Assessment By County

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State of the Trail Report

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Assessment by County

Policy

	Washington County, Maryland
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General
Public access trail development in Washington County has occurred primarily on federal or state land and include the C&O Canal National Historic Park and the Appalachian Trail. Numerous easements on private land have been provided to support these features. The Western Maryland Rail Trail has been developed within the right-of-way of the active scenic railroad route along the Potomac River.

Existing Trail Segments
The primary trails in Washington County are the C&O Canal Towpath (1), the Appalachian Trail (2), and the Western Maryland Rail Trail (3). The Tuscarora Trail (4), which crosses the C&O Canal near Hancock, follows the C&O Canal Towpath to Licking Creek, then runs north to Pennsylvania. The Maryland Heights Trail (14) in Harpers Ferry National Park is located in the southern end of the county.

Planned Trail Segments
The most likely new trail to be developed in Washington County is the proposed extension of the Western Maryland Rail Trail (6) for 20 miles from Big Pool to Williamsport. The trail system being considered for development within the Indian Springs Wildlife Management Area (7) could potentially be connected to the PHT by development of the Fort Frederick-Indian Springs Connector (11). An existing trail at Camp Harding Park may be linked to the PHT by extending down Licking Creek (8) to the Potomac River. Sideling Hill Creek (9), in the western end of the county, is one of the most pristine tributaries to the Potomac River and could link the PHT through the Sideling Hill Wildlife Management Area north into Pennsylvania. A second extension of the Western Maryland Rail Trail (5) is planned to parallel the C&O Canal Towpath westward into Allegany County, Maryland. Also, a connecting water trail is planned for Conococheague Creek (10). The planned Sandy Hook Bridge Connector Trail (15) would cross the Potomac River on the US-340 bridge and link the C&O Canal Towpath to the Potomac Heritage Trail under consideration in Loudoun County, Virginia.

Issues and Concerns
Some county facilities do have potential to be linked to others through projects sponsored by the county. Some trails on private land have been maintained by local clubs and volunteers, but several are currently threatened by logging and closure.

Due to its quality and recent damage to Sideling Creek from highway construction on Interstate 68, it has become a high priority resource for protection by The Nature Conservancy. Although the state owns the Weverton-Roxbury rail corridor in the eastern part of the county, there are no current plans to develop a trail. It could be developed in the future as demand increases. The corridor would connect to the C&O Canal Towpath at Weverton and would extent 18 miles north and west of the Appalachian Trail.