South Mountain State Park — Attraction in Boonsboro

This was my first time hiking EVER and I enjoyed myself so much I’m doing it every week now. It was so relaxing and an awesome experience I will never forget. A few hikers and geologists were out there that I called my guardian angel. I felt so at peace out in nature and ALLLLL hikers are hospital meek mild and kind extensively. Andy and Daniel were the best and I enjoyed every waking moment. They turned me into a potential hiker cause I want this to be incorporated in my day to day lifestyle. The trails were about an 1:30 to get to the beautiful scenery of the rocks and overview, but if you stopped like I did multiple times to rest and take pictures it may take a regular hiker an hour to get to the top. My husband and I enjoyed every moment and we even got a full list of other cool hiking locations in the dmv so CANT WAIT super excited. Next time I’ll take my daughter with me to get her used to hiking as well. We also drank cold fresh spring water from the ground I like to call Maryland’ best kept secret. Awesome place to camp and did I mention the hikers are sooooooo friendly it’s surreal it’s as if they all have this NAMASTE ambience that’s infectious and worth being outdoors for. Anyway enough about me get your butt down there you won’t...

This is a large stretch of real estate. If you want to see something unique, go to the Washington Monument within the park and take a stroll to the South Mountain Historical Center in the Monument Park.

For the more adventurous, try a day hike on the Appalachian Trail which runs directly through the entire south mountain area.

A beautiful hike is parking at the Old South Mountain Inn and seeing the Dhalgren Chappell, head south on the AT to Rocky Run... passing the Dhalgren Backpacking Camp Ground.

A gentle hike taking you past the General Reno Monument. Continue past Rocky Run to White Rocks Overlook... warning, this is an aggressive ascent from Rocky Run.

South Mountain Inn to Rocky run is about 3 miles... a nice family day hike... very basic terrain, again until you head further south to White Rocks. The highest climb on the MD section of the AT.

Great historical area. One of Marylands treasures.

Call ahead or look up car access in the off season to Washington Monument Park....

Wonderful...

Nice moderately challenging hike - some inclines and declines as you hike towards a beautiful overlook. Overlook was spacious to accommodate several groups of people at once. There's a campground with smooth 5x5 feet spaced to putch a tent just before the Overlook - you have to call and reserve for those. However, there were many people who just brought their camping gear to stay the night outside of that area. Peak Foliage is the 3rd and 4th week of October, with the peak happening earlier as you reach higher elevation. Relatively busy trail, but you get your own space. Everyone was friendly. Lots of dogs 🐕 🐶. If you're lucky, you might spot a Bald Eagle. This overlook is a great spot for photography. The parking lot was pretty full, but we were able to get a spot even though we arrived around 2pm. If you get out earlier, you may get a walking stick that another hiker has left at a split in the trail (where you can go to the monument trail or continue to...