Best Family Hikes in Maryland 2026
Maryland is a hiker's paradise from the dramatic Potomac River gorge at Great Falls to the high mountain peaks of Garrett County, the state packs an extraordinary variety of trail experiences into a relatively small geographic footprint. Here are the best family hikes in Maryland for 2026.
🌊 Best Easy Hikes for Young Kids
- Cunningham Falls Trail (Frederick County) 1.5-mile round trip to Maryland's largest cascading waterfall (78 feet). Flat, easy, and absolutely beautiful. Kids love the falls. Free with state park entrance fee.
- C&O Canal Towpath (Multiple Counties) Flat, paved towpath running 184 miles along the Potomac River from Georgetown to Cumberland. Walk or bike any section perfectly flat and great for all ages. Free.
- Calvert Cliffs Trail (Calvert County) 1.8-mile walk through beautiful forest to a Chesapeake Bay beach famous for fossil hunting. Kids find shark teeth and whale bones. Free.
- Swallow Falls State Park (Garrett County) 1.3-mile loop passing four waterfalls including the spectacular Muddy Creek Falls (53 feet Maryland's highest). One of the most beautiful short hikes in the state.
🏔️ Best Moderate Hikes
- Billy Goat Trail Section A (Montgomery County) 1.7-mile boulder scrambling adventure along the Potomac River at Great Falls. Rocky, physical, and incredibly fun for active families with kids 8+. Free.
- Sugarloaf Mountain (Montgomery County) 2.5-mile summit loop with beautiful views of the Frederick Valley and Catoctin Mountains. Easy to moderate; good for kids 5+. Free parking.
- Catoctin Mountain Park Trails (Frederick County) Multiple trail options from easy nature walks to moderate loops. Beautiful forest near Camp David. Free.
- South Mountain State Battlefield (Washington County) Walk the Civil War battlefield with mountain views. Historically rich and physically accessible for most ages.
🦅 Best Nature & Wildlife Trails
- Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge (Dorchester County) Wildlife drive and walking trails through one of the most important bird sanctuaries on the East Coast. Bald eagles, ospreys, and Delmarva fox squirrels. Free.
- Patuxent Research Refuge (Howard/Anne Arundel County) Free wildlife refuge with excellent nature trails and a visitor center. Great for birding families.
- Gunpowder Falls State Park (Harford/Baltimore County) Extensive trail network along scenic Gunpowder River. Great for all skill levels.
Frequently Asked Questions
The easiest family hikes in Maryland for young kids include the Cunningham Falls Trail in Frederick County (1.5 miles to a beautiful waterfall), any section of the flat C&O Canal Towpath along the Potomac River, the Calvert Cliffs Trail in Calvert County (1.8 miles to a fossil-hunting beach), and nature walks at Patuxent Research Refuge in Howard County.
The Billy Goat Trail is located at Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park in Montgomery County, Maryland specifically at the Great Falls Tavern Visitor Center area near Potomac MD. Section A is the most popular (1.7 miles) and involves boulder scrambling along the Potomac River gorge. It's best for active families with kids 8 and older. Free to hike.
Yes! Maryland has several beautiful waterfall hikes including Cunningham Falls in Frederick County (78 feet Maryland's largest cascading waterfall, 1.5-mile trail), Muddy Creek Falls in Garrett County at Swallow Falls State Park (53 feet Maryland's highest waterfall, 1.3-mile loop), and Great Falls on the Potomac River (dramatic falls viewable from the C&O Canal towpath).
Many of Maryland's best hikes are completely free including the C&O Canal Towpath (184 miles along the Potomac), Billy Goat Trail at Great Falls, Sugarloaf Mountain in Montgomery County, Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge wildlife trails, and trails in Catoctin Mountain Park. Some state parks charge a vehicle entrance fee (typically $3-$7) but the hiking itself is included.