HomeMarylandElkton › Fair Hill State Natural Resources Management Area

Fair Hill State Natural Resources Management Area

4.8 ★★★★★ 145 Google reviews · Running trail in Elkton, Maryland · Dawn to dusk

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Mixed
Distance
80 mi
Shape
Not reported
Shade
Not reported
Access
Dawn to dusk

Confirmed from Fair Hill State Natural Resources Management Area's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.

Mixed80 miScenicDog-friendlyHillyTrailhead parking

Offering many trails for hiking, biking, and horseback riding, this area also features a covered bridge.

What runners say about Fair Hill State Natural Resources Management Area

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (145 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

well-maintained 4 mentions

“This park perfectly balances well-maintained trails with raw natural beauty.”

🏞️ beautiful scenery 9 mentions

“Gorgeous area to connect with nature and deeply within, walk jog or bike trails with diverse scenery and landscapes.”

I want to thank the person(s) that found my lost watch on the orange trail and returned the watch to a park ranger!! My wife purchased the watch for me before I deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan in 2010. So the watch has a lot of sentimental value to me.

★★★★★ — Timothy , May 2023

Gorgeous area to connect with nature and deeply within, walk jog or bike trails with diverse scenery and landscapes. I love a beautiful place that takes more than a couple visits to cover!

★★★★★ — Valerie , Sep 2022

Great gravel trails for walking or biking. My electric road bike handles the main gravel trails well.

★★★★★ — Lior , Dec 2023

Wow. This park has many trails, well maintained. Look for trails that cut through the grassy areas also. All the trails we went on were wide or wide open. Nothing muddy and it rained a lot lately. Well maintained. If we are in the area again, we will definitely return to explore more. This place is big.

★★★★★ — Connie , Mar 2021

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 145 reviews →

Trail conditions & character

What this trail is actually like underfoot and overhead, taken from its own listing and from reviews. Each one links to every other trail with the same character. Busy or quiet is reported as a plain fact, not a plus or a minus — a runner heading out alone at dawn often wants company on the path, and someone running intervals wants an empty one.

🏞️ Scenic views 10 mentions

“Gorgeous area to connect with nature and deeply within, walk jog or bike trails with diverse scenery and landscapes.”

More trails like this →

⛰️ Hills / elevation 6 mentions

“Fair Hill State Park is an absolute treasure for hikers and nature lovers.”

More trails like this →

🪨 Crushed gravel / limestone 5 mentions

“Just gotta get past the paved road/gravel, then it’s a pretty trail along the water😊”

More trails like this →

🛣️ Paved surface 2 mentions

“Just gotta get past the paved road/gravel, then it’s a pretty trail along the water😊”

More trails like this →

🌲 Natural surface / singletrack 2 mentions

“A bit muddy on the trail, but none the less, perfect weather.”

More trails like this →

🅿️ Trailhead parking 2 mentions

“We went to the parking lot on Appleton Road and hiked from there.”

More trails like this →

🏃 Long-run distance (5mi+) 2 mentions

“I managed just over 6 miles but there were enough trails to do easily do more if you wanted.”

More trails like this →

🐕 Dog-friendly

“Well kept, plus plenty of places for my dog to get water.”

More trails like this →

Plan your run at Fair Hill State Natural Resources Management Area

The practical stuff

  • AccessDawn to dusk — the gates close, so do not plan a run that finishes after dark
  • SurfaceMixed — more than one surface along the route, so check the segment you plan to run
  • Distance80 mi as reported — check whether that is one way or a round trip before you commit. Long enough for a real long run.
  • ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
  • At the trailheadparking — reported by runners
  • DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
  • Websitednr.maryland.gov
  • Phone(410) 398-1246
  • Social Instagram · Facebook

Where to find Fair Hill State Natural Resources Management Area

300 Tawes Dr, Elkton, MD 21921

Get directions

Running trails near Elkton

Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.

Springlawn Trail

4.5 ★★★★★ 67 reviews

Lincoln University, PA

2 miMixedShadedScenic

Trail for walking and biking within a park featuring shaded areas plus ruins and a creek.

2.2 miles away

Elk Mills Park

4.3 ★★★★☆ 48 reviews

Elk Mills, MD

Trails and play areas in a tiny park where you can cool off with a swim in the creek.

3.3 miles away

Christina Creek

4.5 ★★★★★ 24 reviews

Newark, DE

Natural surface

4.5 miles away

Pomeroy Trail - Pump Station

4.7 ★★★★★ 23 reviews

Newark, DE

Scenic

5.1 miles away

White Clay Creek Pedestrian Bridge

4.8 ★★★★★ 70 reviews

Newark, DE

37 miPavedScenicDog-friendly

Peaceful park featuring a paved trail that leads to a river, suitable for walking, biking, and hiking.

5.3 miles away

Mason Dixon Trail Crossing

4.8 ★★★★★ 4 reviews

Newark, DE

5.4 miles away

All running trails in Elkton, MD →

Nearby towns

Listing verified July 2026 from public records, the trail's own website and runner reviews. Trail conditions change — paths flood, gates close at dusk, and shaded woods stay muddy for days after rain. Something out of date? Report a correction. Manage this trail? Send us the details — it is free.