2016 Family Resource Guide State Parks MARYLAND
www.dnr.state.md.us/publiclands Cunningham Falls State Park, 14039 Catoctin Hollow Rd., Thurmont. Known for its history, as well as its 78-foot cascading waterfall. Offers Catoctin Iron Furnace historical site, the Scales and Tales Aviary, swimming, boating, playground, hiking, hunting, picnicking and camping. Campsites and camper cabins for rent from April through October. A concession stand and beach store open during summer. Educational children’s programs available. 301/271-7574. Fort Frederick State Park, 11100 Fort Frederick Rd., Big Pool. The site of Maryland’s frontier defense during the French & Indian War, the Fort’s stone wall and two barracks have been restored to their 1758 appearance. Historic displays are in the Fort, barracks and visitor center. Annually holds military re-enactments and other special events. Parklands adjoin the Potomac River, and the C&O Canal passes through park acreage. Boating, cross-country skiing, campfire programs, camping, fishing, flat-water canoeing, hiking, picnicking and a playground. Open 8 am to sunset, April to Oct.; 10 am to sunset, Nov. to March. 301/842-2155. Gambrill State Park, 8602 Gambrill Park Rd., Frederick. Three native stone overlooks offer views of the surrounding area. Offers picnicking, playground, hiking and nature trails, interpretive programs, fishing, camping, horseback riding and mountain biking. Open 8 a.m. to sunset, April to Oct., and 10 a.m. to sunset, Nov. to March. 301/271-7574. Gathland State Park, 900 Arnoldstown Rd., Jefferson. The park, located in both Washington and Frederick Counties, once was the mountain home of George Alfred Townsend, a Civil War journalist. It features a collection of buildings and structures that he designed and constructed, some of which have been restored and turned into a museum. There is a large, stone monument dedicated to war correspondents in the park. The park is located in Crampton’s gap, which was the southernmost gap fought over during the battle of South Mountain. Fought Sept. 14, 1862, it was the first major battle of the Civil War fought in Maryland. There are interpretive programs throughout the summer featuring Civil War re-enactors. The annual “Living History” weekend occurs the first weekend after Labor Day and portrays various aspects of soldiers’ lives, including infantry, cavalry and artillery demonstrations. The Appalachian Trail traverses the park and passes the monument base. Offers cross-country skiing, historical sites, hiking and picnicking. Open sunrise to sunset. 301/791-4767. Greenbrier State Park, 21843 National Pike, Boonsboro. Greenbrier is multi-use park with a man-made lake and beach, flat-water canoeing, hiking, picnicking, fishing, interpretive programs, nature studies, camping, a boat launch, boat rental, camp store, playground, mountain biking and hunting. The Appalachian Trail passes nearby. Open 8 a.m. to sunset. From Memorial Day to Labor Day, Maryland residents pay $3 per person on weekdays and $5 per person on weekends and holidays; Labor Day to Memorial Day charges are $3 per vehicle. Admission on May and Sept. weekends cost $3 per person. Out-of-state residents add $2 to all day-use service charges. 301/791-4767. Indian Springs Wildlife Management Area, 14038 Blairs Valley Rd., Clear Spring. A state run area set aside for wildlife management, encompassing more than 6,300 acres of steep, hardwood-covered slopes interspersed with lush valleys created by spring-fed streams. Self-guided nature trails to explore. 301/842-2702. Sideling Hill State Park, in eastern Allegany and western Washington County, is a 3,100-acre tract of land of mixed oak forest and scattered Virginia Pine. It provides forest wildlife habitat and protection for water quality in Sideling Hill Creek. It has hiking, mountain biking, and camping trails. 301/842-2155. South Mountain State Park, Boonsboro. This historic park has more than 10,000 acres for year-round hiking along the Appalachian Trail. It is a 40-mile long multi-use state park along the South Mountain ridge from the Pennsylvania line to the Potomac River. South Mountain, a ridge composed largely of resistant quartzite, posed a formidable obstacle to the early settlers until 1755 when Gen. Edward Braddock and a young surveyor, George Washington, constructed a road over one of its passes. Greenbrier, Washington Monument and Gathland are neighboring state parks along South Mountain. Most of the park is only accessible by foot. Historic park offers year-round hiking along the Appalachian Trail. Also offers a few campsites. 301/791-4767. Washington Monument State Park, 6620 Zittlestown Rd., Middletown or from Monument Road, 4 miles east of Boonsboro. Named for the first monument in the country erected to George Washington. The Appalachian Trail winds through the park and passes the base of the monument. Historical sites, museum, picnicking, playground, hiking and cross-country skiing. Park is open 8 am to sunset from April to October, and 10 am to sunset from November to March. 301/791-4767. Western MD Rail Trail is a 22.5 mile long, flat, paved trail surface from Fort Frederick to Pearre Station. Winding along the Potomac River, the trail is a wonderful place for people to be outside hiking, biking, running, and enjoying nature. www.westernmarylandrailtrail.org.
PENNSYLVANIA
www.dcnr.state.pa.us Buchanan’s Birthplace State Park, on PA Route 16, between McConnellsburg and Mercersburg. 18.5-acre park, nestled in a gap of the Tuscarora Mountain, is
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dedicated in honor of the 15th president of the United States. A stone pyramid monument stands on the site of the original cabin where Buchanan was born. Park offers picnic pavilions, picnic tables, comfort stations, water fountains, trout fishing and The Tuscarora Trail. 717/485-3948. Caldedonia State Park, 101 Pine Grove Rd., and midway between Chambersburg and Gettysburg along the Lincoln Highway, US 30. This 1,125-acre park offers camping, tent and trailer sites, two campgrounds; picnicking, picnic pavilions and 450 tables; fishing; hiking, 10 miles of trails; swimming pool, ADA accessible, fee charged; golf, 18-hole, par 68; hunting during season; summer theater by Totem Pole Playhouse, and environmental programs. 717/352-2161. Cowans Gap State Park, 6235 Aughwick Rd., Fort Loudon. Features 42-acre Cowans Gap Lake which has trout, bass, perch and pan fish, with an accessible fishing pier; 500-foot sand beach; and food/refreshment concession open from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day. 717/485-3948. Mont Alto State Park, one mile from Mont Alto. It can be reached from Caledonia State Park on U.S. 30. This 23-acre park is the oldest state park in Pennsylvania. Offers fishing, hiking, picnicking, and snowmobiling. 717/352-2161.
VIRGINIA
www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks Sky Meadows State Park, 11012 Edmonds Lane, Delaplane. Less than two miles south of Paris, VA, just off U.S. 17, this 1,864-acre park offers scenic vistas, access to the Appalachian Trail and a primitive hike-in campground, picnicking, hiking and horseback riding trails, fishing, interpretive programs and a visitor center. Nature and history programs offered year-round. Open 8:30 am-dusk. 540/592-3556.
WEST VIRGINIA
www.wvstateparks.com Berkeley Springs State Park, U.S. 522, Berkeley Springs. Berkeley Springs State Park is located in the center of Berkeley Springs. Bathhouse first opened in 1930. 304/258-2711 or 800/CALLWVA. www.berkeleyspringssp.com. Cacapon Resort State Park, 818 Cacapon Lodge Drive, Berkeley Springs. Hiking, nature and recreation programs, swimming, boating, games, fishing, golf and horseback riding. 304/258-1022 or 800/CALLWVA. www.cacaponresort.com.
National Parks www.nps.gov Antietam National Battlefield, Sharpsburg, MD. Historical sites, auto touring, biking, camping, fishing, wildlife viewing and hiking. An audiovisual program, “Antietam Visit,” is shown on the hour and half-hour, except from 12 noon to 1 p.m. Every day at noon, a one-hour documentary about the battle of Antietam is shown in the visitor center theater. The battlefield offers a Junior Ranger Program for ages 6 to 12, through which children can complete a free activity booklet while visiting, and earn a badge and a certificate. Pry House Field Hospital Museum is also located on the Battlefield. Visitor Center open daily from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and park grounds are open daylight hours. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day. 301/432-5124. Appalachian National Scenic Trail. A 2,175-mile-long footpath stretching through 14 eastern states from Maine to Georgia; traverses through Washington Co., MD & Jefferson Co., WV. Camping with permit. www.appalachiantrail.org. C&O Canal National Historical Park. The C&O Canal follows the route of the Potomac River for 184.5 miles from Washington, D.C., to Cumberland, MD. Offers backpacking, biking, bird-watching, boating, camping, climbing, cross-country skiing, fishing, hiking, horseback riding, interpretive programs, kayaking, wildlife viewing and nature walks. C&O Canal NHP Headquarters, 1850 Dual Highway, Suite 100, Hagerstown. 301/739-4200. Catoctin Mountain Park, Thurmont, MD. Bird-watching, camping, climbing, cross-country skiing, fishing, hiking, horse trails, interpretive programs, educational programs, snowshoeing, Junior Ranger program, and wildlife viewing. Campgrounds open from May 1 through November 1. 301/663-9388, 877/444-6777 (camping or cabin rentals). Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, off U.S. 340 in Harpers Ferry, WV. Museums and exhibits, guided programs, hiking, fishing, bird-watching and wildlife viewing, nature walks, white-water rafting, rock climbing and rappelling. Open year round with the exception of Thanksgiving, Christmas & New Year’s Day. 304/535-6029. Monocacy National Battlefield Park, Frederick County, MD. Auto touring, birdwatching, hiking, interpretive programs, nature walks and cross-country skiing. Junior Ranger Program is available for children and their families all year at the Visitor Center. 301/662-3515. Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail. A partnership between private and governmental agencies to develop and maintain a network of locally managed trails for recreation, education, transportation and health. The Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail is an evolving, 830-mile network of locally managed trails and routes embracing both sides of the Potomac from the mouth of the river at the Chesapeake Bay to the Allegheny Highlands in the upper Ohio River basin. Trails in the MD/DC/PA segments of the trail corridor make it possible to hike 375 miles from Washington, D.C., to Seward, Pa., all on trails and sidewalks. South of Washington, D.C., there are many places that offer hiking. www.nps.gov/pohe.
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