Hike to Annapolis Rock and Black Rock Cliff
Myersville, Maryland
Details
Distance
8 miles
Elevation Gain
840 ft
Route Type
Out-and-Back
Description
Added by Jess Fischer
Take in scenic views from both lookouts as you hike a segment of the Appalachian Trail.
Hike along the Appalachian Trail as it passes through South Mountain State Park, taking you to a number of very scenic lookout spots.
From the parking area, take the connector trail a short distance until you see blue blazes on the left – these will lead you to the Appalachian Trail (white blazes), on your right. After a noisy stint next to the freeway, the trail begins climbing the South Mountain ridge.
Around 1 mile in, you will reach the connector trail to Annapolis Rock. Beyond the scenic views, Annapolis Rock is popular with rock climbers. There are camping options at Annapolis Rock, as well – there is no fee, and it runs first-come-first-serve.
Once you've had your fill of the views there, turn back to the AT. The trail for Black Rock Cliff will come about 3 miles in – it can be hard to find, but will appear just before the AT begins to dip steeply.
To head back to the parking lot, retrace your steps back to the original connector trail to the US40.
Download the Outbound mobile app
Find adventures and camping on the go, share photos, use GPX tracks, and download maps for offline use.
Get the appFeatures
Hike to Annapolis Rock and Black Rock Cliff Reviews
Just did this hike last weekend, except I started just a bit south of Washington monument state park and turned back around after admiring the view offered by Annapolis Rocks.
5.0
My favorite hike in all of Maryland. This is a challenging and fun hike that gets very steep in parts so you truly can get a great workout. The views from Annapolis and Black Rocks are both the best in the area. If you are into climbing and bouldering Annapolis rocks is a perfect place to do that.
4.0
Leave No Trace
Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!
Nearby
Antietam National Battlefield Trail
Hike to Devil's Racecourse on the Appalachian Trail
Camp at the Adirondack Shelters in Catoctin Mountain Park
Hike to Cunningham Falls
Cat Rock via Old Misery Trail
Hike Chimney Rock at Catoctin Mountain Park
Community
© 2024 The Outbound Collective - Terms of Use - Privacy Policy