Fall Family Hike Ideas in Maryland

Autumn lingers into November in the Chesapeake Bay region, with moderate temperatures encouraging families to add hiking to their travels. From the Eastern Shore to the hills of Garrett County, Maryland is filled with kid-friendly hiking trails.

Following the Potomac River from Washington, D.C., to Cumberland, Maryland, the C&O Canal served as a major transport route for nearly 100 years. Today, its towpath, where mules and horses pulled barges through the canal, is now a favorite route for walking and cycling, largely shaded by trees and with views of the Potomac River.

Level and wide, with a good walking surface, the path and canal are marked by many remnants of its history: locks, lockkeepers’ cottages, stone buildings, equipment and even a seven-arch stone aqueduct where the canal crosses a river.

In western Maryland, trails through Swallow Falls State Park take you to gorges, cascades, cliffs, rock formations and the 53-foot Swallow Falls. The moderately easy 1.25-mile trail goes through beautiful woods to reach Muddy Creek Falls, then follows the stream through a steep-sided canyon. The trail passes under eroded rock cliffs, which form an open cave and stone pillar, before reaching Lower and Upper Swallow Falls.

Another impressive waterfall is in north-central Maryland and can be reached by a 1.5-mile trail. Cunningham Falls is one of the state’s highest, at 78 feet, and drops in a long series of cascades, especially beautiful after a rainy period. The trail has some climbing, but is not difficult. Not far away and also part of Cunningham Falls State Park is Hog Rock Nature Trail, with interpretive signs. Note: This park is often crowded on weekends, so check for closures before traveling.