AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Frederick City Watershed

High Knob–Middletown Overlook, 10 sights

15.4 mi · ▲ 2,669 ft · 6 hr 28 min

High Knob–Middletown Overlook, 10 sights is a 15.4-mile out-and-back in Frederick City Watershed near White Rocks, MD. The route passes Fishing Creek Reservoir and Middletown Overlook before reaching High Knob at the turnaround, 7.7 miles in. It climbs 2,669 ft, with sections as steep as 24% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 63/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi735 – 1,627 ft · steepest grade: 24%16.5 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Wayne's Trail 39.52800, -77.46864
Nearest town White Rocks, MD
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

High Knob–Middletown Overlook, 10 sights

15.4 mi · ▲ 2,669 ft · 6 hr 28 min

Elevation 734–1,629 ft

Out & Back · Frederick City Watershed

Trailhead: Wayne's Trail · 39.52800, -77.46864

Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:56 AM · sunset 7:12 PM

  1. Start on Wayne's Trail, heading SW.
  2. 500 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  3. 50 ftPass Fishing Creek Reservoir.
  4. 50 ftTurn left onto Albatross, heading S.
  5. 0.3 miBear right onto Double D, heading SW.
  6. 50 ftTurn left onto Albatross, heading SW.
  7. 50 ftBear right, heading SW.
  8. 0.3 miTurn left, heading NW.
  9. 150 ftContinue straight onto Wayne's Trail, heading NW.
  10. 250 ftBear left, heading NW.
  11. 0.4 miContinue straight onto Access Trail, heading NW.
  12. 200 ftSharp left onto Blue Balls, heading NW.
  13. 0.5 miTurn right, heading S.
  14. 0.4 miTurn right onto Knuckle Buster Trail, heading SE.
  15. 100 ftTurn left onto Catoctin National Recreation Trail, heading S.
  16. 0.6 miContinue straight onto Monarch Trail, heading SW.
  17. 0.2 miBear left onto Stoner Road, heading SW.
  18. 1 miBear right, heading E.
  19. 0.1 miBear left onto Catoctin National Recreation Trail, heading SE.
  20. 1.1 miBear left onto Catoctin Trail, heading NW.
  21. 1.2 miTurn left onto Catoctin Trail - Yellow, heading E.
  22. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Catoctin Trail, heading S.
  23. 50 ftBear right onto Yellow Poplar Trail, heading S.
  24. 0.5 miTurn right onto Black/Yellow, heading S.
  25. 250 ftSharp left, heading SW.
  26. 50 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  27. 0.1 miBear left onto Green Ash - Yellow Poplar, heading S.
  28. 0.2 miBear right onto Yellow Poplar, heading S.
  29. 50 ftBear left onto Black Locust, heading S.
  30. 0.2 miPass Middletown Overlook.
  31. 150 ftSharp left, heading SW.
  32. 100 ftTurn right onto High Knob Road, heading S.
  33. 200 ftReach High Knob, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  34. 200 ftTurn left, heading S.
  35. 150 ftSharp right onto Black Locust, heading S.
  36. 0.2 miBear right onto Yellow Poplar, heading S.
  37. 50 ftBear left onto Green Ash - Yellow Poplar, heading S.
  38. 0.2 miBear right, heading SE.
  39. 0.1 miTurn left, heading S.
  40. 50 ftSharp right onto Black/Yellow, heading S.
  41. 250 ftTurn left onto Yellow Poplar Trail, heading N.
  42. 0.5 miBear left onto Catoctin Trail, heading NE.
  43. 50 ftContinue straight onto Catoctin Trail - Yellow, heading NE.
  44. 0.2 miTurn right onto Catoctin Trail, heading NE.
  45. 1.2 miBear right onto Catoctin National Recreation Trail, heading E.
  46. 1.1 miBear right, heading NW.
  47. 0.1 miBear left onto Stoner Road, heading W.
  48. 1 miBear right onto Monarch Trail, heading W.
  49. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Catoctin National Recreation Trail, heading N.
  50. 0.6 miTurn right onto Knuckle Buster Trail, heading NE.
  51. 100 ftTurn left onto Blue Balls, heading NE.
  52. 0.9 miSharp right onto Access Trail, heading NE.
  53. 0.5 miBear right onto Wayne's Trail, heading W.
  54. 400 ftTurn right onto Albatross, heading N.
  55. 0.3 miTurn right onto Double D, heading E.
  56. 50 ftBear left onto Albatross, heading E.
  57. 0.3 miTurn right, heading SE.
  58. 50 ftTurn left onto Wayne's Trail, heading SE.
  59. 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 map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/fishing-creek-reservoir-blue-balls-out-back-5-sights

Trail surface

96% dirt1% rock1% gravel2% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:56 AMSunset 7:12 PM

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