Gunpowder Falls State Park · MD

Gunpowder North Trail

The Gunpowder North Trail runs along the north bank of the Big Gunpowder Falls in the Hereford Area, closely following the river with scenic water views. Paired with the South Trail it makes the park's signature loop.

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Today's best: trail running

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Trail: prime
Air temp
84°F
Clear
Wind
5 to 14 mph
S
Rain
88%
Last 48h: 0.01″
Trail
prime
dirt surface
Sunset
8:24 PM
80 min daylight left
Moon
Full Moon
97% illuminated

Hiking

Ideal 48–75°F

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Trail running

Ideal 42–65°F

Skip the trail running plan today.

  • 84°F airAbove trail running's comfort zone (28–78°F)
  • ThunderstormsGet off exposed ridges before they arrive
  • Trail: primeNo meaningful rain in the last 48 hours. Trail surface is dry and tacky — prime traction.
  • 80 min of daylightYou need at least 82 min with margin. Bring a headlamp or start tomorrow.
Distance
4.6 mi
Elevation gain
203 ft
Surface
dirt
Difficulty
moderate

Coordinates

39.6183, -76.6513 — MD.

Tick awareness

Peak nymphal tick activity — check yourself within 2 hours of leaving the trail.

How long is Gunpowder North Trail?

Gunpowder North Trail is a 4.6-mile route with 203 feet of elevation gain — moderate — some sustained climbing or technical sections; expect to work for it but no specialized skills required. 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 Gunpowder North Trail?

Gunpowder North Trail is natural dirt singletrack — soft underfoot, holds water, slow to dry after rain. Today's mud rating, derived from recent precipitation and the surface type, is shown in the conditions panel above.

Who manages Gunpowder North Trail, and where do closure alerts come from?

Gunpowder North 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.

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