Gunpowder Falls State Park · MD
Sweathouse Trail
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.
Live · updated
Today
Skip the hiking plan today.
Today's best: hiking
Conditions
Score by activity
Hiking
Skip the hiking plan today.
Trail running
Skip the trail running plan today.
Dog walking
Thunderstorms in today's forecast — dogs panic and trails become dangerous.
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 89 min with margin. Bring a headlamp or start tomorrow.
Trail facts
- Distance
- 1.6 mi
- Elevation gain
- 356 ft
- Surface
- dirt
- Difficulty
- moderate
Trailhead
Coordinates
39.4407, -76.4607 — 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 Sweathouse Trail?
Sweathouse Trail is a 1.6-mile route with 356 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 Sweathouse Trail?
Sweathouse 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 Sweathouse Trail, and where do closure alerts come from?
Sweathouse 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.