Best Hikes in the Baltimore-Washington Area

These are the best difficult-rated hikes in the Baltimore-Washington area. For the best hiking you cannot beat the northern Blue Ridge Mountains in the United States Mid-Atlantic area. The hikes close to Baltimore and Washington are found in Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania.

1. I'll start with the absolute best hike: Old Rag Mountain. This hike is in Shenandoah National Park and is just over an hour's drive from the nation's capitol. In fact, it is super close to Dulles Airport, which makes it a convenient hike if you want to add on a day to your business trip to DC.

Old Rag Mountain is a prominent peak in the central section of Shenandoah National Park. Head west from the city on Interstate 66, then follow signs for Route 211 West toward Luray. The trailhead is just south of Sperryville, a great little town with the incredible Copper Fox whiskey distillery and an innovative brewery called Pen Druid.

View from Old Rag Mountain

The unique feature of Old Rag is its bald summit. This is a major rarity among Mid-Atlantic hikes, which have wonderful overlooks but do not often feature 360-degree views like Old Rag Mountain. It's an eight-mile loop hike with significant elevation change, and it gets super crowded, so arrive early and be ready to do some scrambling as you make your way to the top.

2. Sugarloaf Mountain in the Maryland Piedmont is another of the region's best hikes. Sugarloaf is a monadnock type of mountain, meaning it is a stand-alone mountain, not linked to other mountains in a range. Still, this monadnock, with two prominent summits, feels like a small range in itself.

This means the views from this hike are pretty stunning as you make your way up to experience the incredible pastoral views. Do the five-mile loop and enjoy both the north and south summits and experience plenty of elevation change.

View from Sugarloaf Mountain

3. Big Schloss and Tibbett Knob are actually two separate out-and-back summit hikes that each start at the same point - Wolf Gap Campground. While either of the summits is sufficiently worth the two-hour drive from the DC-area, doing them both in the same day or split among two days will ensure you are not left with any degree of FOMO. 

Big Schloss is a great warm-up, as it is two miles out and two mile back, with only the first mile of the hike featuring a steep ascent. The views from this one are incredible. The rock formation itself is fun to climb on, and it is multi-tiered, which means you may be able to find yourself a private nook where you can lay out and catch some rays or just enjoy a quiet picnic lunch with a view.

Tibbett Knob is significantly more difficult that Big Schloss, though it is only about a mile longer. This is because the trail is a much more intense grade that only gets more strenuous as you reach the top. In fact, most people are crawling for the last portion as the trail gets incredibly steep and boulder strewn.

4. Catoctin Mountain in Maryland is a great place to hike if you want to experience multiple views. You can create your own loop among as many as five great summits - and there is even an incredible waterfall hike where you can cool off at the end. 

Cat Rock, Hog Rock, and Wolf Rock are among the best overlooks. With lots of ups and downs, this hike has plenty of elevation change. Then cool off at the base of Cunningham Falls before heading home.

5. South Mountain is just north of the Mason-Dixon line in South Central Pennsylvania, and it is home to several shorter hikes that can be done in succession to make for a great day or weekend getaway. Chimney Rock, Pole Steeple, and Sunset Rocks are three of the major hikes you will find here.

While South Mountain is the smallest of the Blue Ridge Mountain Range, it is no less beautiful. These rolling hills rise up out of a rural pastoral landscape that makes hikers feel they are experiencing a simpler time. 

Enjoy these best difficult-rated hikes in the Baltimore-Washington area. The northern Blue Ridge Mountains in the United States Mid-Atlantic area have unique features you will find nowhere else but here.