Nicole and I love to get outdoors, and one of our favorite outdoor activities is biking. We feel lucky that there are great cycling opportunities around Bend and Frederick. In this article, we share with you the Best Bike Trails Near Frederick, Maryland, by ranking the ones we enjoy the 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 and technical stuff for the more adventurous.
If you want to stick to paved trails closer to the city, you can find these types of routes in Frederick as well. 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.
(Where do you like to bike ride around Frederick MD? Did we miss a great bike trail? Let us know in the comments below.)
The Best Places to Bike Around Frederick MD
Map of Bike Trails Near Frederick MD
1. Little Bennett Regional Park
Mountain Biking, Single-Track, Limited Paths
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, and 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.
As mentioned, you can design all kinds of bike routes in Little Bennett. You can read about one of our favorite Little Bennett Bike Routes starting and ending at Hyattstown Mill, which is 14.2 km (about 1.5 to 2 hours of riding).
Riding in Little Bennett is a combination of single-track trails through woods (mostly easy to medium difficulty), with some paved trails and roads as well.
Watch Our Bike Ride at Little Bennett Regional Park:
2. C&O Canal Bike Trail
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 doing some great biking on the C&O Canal is possible 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. But some of the best stretches are close to Frederick in the areas 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, and a trail the whole family can participate.
If you want a superb 1.5- to 2-hour excursion, check out our recommended route from 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 to start your C&O bike excursion.
3. Frederick Historic Bicycle Loop
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 and begins and ends at the Frederick Visitor Center. It is mostly on downtown streets and bike paths and includes a lovely long stretch through Baker Park and Carroll Creek Park. You should plan on about two 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
Why Bike Here: If you are looking for the best 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 forest.
I’d compare the Watershed trails to the advanced biking trails we ride in Bend, Oregon.
Trailforks has a great list of routes you can take through the area, rated by difficulty.
5. Gambrills State Park (Yellow Trail)
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 of the other trails (from beginner to advanced) are worth trying out as well.
Gambrills has a day-use fee, $3 for Maryland residents and $5 for non-residents.
Note: The Black Locust Trail at Gambrill is among the Best Hikes Around Frederick.
6. Ballenger Creek Trail
Why Bike Here: Another great in-town 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.
Read Detail Reviews of Bike Trails Near Frederick Maryland
