Appalachian National Scenic Trail · MD
Thurston Griggs Trail
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.
Live · updated
Today
Skip the trail running plan today.
Today's best: trail running
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
- · 77°F air — Within comfort range, outside ideal
- − Thunderstorms — Get off exposed ridges before they arrive
- ✓ Trail: prime — No meaningful rain in the last 48 hours. Trail surface is dry and tacky — prime traction.
Trail facts
- Distance
- 1.35 mi
- Elevation gain
- 896 ft
- Surface
- mixed
- Difficulty
- moderate
Trailhead
Coordinates
39.5799, -77.5948 — MD.
Park
Part of Appalachian National Scenic Trail.
Peak nymphal tick activity — check yourself within 2 hours of leaving the trail.
Frequently Asked
How long is Thurston Griggs Trail?
Thurston Griggs Trail is a 1.35-mile route with 896 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 Thurston Griggs Trail?
Thurston Griggs 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 Thurston Griggs Trail, and where do closure alerts come from?
Thurston Griggs Trail is in Appalachian National Scenic Trail, 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.