Maryland trails · Ridge
Ridge
A 2.8-mile network in Maryland, with 250 ft of climbing. Reaches Avalon Dam. Managed by the state.
Elevation profile
Most of the climbing sits in the first third — 73% of the ascent, between mile 0.0 and mile 0.9. It gives back about 223 ft along the way, so it rolls rather than climbing steadily.
3-D terrain
USGS 3DEP ELEVATION × ESRI WORLD IMAGERY · VERTICAL ×1.5
Reaches
- Avalon Dam (viewpoint)
Heads up
Getting there
Valley View access. About 26 min drive (12 mi) from Baltimore. 39.22807, -76.73117 · directions
Daylight at the trailhead
On October 14, 2026 — the day this page was generated — first light reaches this trailhead at 6:48 a.m., the sun rises at 7:15 a.m. and sets at 6:29 p.m., and the last usable light fades about 6:56 p.m. (EDT) — 11 h 15 min of daylight. At about 2.7 mph plus 30 minutes per 1,000 feet of climbing, the 2.8-mile route takes roughly 1 h 09 min, so leaving the trailhead at sunrise puts you back around 8:24 a.m. — 10 h 05 min before sunset.
Loop options
- Ridge + Valley View — 2.3 mi loop, 557 ft gain
- Ridge + Social Trail + Morning Choice — 2.8 mi loop, 518 ft gain
Nearby trails
- Grist Mill — 2.3 mi
- Gray's Mill Trail — 3.6 mi
- Thru — 10.3 mi
- Switchback — 12.4 mi