Nicole and I love getting outdoors, and one of our favorite activities is biking. We feel lucky to have some great biking opportunities around Frederick and Bend.
In this article, we share the Best Bike Trails Near Frederick, Maryland, and rank the ones we enjoy most.
You can do a variety of biking around Frederick. There are some great mountain biking trails near Frederick, including single-track trails for beginners (Little Bennet Regional Park) and technical stuff for the more adventurous (Frederick Watershed).
Some of the best bike trails in Maryland, such as the C&O Canal Bike Trail (a place Nicole and I love), and Gambrill State Park, are right in the vicinity of Frederick.
If you want to stick to paved trails closer to the city, you can find these types of routes in Frederick as well. The Ballenger Creek Trail is paved, flat, and great for families.
Below, you’ll read about the Frederick Historic Bicycle Loop, a ten-mile bike ride that allows you to experience the history and vibe of Frederick.
The Best Places to Bike Near Frederick MD
Map of Bike Trails Near Frederick MD
Summary of The Bike Trails Around Frederick, MD
Since the type of bike trails near Frederick is so varied, here’s a summary of our recommended trails so that you can quickly choose what works for your group.
| Bike Trail | Best For | Fees | Technical Level | Why We Love It |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Little Bennet Regional Park | Mountain Biking, Single-Track, Family Paved Trails | Free | Easy, Moderate | Large Network of Trails, Varying Levels of Difficulty |
| C&O Canal Bike Trail | Gravel and Dirt Trails, Minimal Ups and Downs | Free | Easy | Beautiful Setting, History |
| Frederick Historic Bike Loop | Paved Trails, Road Cycling, City Sights | Free | Easy | Get to Know Frederick by Bicycle |
| Frederick Watershed | Technical Mountain Biking | Free | Advanced | Some of Maryland's Best Technical Riding |
| Gambrill State Park | Single-Track Mountain Biking | Day Use Fee ($3/$5) | Moderate, Advanced | Network of Single Track, Great Views |
| Ballenger Creek Trail | Paved Trails, Families | Free | Easy | Paved Trail for Riders of Any Level |
| Patuxent River State Park | Single-Track Mountain Biking | Free | Moderate, Advanced | Single Track in a Secluded Nature Area |
Where do you like to bike ride around Frederick MD? Did we miss a great bike trail? Let us know in the comments below.
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1. Little Bennett Regional Park
Best For: Mountain Biking, Single-Track, Family Paved Trails
Why Bike Here: Little Bennett Regional Park is in Montgomery County, but has several trailheads no more than 20 minutes away from Frederick.
The Little Bennett bike trails are a vast network of single-track trails through the woods that are excellent for biking. You can construct a route that is great for beginners and families, but also something to challenge more experienced mountain bikers.
There are over 10 trailheads to begin a bike route in Little Bennett, but the one we use most often is the Hyattstown Mill Road trailhead near Clarksburg. Like most trailheads at Little Bennett, parking is easy and free.
One of our favorite Little Bennett Bike Routes starts and ends at Hyattstown Mill, which is 14.2 km (about 1.5 to 2 hours of riding).
Riding in Little Bennett is a mix of single-track trails through the woods (mostly easy to medium difficulty), along with some paved trails and roads.
Watch Our Bike Ride at Little Bennett Regional Park:
2. C&O Canal Bike Trail
Best For: Gravel and Dirt Trails, Minimal Ups and Downs
Why Bike Here: The C&O Canal Bike Trail (also called the C&O Towpath) is 184.5 miles of dirt, stone, and gravel bike trail along the historic C&O Canal.
Much of it is near Frederick, and you can do some great biking on the C&O Canal by driving less than 30 minutes from downtown.
The C&O starts in Cumberland, Maryland, and you can bike the trail all the way into Washington, D.C. Some of the best stretches are near Frederick, from Harper’s Ferry to Point of Rocks to Leesburg.
Virtually all of the C&O Trail is easy riding on a well-maintained path with little elevation change. This isn’t hardcore mountain biking, it’s a trail the whole family can handle.
If you want a superb 1.5- to 2-hour excursion, check out the route that Nicole and I like best: Nolands Ferry to Marble Quarry on the C&O Canal. Nolands Ferry is one of the closest trailheads to Frederick and is a great parking spot (free!) to start your C&O bike excursion.
Book at Place to Stay in Frederick, MD!
3. Frederick Historic Bicycle Loop
Best For: Paved Trails, Road Cycling, City Sights
Why Bike Here: The city of Frederick designed the Frederick Historic Bicycle Loop as a historic tour of downtown Frederick. It’s a great way to see both Frederick’s history and vibrant downtown vibe via a ten-mile bike ride.
The loop is carefully mapped, fully paved, and begins and ends at the Frederick Visitor Center. Parking is free.
It is mostly on downtown streets and bike paths and includes a lovely, long stretch through Baker Park and Carroll Creek Park. Plan on about 2 hours for this ride.
You’ll also pass many Frederick coffee shops, restaurants, bars, and other venues that are great for a break!
4. Frederick Watershed
Best For: Technical Mountain Biking
Why Bike Here: If you are looking for the best technical mountain biking trails near Frederick, head to the Frederick Watershed CWMA.
The Frederick Watershed is a protected forest filled with ponds, creeks, birds, deer, and….mountain biking trails.
The Frederick Watershed trails are serious business. There is an extensive network of single-track trails, and virtually all of them are challenging. The routes in this area are designed for moderate to advanced mountain bikers, and you’ll want a fairly technical bike that can withstand bumpy trails through the forest.
I’d compare the Watershed trails to the advanced biking trails we ride in Bend, Oregon.
Trailforks has a great list of routes through the area, rated by difficulty.
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Top Rated Hotels in Frederick
- Best Overall Hotel. The Visitation Hotel
- Best Luxury Hotel. The Visitation Hotel
- Best Bed and Breakfast. 10 Clarke B&B
- Best Downtown Location. The Wedgewood Inn
- Best Hotel for Families. Homewood Suites by Hilton Frederick
- Best Budget Hotel. Best Western Bend North
Looking for a rental? Check out the best Airbnb and VRBOs in Frederick.
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5. Gambrill State Park (Yellow Trail)
Best For: Single-Track Mountain Biking
Why Bike Here: Gambrills State Park is another beautiful setting just outside of Frederick, with 16 miles of trails for hiking and biking.
The trailhead for all routes is the same parking lot on Gambrill Park Road. You can choose from many single-track routes through the woods, with a range of difficulties.
In our opinion, the best route is the Gambrills Yellow Trail. This seven-mile, moderately difficult trail has some technical areas. It also reaches several beautiful overlooks and is a great way to explore the broader state park.
However, several other trails (from beginner to advanced) are worth trying as well.
Gambrills charges a day-use fee of $3 for Maryland residents and $5 for non-residents.
6. Ballenger Creek Trail
Best For: Paved Trails, Families
Why Bike Here: Another great in-town paved Frederick bike trail is the Ballenger Creek Trail (also known as the Ballenger Linear Creek Trail).
Connecting Buckeystown Pike with Ballenger Creek Park, this 4.2-mile trail is totally paved and can be done with any type of bike.
The trail follows Ballenger Creek, so it’s mostly flat. It feels partially urban, as you’ll pass several schools and neighborhoods, but it’s quite pleasant with the creek next to the trail.
You can start at either end, parking at the Buckeystown Pike parking lot or Ballenger Creek Park. About 1/3 of the way from Buckeystown Pike, there’s an additional trailhead at Advisor’s Court.
We usually do the whole trail up and back in about 2.5 hours. You’ll likely share the trail with walkers, joggers, and skaters. The trail is also ADA-compliant.
7. Patuxent River State Park
Best For: Technical Mountain Biking
Why Bike Here: While Nicole and I have mostly hiked here, Patuxent River State Park has excellent mountain biking trails.
It’s a sprawling park with a variety of parking lots and launch points, but we suggest the parking lot on Route 94, which gives you access to the Bootjack Trail and Scotts Branch Trail, creating a nice 6.5-mile loop.
The trails are well-maintained, and the elevation gains aren’t too steep.
There’s enough challenge in the ride to make it fun, but easy enough for beginner mountain bikers.
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