Western Maryland Rail Trail is 23 miles of paved trail which begins about one-half mile west of Fort Frederick State Park and “winds along the Potomac River through rolling farmland, woodlands, and rural towns to its terminus at the southern slope of Sideling Hill Ridge.”
Author: Cecilia
Torrey C Brown Rail trail
The Torrey C. Brown Rail Trail follows 21 miles of an old railroad bed from Ashland, Maryland north to the Maryland-Pennsylvania line. I am not sure to what extent this trail passes through natural areas. It does go through Gun Powder Falls State Park.
Cunningham Falls State Park
Cunningham Falls State Park
Cunningham Falls State Park, in the Catoctin Mountains is divided into two separate areas. “The William Houck Area located three miles west of Thurmont on Route 77 has the lake area, falls and camping area. The Manor Area off Route 15 three miles south of Thurmont has the Scales and Tales Aviary, camping and the historic Catoctin Iron Furnace.” Recreational opportunities include swimming, hiking, fishing and canoeing.
Here is the Park website. Phone 301-271-7574 Here is TripSavvy’s description of the park.
Lower Trail to the falls is 0.5 miles described as “easy to moderate” There are interpretive signs and benches along the way.
There is a 1/4 mile accessible boardwalk that ends at the Cunningham Falls.
Eastern Neck National Wildlife Refuge
Eastern Neck National Wildlife Refuge
Eastern Neck National Wildlife Refuge is a “2,285 acre island providing habitat for thousands of wintering waterfowl including the tundra swan. ” The refuge “… supports a wide variety of habitats including brackish marsh, natural ponds, upland forest, and grasslands”. In addition to the wildlife, enjoy “…expansive views of the Chester River and Chesapeake Bay along 7 different trails.” There is a Visitor Station is staffed daily by volunteers and a butterfly garden. Map. Official website. Reviews on Yelp. Brochure Phone 410-639-7056
Four of the trails and the Visitor Center are wheelchair accessible.
Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge
Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge
Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge contains forest, marsh and shallow water habitats including one-third of Maryland’s tidal wetlands. Blackwater NWR is home to the largest natural population of formerly endangered Delmarva peninsula fox squirrels and has the largest breeding population of American bald eagles on the East Coast, north of Florida.Here is their website. Brochure
? “The Wildlife Drive takes visitors along the Blackwater River and offers excellent views of the Refuge. Visitors can drive, bike, or walk the approximately 4 mile paved road, and turnouts are available at different points to safely stop and observe the scenery.” Call the Refuge (410-228-2677) to be sure you can use your wheelchair on the drive. Wildlife Drive Map Brochure
Marsh Edge trail is 1/3 mile long and paved. Brochure.
? The three other trails are not paved but may be easy walking. Check with the Visitor Center.
ASSATEAGUE ISLAND NATIONAL SEASHORE
Assateague Island National Seashore
Assateague Island is a 37 mile long island along the coasts of Maryland and Virginia. Assateague Island Nat’l Seashore “… contains over 37 miles of pristine beach. More than 300 wild ponies wander the beaches, inland pine forest, and salt marshes.” “The Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge is located on Assateague Island and is one of the most popular birding destinations in the United States. ” There are three visitor centers: Chincoteague NWR 757-336-6122, Tom’s Cove 757-336-6577, and Barrier Island 410-641-1441. Call the Assateague Island National Seashore Main Line: 410-641-1441 and dial #1 Maryland District Visitor Information to learn more. Here is the Park Service website. Here is another website for Assateague Is. Plan Your Visit Brochure
Page on Accessibility. Maryland Trail Map Virginia Trail Map
There are rental beach wheelchairs.
Wheelchair accessible trails in the Maryland District include the Life of the Marsh Trail, the Life of the Forest Trail, and the Bicycle Bridge, all of them 1/2 mile long.
Wheelchair accessible trails in the Virginia District include Black Dutch Marsh Trail 1 mile, Toms Cove Visitor Center Boardwalk 1/8 mile, Wildlife Loop 3.2 miles, and Woodland Trail 1.6 mile.
StateParks.com
stateparks.com is an amazing compilation of links and information about public land throughout the United States.
Penny Lake Preserve
Boothbay Regional Land Trust
Penny Lake Preserve
Penny Lake Preserve is a freshwater wetland with adjoining woodlands and open field. “An abundant variety of wildlife may be viewed, including migratory and nesting birds, turtles, beaver, deer, and even a very occasional moose. In addition, numerous plants thrive in this varied natural habitat, from wildflowers to cattails and from hardwood trees to evergreens.” Penny Lake Preserve is part of the Boothbay Regional Land Trust . Trail Map and brochure. Information and map from Maine Trail Finder. Call the Trust for more information 207-633-4818.
Here are links to information on other trails within the Boothbay Trust, many of which sound as if they would be easy walking.
The accessible trail is 0.5 miles.
Mowry Beach
Mowry Beach
Mowry Beach is a “A 48-acre conservation property offering access to sandy beach frontage on the Lubec Narrows and to a wheelchair-accessible trail and boardwalk linking the beach to the Lubec Consolidated School.” Here is Main Trail Finder’s description and map.
There is a 0.8 mile round trip path described as, ” A short stretch of gravel path [which] leads to a 1,700-foot long boardwalk that passes through typical coastal scrub-shrub woodland and skirts sphagnum bog and cattail swamp.” The beach is part of a larger network of hiking trails in known as Cobscook Trails, a cooperative project of conservation landowners and community partners.” For more information, contact the Downeast Coastal Conservancy. Phone 207-255-4500
Bethel Pathway
Bethel Pathway
The paved Pathway’s main trailhead and parking lot is at the Davis Park picnic area on ME-26 on the east edge of Bethel Village, on the south bank of the Androscoggin River. Description and map from Maine Trail Finder.
The Bethel Pathway has a 0.9 mile section going west from Davis which is wheelchair accessible. From Maine Trail Finder: the trail “goes past the skate park, over a miniature covered bridge, and out to US Route 2 where there is another parking lot. The pathway then goes over the impressive single span bridge over the Androscoggin, loops back on itself, and continues along the other shore of the river, past the parking lot and water slide of the Big Adventure Center. It currently ends soon after, on the North Road.” There is another crushed stone, hard, and flat section which goes eastward to the upper end of Sunset Road.