State of the Trail Report
Agencies
Assessment by County
Policy |
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General
Allegany County offers visitors and residents alike serene mountain vistas, fresh air, and a myriad of outdoor activities. The places to explore include:
- Green Ridge State Forest.. Maryland's second largest state forest, consisting of 44,000 acres of oak and hickory forest as well as shale barrens, desert-like habitats where one can see unusual plants like the Prickly Pear Cactus. Outdoor recreation opportunities include a mountain bike trail; canoeing, kayaking, and angling on the Potomac River; as well as backpacking on a 24-mile PHT connecting trail with new Adirondack-style shelters.
- Paw Paw Tunnel. Situated on Allegany County's eastern end of the C&O Canal Towpath, this is an impressive 3,118 foot brick-lined tunnel.
- Rocky Gap State Park. This park captures 3000 acres of rugged mountain beauty. It is a year-round mecca for recreational activities such as canoeing, kayaking, rappelling, bicycling, hunting, fishing and camping. The park also provides hikers the opportunity to explore many connecting trails.
- Canal Place. Maryland's first "heritage area," this mix of land and buildings in downtown Cumberland offers a plethora of opportunities to learn about and enjoy the rich history and culture of the region. Canal Place is located at the historic western terminus of the C&O Canal, with conservation and development efforts coordinated by the Canal Place Preservation and Development Authority.
- Deep Creek Lake Management Area. Ninety-five percent of the park consists of a forest that has regenerated from original stands of timber.
- Potomac State Forest. Mountain forests, streams and valleys make up nearly 12,000 acres of this State Forest. The forest drains into the Potomac River Basin, and features the highest point in any Maryland state forest — Backbone Mountain.
- Herrington Manor State Park. Features a 53-acre lake and encompasses 365 acres.
- Swallow Falls State Park. This mountain park contains some of Maryland's most breathtaking scenery.
In addition, the railroad rights-of-way along the North Branch of the Potomac and the extent of public lands in Garrett County suggest the need to evaluate opportunities for making connections via a linked set of trails and experiences for hiking, equestrian use, mountain bicycling and kayaking and rafting.
Existing Trail Segments
The historic Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Towpath provides a nearly level, continuous trail through spectacular natural scenery, perfect for hiking, biking and riding horses. Its gentle gradient is complemented by an existing connecting trail, the Green Ridge Trail, which takes hikers on a more demanding route into Green Ridge State Forest
Planned Trail Segments
The state of Maryland is currently developing a section of the Allegheny Highlands Trail between Cumberland and Frostburg along the route of the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad, with plans for continuation along the abandoned railroad right of way into Pennsylvania. In addition, the existing connecting Green Ridge Trail system in Green Ridge State Forest may be extended to Warrior Mountain Wildlife Management Area along a power line right-of-way.
Contacts
Allegany County Convention and Visitors Bureau
Western Maryland Railway Station
13 Canal Street
Cumberland, MD 21502
(301) 777-5132, (800) 425-2067, FAX: (301) 777-5137
Email: mdstaff@mdmoutainside.com
Allegany County Dept. of Community Services
Dave Dorsey, Land Development Services
701 Kelly Road
Cumberland MD 21502
(301) 777-5951 ext. 292
Email: ddorsey@allconet.org
Allegheny Highlands Trail (Maryland)
P.O. Box 28
Cumberland, MD 21501
Canal Place Preservation & Development Authority
Western Maryland Railway Station
13 Canal Street Room 301
Cumberland, Maryland 21502
(80) 989-9394
Email: fo@canalplace.org
C&O Canal Association
P.O. Box 366
Glen Echo, MD 20812
(301) 983-0825
C&O Canal National Historical Park
1850 Dual Highway, Suite 100
Hagerstown, MD 21740-6620
(301) 739-4200
Green Ridge State Forest
28700 Headquarters Drive
Flintstone, MD 21530-9525
(301) 478-3124
Maryland Department of Natural Resources:
Maryland Greenways Commission
Lisa Gutierrez, Executive Director
580 Taylor Ave.E2
Annapolis MD 21401
(410) 260-8780
Email: gutierrez@dnr.state.md.us
Rocky Gap State Park
12500 Pleasant Valley Road
Flintstone, MD 21530
(301) 777-2139
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