Gunpowder Falls State Park · MD
Big Gunpowder Falls Trail
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.
Live · updated
Today
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Conditions
Score by activity
Hiking
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Trail running
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Mountain biking
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Score breakdown
- · 84°F air — Within comfort range, outside ideal
- − 15 mph wind — Gusty — bring a windbreaker
- − Thunderstorms — Get off exposed ridges before they arrive
- ✓ Trail: prime — 0.14" of rain in the last 48 hours. Trail surface is dry and tacky — prime traction.
- − 78 min of daylight — You need at least 105 min with margin. Bring a headlamp or start tomorrow.
Trail facts
- Distance
- 9.5 mi
- Elevation gain
- 139 ft
- Surface
- mixed
- Difficulty
- easy
Trailhead
Coordinates
39.4330, -76.4693 — MD.
Park
Part of Gunpowder Falls State Park (official site →).
Peak nymphal tick activity — check yourself within 2 hours of leaving the trail.
Nearby Trails
Frequently Asked
How long is Big Gunpowder Falls Trail?
Big Gunpowder Falls Trail is a 9.5-mile route with 139 feet of elevation gain — easy — gentle grades, generally suitable for families and beginners with normal fitness. The trail facts panel on this page lists distance, surface, and access tags as they appear in OpenStreetMap.
What's the trail surface like at Big Gunpowder Falls Trail?
Big Gunpowder Falls Trail is mixed surface — sections of dirt, rock, and root that vary along the route. Today's mud rating, derived from recent precipitation and the surface type, is shown in the conditions panel above.
Who manages Big Gunpowder Falls Trail, and where do closure alerts come from?
Big Gunpowder Falls Trail is in Gunpowder Falls State Park, which is managed by the managing agency. Closure and advisory data on this page comes from the agency. Always confirm against the park's own page before driving — emergency closures can post faster than scrapers refresh.