This park was purchased in 1935 during the Great Depression as part of a demonstration program to rehabilitate poor agricultural land under the Works Progress Administration (WPA) and Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). They worked on a visitor center, campground, rental cabins, and 25 miles of trails now run by the National Park Service.
Highlights
Chimney Rock, Blue Blazes Whiskey Still, hiking, camping
Must-Do Activity
Hiking. Also consider a stop just south of Highway 77 at Cunningham Falls State Park (entrance fee) on your visit to Maryland’s mountains.
Best Trail
A loop hike can hit both Chimney Rock and Wolf Rock, though the views from the latter are not quite as sweeping.
Instagram-worthy Photo
Chimney Rock offers a stunning overlook of Maryland’s forests.
Peak Season
Summer for camping and autumn for changing foliage.
Stay at the historic CCC campground or south of Highway 77 at Cunningham Falls State Park.
Tiff at the historic Blue Blazes Whiskey Still from the Prohibition Era
On top of Wolf Rock
Don’t miss a stop at Cunningham Falls State Park on your visit to Maryland’s mountains.
Explore More –What famous presidential retreat is located within the boundaries of the park, but is not shown on maps and includes plenty of warning signs about stopping anywhere near its driveway?
The Appalachian Trail (or A.T.) is one of only three National Scenic Trails that the National Park Service (NPS) includes in its total of 420+ units, despite there being many other affiliated trails (some with their own Visitor Centers). The trail stretches 2,185 miles from Springer Mountain, Georgia (in Chattahoochee National Forest‘s Ed Jenkins National Recreation Area) to Mount Katahdin, Maine, crossing 14 states, 6 NPS sites, 8 National Forests, and countless other parks.
Even if just for a short stretch, gets a taste for the A.T. by following the white rectangular blazes going north or south anywhere along its length. The trail through Newfound Gap in Great Smoky Mountains National Park is especially popular. Check out our blog post on the short hike to the southern terminus of the A.T. at Georgia’s Springer Mountain in Chattahoochee National Forest‘s Ed Jenkins National Recreation Area.
Best Trail
The last stretch of the trail ascends Katahdin in Maine’s Baxter State Park. My impression from the surly park employees is that they would rather not be the official end of the Appalachian Trail. For instance, they fined record-setting Scott Jurek for public alcohol consumption and littering when he spilled some champagne celebrating his accomplishment atop Katahdin in 2015. The funny thing about the A.T. is that it ends (and begins) on top of a mountain where you have to turn around and hike out.
Instagram-worthy Photo
The views on top of Katahdin are unsurpassed and you might get to celebrate with a thru-hiker finishing the 2,185-mile journey.
Peak Season
Most thru-hikers go in the summer due to snow. Baxter State Park closes in the winter, but most of the trail is accessible year round.
Trailhead access can be both paved and dirt (which is the case in Baxter State Park). The trail is only paved in a few portions like atop Clingman’s Dome in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Camping
There are more than 160 trail shelters along the A.T. and in some places like Great Smoky Mountains National Park backpackers are required to utilize them. Otherwise dispersed camping is mostly allowed along the entire length of the trail.
Raven about the park!A view looking east at the new Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument.Follow the white blazesOn top of Springer Mountain in GeorgiaTrail register at the southern terminus of the A.T.Wondon on a gnarled maple atop Springer Mountain
Explore More – Approximately how many steps must a human take to cover 2,185 miles?
45.904400-68.921565
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Raven About The Parks 