Mountain biking

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'.

The park's longest trail, a wide sand-and-pavement route from the Narrows to the 64th Street entrance through maritime forest, cypress swamp and salt marsh with boardwalks. The only trail open to bikes; flat and popular for cycling.

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.

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.

Paved 7-mile rail-trail on the former B&O Georgetown Branch, running from Georgetown in Washington, D.C., along the Potomac to Bethesda, Maryland. A flat, popular route for walking, running and cycling.

Purpose-built singletrack loop (red blazes) through mixed hardwood and conifer forest over rocky terrain, opened in 2023 for hikers and mountain bikers in western Maryland.

Gambrill's longest trail, a yellow-blazed loop that mostly follows the Catoctin Mountain ridgeline from the High Knob area to the park's northern boundary, with a spur to a west-facing rock overlook of the valley.

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.

The park's longest and most popular loop, roughly 4.9 miles through South Mountain's oak-and-maple hardwood forest, finishing with a level walk along the shore of 42-acre Greenbrier Lake.

White-blazed trail tracing the Little Gunpowder Falls along the Baltimore-Harford county line, running through hardwood forest past old mill sites. Mostly gentle riverside walking with a few rocky climbs.

Long, easy riverside path through the park's Central Area, tracing the Big Gunpowder Falls near the U.S. Route 1 corridor. A well-loved, mostly flat walk through Maryland's largest state park.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Yellow-blazed 7.5-mile trail linking Black Rock Mill to the C&O Canal, hugging the rim of the Seneca Creek river valley with views across the water; a quieter, wooded route through the lower park.

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.

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.

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.

Paved multi-use trail running along both banks of the Anacostia River, connecting neighborhoods from the National Mall area to Bladensburg, Maryland; mostly flat riverfront with wooded stretches, marsh and parks.

NOVA Parks' longest natural-surface trail, a point-to-point route along Bull Run and the Occoquan River linking four parks. Blue-blazed dirt with boardwalks, stream crossings and rolling hills; a popular long-distance day hike near DC.

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.

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.

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.

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, 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.

A nearly 7-mile loop tracing the wooded, wetland shoreline of Lums Pond; mostly level with bridges and boardwalk sections, and shared by hikers and cyclists.

Orange-blazed 5.8-mile trail connecting the Clopper Lake area to the Schaeffer Farm trails, running along a wooded ridge with vistas toward Seneca Creek; popular with hikers, trail runners and mountain bikers.

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.

The blue-blazed Catoctin Trail, a long-distance ridge route linking Cunningham Falls State Park with Catoctin Mountain Park and Gambrill State Park across the Catoctin Mountains; this route is a designated National Recreation Trail.

The Appalachian Trail crosses South Mountain through the park, passing the 1827 stone tower on Monument Knob, the first monument completed to George Washington. A steady climb to the summit; a noted fall hawk-migration lookout.

The flat, level towpath running 184.5 miles along the Potomac from Georgetown, D.C. to Cumberland, Maryland, following the historic 19th-century canal past locks, lockhouses and aqueducts.