The Experience
You will love: Beautiful mature forest, good distance hike, wonderful rock outcrop summit with 180 degree summit views.
You need to know: Popular Trail ! Come early on the weekends.
You need to know: Popular Trail ! Come early on the weekends.
Located just north of Frederick, MD sits the very popular Annapolis rock. The kind of popular where it's get a most popular award in the yearbook and the kind of popular where its get there early or find yourself hiking with hoards of people.
The hike starts off at the trail head along route 40, and rambles along the Appalachian trail (white blaze). The trail is in areas, single-track comprised of decay material, rocks, stones and dirt while in other flatter areas the trail becomes wider and simply dirt and stone. What you realize about this trail is for every short burst of lung burning ascent its topped off by a good bit of flat terrain hiking. This trail was hard to judge because most of your work is done early, and after nearly a mile the trail rides fairly flat.
The trail is beautifully decorated with large mature trees, ferns, a truly well maintained path. At the 2.5 mile mark comes an intersection with the Annapolis Rock connector trail, hang a left here and go 0.2 to the summit view. The summit view is spectacular (much better than Sugarloaf) with 180 degree views of Greenbrier Lake and the farm lands below. The stunning outcrop jetties the ridge line and presents a full robust view of the area topography.
Once you have had your fill, return to the connector trail intersection from here the choice is either to turn right to return to your car (boring!) or turn left and go for another 1.2 miles to Black Rock summit (exciting!). The Black Rock summit is found to the left of the trail, there is a small sign indicating where to turn and go 200 yds. to the summit. The sign is small! Black Rock is another rock outcrop (less populated) with views of western Maryland, sprawling farms below and a rock field (scree). The black Rock area also has plenty of lunch spots or quiet spots to relax and breathe deep in the view. Once fulfilled, return to the at , turn to the right and retrace your steps to the car.
Annapolis rock offers first come first serve camp sites and also the area is known for its rock climbing.
GEAR RECOMMENDATIONS
The hike starts off at the trail head along route 40, and rambles along the Appalachian trail (white blaze). The trail is in areas, single-track comprised of decay material, rocks, stones and dirt while in other flatter areas the trail becomes wider and simply dirt and stone. What you realize about this trail is for every short burst of lung burning ascent its topped off by a good bit of flat terrain hiking. This trail was hard to judge because most of your work is done early, and after nearly a mile the trail rides fairly flat.
The trail is beautifully decorated with large mature trees, ferns, a truly well maintained path. At the 2.5 mile mark comes an intersection with the Annapolis Rock connector trail, hang a left here and go 0.2 to the summit view. The summit view is spectacular (much better than Sugarloaf) with 180 degree views of Greenbrier Lake and the farm lands below. The stunning outcrop jetties the ridge line and presents a full robust view of the area topography.
Once you have had your fill, return to the connector trail intersection from here the choice is either to turn right to return to your car (boring!) or turn left and go for another 1.2 miles to Black Rock summit (exciting!). The Black Rock summit is found to the left of the trail, there is a small sign indicating where to turn and go 200 yds. to the summit. The sign is small! Black Rock is another rock outcrop (less populated) with views of western Maryland, sprawling farms below and a rock field (scree). The black Rock area also has plenty of lunch spots or quiet spots to relax and breathe deep in the view. Once fulfilled, return to the at , turn to the right and retrace your steps to the car.
Annapolis rock offers first come first serve camp sites and also the area is known for its rock climbing.
GEAR RECOMMENDATIONS
- 2 water bottle
- Lunch or trail bars
- hiking shoes or trail runners
- bug spray (summer)
