MD Way To Go:
Biking the Western Maryland Rail Trail

(from the 2004 Almanac)
By D.Gail Fleenor

Bike through history as you travel the Western Maryland Rail Trail, beginning one-half mile west of Fort Frederick State Park in Washington County. The trail follows the former Western Maryland Railroad line through the town of Hancock. Twenty-plus miles of paved trail are now available for the pedaling. Originally, the trail extended only 11 miles from Hancock to Fort Frederick but in June 2002, nine more miles of trail were added to the west. The rail trail is a scenic tour past farmland, wildlife and the Potomac River. Follow trail markers along your route to mark the history of the area.

The first marker is at Big Pool Junction, site of an 1892 train station built to connect to the B&O Railroad and once one of the busiest sections on the railway. Continue .3 mile to the stone archway, Ernstville Road Bridge, originally built in 1930 to carry automobiles over the Western Maryland Railway. The current overpass was built in 1997 as part of the rail trail. Continue 2.1 miles to Licking Creek Bridge.

Park Head Level Graveyard, .3 mile ahead, dates to the early 1800s. Go 2.6 miles to Millstone & Moffet Station. The community of Millstone (first called Millstone Point) sprang up along the C&O Canal here. Several companies of the First Regiment Maryland Infantry were stationed here during the Civil War to protect the canal from Confederate forces. The Moffet Station was constructed when the Cumberland section of the railway was built. Bike another mile to Little Pool, a one-mile-long body of water that was part of the C&O Canal. Stop for birding in the nearby woods. The wooden footbridge at the eastern end of the pool connects the rail trail to the C&O Towpath.

Bike 3.8 miles to see railroad siding where valuable coal was once unloaded from trains at the coal trestle. Then travel on .2 mile to Hancock Station and the end of the first section of the rail trail. Built in the early 1900s, the station served as both a passenger and freight station until passenger service was discontinued in the early 1950s. Spend the night at the historic Cohill Manor B&B in Hancock and hear stories of George Washington, who not only slept and ate here but also surveyed the area. Set on 11 acres, the inn’s peaceful setting includes rockers on the porch to watch ducks on a nearby pond (301/678-7573).

From Hancock, the western section of the rail trail is a peaceful ride with rugged mountain scenery and views of the Potomac. This stretch includes Tonoloway Creek Aqueduct, the cut called “Devil’s Eyebrow” Anticline plus two campsites: Leopards Mill and Cacapon Junction. The trail currently ends at Polly Pond, a small body of water where canal boats once wintered. If you wish, use the C&O towpath to loop back to your starting point near Fort Frederick for a 40-plus-mile bike tour.

Be aware that much of the rail trail is not yet well shaded so sunscreen and water are musts. Parking is available at Big Pool (take I-70 to the Md. 56 exit, the lot is west of the Fort Frederick State Park) or park at Hancock (take I-70 to exit for Md. 144 and use the park and ride lot or metered lot off Main Street).

>>FOR MORE INFORMATION:

For trail maps/information, visit:

Maryland's Department of Natural Resources
Western Maryland Rail Trail Site


Area information:

Washington County Maryland Convention & Visitors Bureau (301/791-3246)

Hancock Chamber of Commerce, (301/678-5900)