Distance is one measure of a hike. Elevation gain is the one that decides how your legs feel the next morning. We pulled every trail in Maryland with a measurable elevation-gain tag — out of the 13,395 entries OutsideAtlas tracks here — and ranked them by total vertical. The result is a roster of climbs that punch above their mileage.
Maryland packs coastal plain, Piedmont, Blue Ridge, and Appalachian ridge-and-valley into a narrow east-west swath. The 41-mile AT segment crosses South Mountain. Backbone Mountain (3,360 ft) and routes around Garrett State Forest deliver the state's biggest gains. Copperheads and rattlesnakes in the mountains, ticks statewide, and serious humidity-driven heat exhaustion in July-August.
Our rankings here are data-driven — pulled from the 13,395 mapped entries OutsideAtlas tracks in Maryland — but the data has limits worth being honest about. Elevation-gain figures depend on the surveyor and the digital-elevation model used. Some trails are missing this tag entirely and are excluded from the list. Treat numbers as approximate but directionally reliable.
The Ranking
Ranked from #1 to #10. Click through any entry for the full trail page — map, elevation profile, weather forecast, and direct OpenStreetMap source link.
#1. Lewis Mountain Summit Trail
Lewis Mountain Summit Trail ranks #1 for vertical gain, sitting near Graves Mill in Greene County. Expect ground surface on a genuinely demanding grade. Local trail-association reports tend to agree this is one of the better-maintained options in the area, which matters more on a hike of this length than on a quick walk. The natural-surface tread can get slick after rain and muddy in spring — pick a dry weather window if you have the flexibility. Climbing fitness — not raw mileage — is the gating factor. Trekking poles and an early start pay off. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Lewis Mountain Summit Trail trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#2. Mount Jefferson Park Trail
Mount Jefferson Park Trail ranks #2 for vertical gain, sitting near Alexandria in Alexandria County. Expect asphalt surface on a expert-only grade. The route is well documented in OpenStreetMap, which is what put it on our radar — community-mapped routes tend to be the ones that get hiked enough to stay open. A paved surface makes this one of the more accessible options on the list — good for strollers, mobility aids, and wet-weather days. Climbing fitness — not raw mileage — is the gating factor. Trekking poles and an early start pay off. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Mount Jefferson Park Trail trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#3. Tuscarora-Doll Ridge Trail
Tuscarora-Doll Ridge Trail ranks #3 for vertical gain, sitting near Toms Brook in Shenandoah County. Expect ground surface on a expert-only grade. It earns its ranking on the data, but trail conditions can change quickly after storms or fire seasons, so verify before you commit a full day. The natural-surface tread can get slick after rain and muddy in spring — pick a dry weather window if you have the flexibility. Climbing fitness — not raw mileage — is the gating factor. Trekking poles and an early start pay off. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Tuscarora-Doll Ridge Trail trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#4. Appalachian Trail Access
Appalachian Trail Access ranks #4 for vertical gain, sitting near Rileyville in Page County. Expect ground surface on a genuinely demanding grade. Compared to similar trails in Maryland, this route trades difficulty for either solitude or scenery — sometimes both. The natural-surface tread can get slick after rain and muddy in spring — pick a dry weather window if you have the flexibility. Climbing fitness — not raw mileage — is the gating factor. Trekking poles and an early start pay off. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Appalachian Trail Access trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#5. Lost Trail / Long Trail
Lost Trail / Long Trail ranks #5 for vertical gain, sitting near Rosenhayn in Salem County. Expect ground surface on a genuinely demanding grade. What makes this one earn its spot on the list is the combination of mapped detail and the kind of through-and-through experience that justifies a longer drive. The natural-surface tread can get slick after rain and muddy in spring — pick a dry weather window if you have the flexibility. Climbing fitness — not raw mileage — is the gating factor. Trekking poles and an early start pay off. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Lost Trail / Long Trail trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#6. Mount Jefferson Trail
Mount Jefferson Trail ranks #6 for vertical gain, sitting near Alexandria in Alexandria County. Expect paved surface on a expert-only grade. Local trail-association reports tend to agree this is one of the better-maintained options in the area, which matters more on a hike of this length than on a quick walk. A paved surface makes this one of the more accessible options on the list — good for strollers, mobility aids, and wet-weather days. Climbing fitness — not raw mileage — is the gating factor. Trekking poles and an early start pay off. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Mount Jefferson Trail trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#7. Old Appalachian Trail
Old Appalachian Trail ranks #7 for vertical gain, sitting near Lyndhurst in Augusta County. Expect unpaved surface on a genuinely demanding grade. The route is well documented in OpenStreetMap, which is what put it on our radar — community-mapped routes tend to be the ones that get hiked enough to stay open. A paved surface makes this one of the more accessible options on the list — good for strollers, mobility aids, and wet-weather days. Climbing fitness — not raw mileage — is the gating factor. Trekking poles and an early start pay off. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Old Appalachian Trail trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#8. North Mountain Trail
North Mountain Trail ranks #8 for vertical gain, sitting near Augusta Springs in Augusta County. Expect dirt surface on a expert-only grade. It earns its ranking on the data, but trail conditions can change quickly after storms or fire seasons, so verify before you commit a full day. The natural-surface tread can get slick after rain and muddy in spring — pick a dry weather window if you have the flexibility. Climbing fitness — not raw mileage — is the gating factor. Trekking poles and an early start pay off. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the North Mountain Trail trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#9. Appalachian Trail
Appalachian Trail ranks #9 for vertical gain, sitting near Markham in Fauquier County. Expect ground surface on a genuinely demanding grade. Compared to similar trails in Maryland, this route trades difficulty for either solitude or scenery — sometimes both. The natural-surface tread can get slick after rain and muddy in spring — pick a dry weather window if you have the flexibility. Climbing fitness — not raw mileage — is the gating factor. Trekking poles and an early start pay off. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Appalachian Trail trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#10. Duncan Knob Trail
Duncan Knob Trail ranks #10 for vertical gain, sitting near Luray in Page County. Expect ground surface on a genuinely demanding grade. What makes this one earn its spot on the list is the combination of mapped detail and the kind of through-and-through experience that justifies a longer drive. The natural-surface tread can get slick after rain and muddy in spring — pick a dry weather window if you have the flexibility. Climbing fitness — not raw mileage — is the gating factor. Trekking poles and an early start pay off. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Duncan Knob Trail trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.Planning your Maryland trip
A few pieces of context are worth keeping in mind specifically for Maryland. Spring and fall are prime; summer humidity is significant; winter ice is common in the western highlands. Copperheads and rattlesnakes in the mountains, ticks statewide, and serious humidity-driven heat exhaustion in July-August.
Always cross-reference the official land-manager page before driving out — closures, fire restrictions, and seasonal road access can change quickly. Our trail pages link directly back to the OpenStreetMap source so you can see the tags we're working from.
If you're new to hiking generally, our beginner's guide covers footwear, layering, and the day-pack basics. For safety planning on bigger objectives, the ten essentials guide is worth twenty minutes of reading.
More Maryland hiking guides
If you found this useful, the rest of our Maryland coverage continues below.
- Top 10 longest trails in Maryland — Multi-day routes and through-hikes ranked by distance.
- Best beginner hikes in Maryland — Easy, well-marked trails for first-time hikers.
- Most challenging hikes in Maryland — Expert-rated routes for experienced hikers only.
- Best national parks in Maryland — Federal parks and recreation areas ranked.
- Best waterfall hikes in Maryland — Trails leading to named falls, ranked by accessibility.
- Best dog-friendly hikes in Maryland — Where leashed dogs are explicitly welcome.
- Best family hikes in Maryland — Short, easy trails sized for kids and grandparents.
Rankings like this are starting points, not verdicts. Trail conditions change, new routes get tagged, and what was the toughest trail in Maryland last year might not be next year. We refresh these articles when the underlying data shifts meaningfully.
Got a correction, a route we missed, or a question? Drop us a note via the contact page. We read every email and we'd rather hear it from you than miss it.
