Maryland

Learn Civil War history as you hike through forts and read signs about the war. Enjoy beautiful lookouts, including one with a great view of Harpers Ferry. The 5.3 mile hike is relatively easy and offers an interesting opportunity to learn history in one of the most important historical areas in the...

Because Palmer State Park is still under development (with no timeline given for its completion), there are only a few trails that meander through this 555-acre reserve. Palmer's official website offers a not-so-helpful topographical map, but the easiest way into the park that I could find was near ...

The Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge is a perfect place to get away for a day. It offers more than 28,000 acres of marsh, forrest, and croplands which are teeming with wildlife. The refuge has a visitors center which is a good place to start the adventure and acquire knowledge of the area, the wi...

The beautiful Pocomoke River State Park is divided into two sections, the Shad Landing Area and the Milburn Landing Area. The Bald Cypress Nature Trail is located in the Milburn Landing Area. Once you are in the Milburn Landing Area, you'll want to look for the Mattaponi Pavilion sign and turn down ...

First, a few disclaimers: The parking lot may be "at capacity" if you choose to visit the park in the summer. Do not despair; there is an auxiliary lot of sorts just near the gate. The park may be "full" but chances are you'll have the trails to yourself. Most people are here to hang in the designat...

Starting in the parking lot you will follow the Red Trail for 1.3 miles until you reach the cliffs that give this park its name. The trail to the cliffs is both easy to follow and gorgeous at every turn. This is a fairly flat trail and is perfect for all skill levels as well as dog-friendly. Once at...

Park at the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal parking lot. Walk to the US 15 and cross the road. Trail is not marked, though its faint traces can be detected as you continue on. GPS is recommended. Enjoy the overlook and when you're ready to go back, retrace your steps.

Most people visit Elk Neck to photograph the lighthouse, or access to the Bay (the throttle of speed boats is never far), but don't miss out on the trails. The three mile out-and-back White Banks Trail offers crazy-beautiful views of the Chesapeake as well as a moderately difficult workout. Park in ...

There is no better way to travel into Annapolis then by under your own power on water. Put in your kayak, canoe, or stand up paddle board at the Truxton Park Boat Launch (run by the City Parks Department) and paddle into downtown Annapolis on Spa Creek. Pass other boaters, beautiful waterfront homes...

From the visitors center, start on the Fire Road trail. From there, it's a choose-your-own adventure (choose-your-own ecosystem, actually). Pick the Laurel and Valley Trails to stay in the quiet (and maybe enchanted? It felt enchanted) forest. Goose Pond trail is a short jut to a--yup--pond, where h...

Make sure you park in the designated spots located above the Dam. Walk across the Dam road bridge and about mid way stop and take a look over the edge. You will be greeted with the a beautiful view of the valley. To explore more keep walking over the dam bridge and walk down the stairs to view the o...

Point Lookout State Park is at the southern most tip of the joining of the Chesapeake Bay and the Potomac River in St. Mary's County, Maryland. The park offers many activities such as fishing, canoeing, boat launch, camping and lounging at the beach. When you arrive, there are multiple places to par...

This is one of Baltimore's little known gems. The area contains an ecosystem which is essentially non-existent outside of the Appalachian mountain regions. It has also been seemingly under-appreciated and abused by locals. I am trusting that the Outbound Collective community will do its part to enjo...

I began my adventure at the trailhead in Herrington Manor State Park. The parking lot was empty and the trail was very easy to access. From start to finish this trail varies in the width of its path. For the first mile I had a lot of foot room, but as I went deeper into the forest, the trail turned ...

This is a moderately rated hike that features a river and quite a few hilly sections. The trail is known to be rather muddy, so be sure to wear appropriate waterproof footwear. Note that some sections of the trail are not well marked. You may want to review a map before embarking. There is parking f...

Although the trails at Eastern Neck may be small in size (the longest is just over a mile) they're big on sights. It's practically impossible to visit the refuge and not see wildlife, particularly the dizzying number of avian species here. Visit during the winter to see the majestic Tundra Swan, on ...