Annapolis Rock–South Mountain State Park Viewpoint, 5 viewpoints
7.1 mi · ▲ 1,423 ft · 3 hr 5 min
Annapolis Rock–South Mountain State Park Viewpoint, 5 viewpoints is a 7.1-mile out-and-back in South Mountain State Park near Greenbrier, MD. The route passes Greenbrier State Park Beach, Greenbrier Lake and Annapolis Rock before reaching South Mountain State Park Viewpoint at the turnaround, 3.6 miles in. It climbs 1,423 ft, with sections as steep as 21% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 7/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Annapolis Rock–South Mountain State Park Viewpoint, 5 viewpoints
7.1 mi · ▲ 1,423 ft · 3 hr 5 min
Elevation 858–1,754 ft
Out & Back · South Mountain State Park
Trailhead: 39.53760, -77.61580
Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:57 AM · sunset 7:13 PM
Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading NW.
- 50 ftPass Greenbrier State Park Beach.
- 250 ftTurn left, heading SW.
- 50 ftPass Greenbrier Lake.
- 350 ftBear right, heading SW.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading SW.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading W.
- 500 ftContinue straight onto Bartmans Hill Trail, heading S.
- 0.6 miBear left onto Appalachian National Scenic Trail, heading SE.
- 0.4 miTurn left, heading NE.
- 2.1 miTurn left, heading N.
- 0.2 miPass South Mountain State Park Viewpoint.
- 250 ftReach Annapolis Rock, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading S.
- 2.6 miBear right onto Bartmans Hill Trail, heading S.
- 0.7 miTurn right, heading W.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading W.
- 50 ftBear left, heading W.
- 400 ftTurn right, heading NW.
- 50 ftArrive back at the trailhead.
Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.
Trail surface
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.4 mi in (~50 min). Leave by 6:03 PM for the 7:13 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:09 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Toilets at the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from this trailhead
- Black Rock–Greenbrier Lake, 4 beaches 8.7 mi · ▲ 1,428 ft
- Monument Knob–Appalachian National Scenic Viewpoint, 5 beaches 6.7 mi · ▲ 1,291 ft
- South Mountain State Park Sunset Point–Greenbrier Lake, 4 beaches 4.7 mi · ▲ 1,176 ft
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Hikes near Greenbrier, Maryland