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Frederick Municipal Forest
4.7 ★★★★★ 204 Google reviews · Running trail in Frederick, Maryland · Open 24 hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Natural surface
- Distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Not reported
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Open 24 hours
Confirmed from Frederick Municipal Forest'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.
Scenic park offering an array of hiking paths amid a forest landscape of ferns.
What runners say about Frederick Municipal Forest
“Frederick Municipal Forest is strategically placed very close to Frederick, which is great if you just want to get out of the city and experience beautiful mother nature!”
I had a nice time running here today. There are plenty of connecting trails and paths, with a few entry points, so you’ve certainly got your choice. I got a late start in the day and originally intended to do a trail at Gambrill but the lots were full so I drove a little farther and found myself with plenty of options.
Beautiful day...Temps started near 46 at 630am and climbed to about 60...perfect weather. 3 hours of hiking I only saw 1 guy on a bike...that's it. Felt like I had the whole place to myself. ***UPDATE 7-15-2022*** Another great day hiking! Still awesome location.. temps in the 70s enjoying 8.5 miles hiking...
Beautiful public forest with trails of varying difficulty. Most parking is small pulloffs on the side of the road. Trails are not all well-marked and there aren't paper maps available, so downloading a trail map app would be a good idea if you want to take full advantage of the trails.
Great place to hike, run, and mountain bike. The trail network is extensive. There are several places to park. The entire area is very clean and well preserved. You can catch the Catoctin Trail at a few different locations. No fees to enter!
Trail conditions & character
“Frederick Municipal Forest is strategically placed very close to Frederick, which is great if you just want to get out of the city and experience beautiful mother nature!”
“However, the parking lots are small and require careful maneuvering to enter and leave without damaging your vehicle.”
“The red didn’t have too much difficulty in the way of gains and drops either, but the blue has a nice climb just before a nice clearing opens up, if you’re going clockwise.”
“The trail areas that I was on were fairly rocky but I wouldn’t stretch to call it technical.”
Plan your run at Frederick Municipal Forest
The practical stuff
- AccessOpen 24 hours — no gate to beat, so a 5am or a 10pm run both work
- SurfaceNatural surface — easiest on the joints and the most fun, but expect roots, rocks and mud after rain
- DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
- ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
- At the trailheadparking — reported by runners
- Websitednr.maryland.gov
- Social Instagram · Facebook
Hours
| Monday | Open 24 hours |
| Tuesday | Open 24 hours |
| Wednesday | Open 24 hours |
| Thursday | Open 24 hours |
| Friday | Open 24 hours |
| Saturday | Open 24 hours |
| Sunday | Open 24 hours |
Running trails near Frederick
Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.
Three Saws Trailhead
4.4 ★★★★☆ 60 reviews
Gambrill State Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 1,369 reviews
Scenic mountain spot with trails for hiking, biking & horses plus camping, picnics, fishing & lodge.
