As the weather cools and the leaves begin to turn, there’s no better time to explore beautiful St. Mary’s County and see the fall foliage. Here are 5 of the best hiking spots in St. Mary’s County.
Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail
The PHT is a 710-mile network of locally-managed trails that embraces 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. There are six PHT hikes that go through St. Mary’s County – find out more here.
The park is separated into two areas. The Site 1 area holds the 250 acre St. Mary’s Lake, which is surrounded by a 7.5 mile trail great for hiking, biking or horseback riding. It also has picnic tables, playground, boat launch ramps and a modern comfort station. Site 2 is undeveloped and a popular hunting area.
This non-motorized pedestrian and bicycle trail runs south from Hughesville to Lexington Park. It is still under construction but five sections of the trail are complete, offering 11 continuous miles for hiking and biking.
St. Clements Island State Park
As the site of the first Maryland colonists, St. Clements Island contains a memorial cross dedicated to the memory of the first Marylanders. The 62-acre island is only accessible by boat and is a great spot for hiking, fishing and hunting.
A 600-acre property located along the lower Patuxent River and run by the Greenwell Foundation, this park has over 6 miles of trails, including beach trails, wetlands and forest trails.