Bridge, passing the 194-acre farm owned by Joseph Sherrick Jr. during the Battle of Antietam.

1-mile loop crossing the historic Burnside Bridge over Antietam Creek, tracing the Union and Confederate movements around the stone bridge during the battle's late-afternoon fighting.

0.9-mile, mostly shaded loop from Auto Tour Stop 5 through the West Woods, where mid-morning fighting on September 17, 1862 produced some of the day's heaviest casualties.

White-blazed one-mile loop through oak forest at Gambrill, an easy, family-friendly walk near the High Knob picnic area and its stone overlook shelters.

Red-blazed connector loop linking Gambrill's campground with the wider trail network. A short, fairly easy woodland walk on Catoctin Mountain that suits families.

Black-blazed trail climbing Catoctin Mountain's wooded slopes to the High Knob overlooks, with sweeping views east over Frederick and west across the Middletown Valley.

Green-blazed loop with several steep slopes and little level ground, making it Gambrill's most challenging trail. It threads rocky, forested terrain on the flanks of Catoctin Mountain.

Climbs Elk Ridge to the Civil War Stone Fort and artillery batteries on Maryland Heights, passing Naval Battery ruins. Steep and rocky; often combined with the overlook route.

Red-blazed route up Elk Ridge to the Maryland Heights Overlook, the iconic clifftop view over Harpers Ferry and the Shenandoah-Potomac confluence. Steep, rocky climb; the park’s signature hike.

Easy loop through the ruins of Virginius Island, a 19th-century industrial community on the Shenandoah, with mill and factory foundations reclaimed by the river.

The Appalachian Trail through historic Harpers Ferry, climbing from Lower Town past Jefferson Rock and the Appalachian Trail Conservancy headquarters, the trail’s symbolic midpoint.

Short battlefield loop on Bolivar Heights, site of the 1862 Confederate siege and Union surrender, with open views across the Shenandoah Valley to the surrounding heights.

Out-and-back from Wolf Gap in George Washington National Forest to Big Schloss, a white-sandstone outcrop on Great North Mountain with roughly 270-degree views over Trout Run Valley on the VA/WV line.

Easy loop off the Appalachian Trail to the cliff-top summit of Stony Man (4,011 ft), Shenandoah's second-highest peak, with west-facing views over Luray and the Shenandoah Valley.

A white-blazed loop of about 2.5 miles circling the base of Sugarloaf Mountain through mixed forest, often combined with the summit trails for a fuller tour of the mountain's overlooks.

White-blazed main loop climbing to the King and Queen Seat, towering rock outcrops rising nearly 190 ft above Deer Creek with sweeping valley views. A popular scramble and rock-climbing spot.

Short, easy trail from Falling Branch to Kilgore Falls, Maryland's second-tallest free-falling waterfall at roughly 17 ft. Rock-hops Falling Branch to reach the base of the falls and its plunge pool.

Green-blazed trail from the Deer Creek Picnic Area with river and creek views and stands of large trees. Mostly flat but rocky and moderately steep near the end; crosses the Deer Creek trestle bridge.

Red-blazed ridge trail running high above the Susquehanna River, sharing its route with the long-distance Mason-Dixon Trail. Moderate to difficult, with bluff-top river views.

White-blazed loop climbing through hardwood forest across the historic Land of Promise tract above the Susquehanna River. Links with the Rock Run area trails for a longer circuit.

Yellow-blazed loop through the Rock Run Historic Area, passing the 1794 Rock Run Grist Mill, the Jersey Toll House and the Carter-Archer Mansion near the Susquehanna River.

The westernmost and easiest Billy Goat section, 1.6 miles along the Potomac with no rock scrambles; commonly hiked as a ~2.6-mile loop with the C&O Canal towpath.

Climbs about 2 miles over Sorrell Ridge above the 3,118-ft Paw Paw Tunnel, the longest structure on the C&O Canal; pairs with the towpath through the brick-lined tunnel as a loop.

White-blazed trail linking the fishing pond to the stone foundation of the Dye School, a one-room schoolhouse from the late 1800s, past a historic stone wall and stream crossings.

Paved, nearly level rail-with-trail beside the Patapsco River from Avalon toward Ilchester. Passes the historic Swinging Bridge and the former Bloede Dam site; popular with families, cyclists and strollers.

Popular loop from the Orange Grove area to Cascade Falls, a multi-tiered waterfall on a Patapsco tributary. Several stream crossings and cascades; family-friendly and near the historic Swinging Bridge.

Rocky, root-laced woodland trail following Sawmill Branch to the Patapsco in the Hilton/Glen Artney area. Frequently linked with Grist Mill, Santee Branch and Cascade Falls into a longer loop.

Short, scenic climb to an overlook of the mile-long gorge cut by Rocky Gap Run below Lake Habeeb. The signature quick hike at Rocky Gap for a view down the canyon.

The park's longest trail, winding through mature forest across the Mason Neck peninsula toward the adjacent national wildlife refuge. Quiet, moderately rolling woodland hiking.

Flat, forested spur leading to a wooden observation blind with benches overlooking Kane's Creek, built for watching the peninsula's nesting bald eagles.

Follows the North Fork of Quantico Creek through mixed hardwood forest and passes the Cabin Branch Pyrite Mine site; pairs with the South Valley Trail for a loop along both forks of the creek.

A short trail dropping to Quantico Cascades, where the South Fork of Quantico Creek tumbles over rock ledges; often walked as a detour off the valley trails to reach the falls.

Short spur descending to the ruins of the Cabin Branch Pyrite Mine, which operated 1889-1920 above Quantico Creek; hikers see foundations of the machine shop, engine room, and boiler house.

Loop at Bull Run Regional Park through one of the East Coast's largest Virginia bluebell displays, over 150 acres carpeting the Bull Run and Cub Run floodplains. Mostly flat dirt with boardwalk; peak bloom in mid-April.

Loop circling Brawner Farm, where the Second Battle of Manassas opened on Aug 28, 1862. Passes the restored farmhouse interpretive center overlooking the fields of the Gibbon-Jackson clash.

Popular loop from the Henry Hill Visitor Center across the open fields where Thomas J. Jackson earned the name 'Stonewall' during First Manassas. Passes cannons, monuments and the reconstructed Henry House.

Loop to the Deep Cut of the Unfinished Railroad, where Confederates repelled massed Union assaults on Aug 30, 1862. Passes wayside exhibits, an artillery display and the 1865 Second Manassas Monument.

Loop along Bull Run to the historic Stone Bridge, an escape route for retreating Union troops in both battles. Follows the creek through woods; laid out as a counterclockwise cell-phone audio tour.

Climbs to an overlook on the east rim of the Big Devils Stairs gorge with the creek cascading far below; often combined with the Bluff Trail and Appalachian Trail as a loop in the north district.

Forested ridge trail on the Howard County side, paralleling the river and park road with rolling climbs. Often hiked as an out-and-back or looped with Cascade Falls in the Orange Grove/Avalon area.

Blue-blazed loop reached via the Appalachian Trail, climbing Loudoun Heights to Split Rock with views of Harpers Ferry and the river confluence. Passes Civil War earthworks.

Paved National Recreation Trail threading Alapocas Run along the Brandywine, linking to Rockwood and Bellevue parks past dramatic rock faces, woodlands and the Blue Ball Barn.

Paved riverside path along Brandywine Creek past the Blue Rocks, Delaware’s only public rock-climbing cliff, with views of granite bluffs, the creek and small waterfalls.

Easy crushed-stone path along Brandywine Creek, shared by hikers, cyclists and horseback riders. Flat and family-friendly, running the length of the park's valley floor near the creek.

Wooded trail climbing from Brandywine Creek through a grove of evergreens with rocky footing and stream crossings. A steady, somewhat steep climb; a quieter route on the park's east side.

Trail hugging the east bank of Brandywine Creek from the Pennsylvania line down to the Rockland Road trailhead. Scenic waterside walking, often linked with other trails into the popular Brandywine river loop.

Linear trail along steep, rocky slopes on the east side of Brandywine Creek. Packed-earth footing with gradual grades that steepen near the creek banks; a short but scenic east-side route.

The most demanding Billy Goat section: a 1.7-mile cliffside boulder scramble above Mather Gorge just downstream of Great Falls, including a 50-ft rock face, with views of the frothy Potomac. Often a 3.7-mile loop via the towpath.

Wooded loop from the Great Falls Tavern area passing the ruins of the historic Maryland Mine and a wayside on post-Civil War gold mining; a ~3-mile forest alternative to the riverside trails at Great Falls, Maryland.

Short boardwalk footpath crossing bridges to Olmsted Island and the Great Falls Overlook, where the Potomac roars through the rocks above Mather Gorge; begins near the Great Falls Tavern Visitor Center.

Flat, easy forest-and-marsh trail running about 1.8 mi to the Chesapeake Bay beach below Calvert Cliffs, where visitors sift sand for Miocene fossils and fossilized shark teeth. Climbing the eroding cliffs is prohibited.

Flat, wide historic roadbed once used to reach the town of Matildaville. An easy walk through the woods, good for birding and a gentle alternative to the rocky River Trail.

The park’s signature hike, skirting the clifftops above Mather Gorge with spectacular views of the Potomac’s rapids. Rocky, uneven footing with some scrambling.

Scenic streamside trail following Difficult Run through a rocky gorge to its confluence with the Potomac. Narrow with rocky sections; anchors a popular loop with the River and Ridge trails.

Passes the stone ruins of Matildaville, a town founded in 1790 and abandoned by the 1830s, near the Patowmack Canal. Gently hilly with winter glimpses of Mather Gorge.

Easy waterfront loop following Point Lookout Creek along a corridor cleared in the early 1800s for an unbuilt railroad to Washington. It winds past reeds, pines and marsh near the park's Civil War prison-camp museum.

Blue-blazed 3.7-mile loop encircling Clopper Lake through woodland and open fields, crossing several stream bridges; the park's most popular hike, with continuous water views, waterfowl watching and fishing access.

White Clay Creek State Park's most popular hike, a wooded loop through mixed hardwood forest and meadow edges in the park's Chestnut Hill area near Newark, with gentle climbs and good spring wildflowers.

A forested loop, often combined with the Tri-State Trail, leading to the Tri-State Marker where Pennsylvania, Maryland and Delaware meet and the Arc Corner Monument, with tall wildlife observation stands.

Easy interpretive loop carrying a long boardwalk over the park's freshwater marsh along Belmont Bay. A prime spot for viewing bald eagles, herons and waterfowl in a protected Potomac watershed.

Shady, gently hilly forest trail to Kane's Creek and Belmont Bay, part of a protected area where dozens of bald eagles roost year-round. A core route of the Mason Neck eagle-watching hikes.

The yellow-blazed Catoctin Trail, a roughly 26-mile point-to-point route, begins at Gambrill State Park and runs north through the Frederick watershed to Cunningham Falls and Catoctin Mountain Park.

72-mile crushed-limestone rail-trail on the former B&O line across north-central WV, running through 10 tunnels and over 36 bridges, including the reputedly haunted Silver Run Tunnel. Part of the American Discovery Trail.