AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Frederick City Watershed

High Knob–Blue Balls, 7 sights

15.9 mi · ▲ 2,028 ft · 6 hr 19 min

High Knob–Blue Balls, 7 sights is a 15.9-mile out-and-back in Frederick City Watershed near Five Forks, MD. The route reaches High Knob at the turnaround, 7.9 miles in. It climbs 2,028 ft, with sections as steep as 20% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 45/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.

Elevation

0 mi1,165 – 1,759 ft · steepest grade: 20%17.0 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Old Blue Trail 39.54300, -77.49306
Nearest town Five Forks, MD
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

High Knob–Blue Balls, 7 sights

15.9 mi · ▲ 2,028 ft · 6 hr 19 min

Elevation 1,164–1,759 ft

Out & Back · Frederick City Watershed

Trailhead: Old Blue Trail · 39.54300, -77.49306

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

  1. Start on Old Blue Trail, heading SW.
  2. 0.2 miBear left onto Old Blue Trail, heading SE.
  3. 0.4 miBear left onto Catoctin National Recreation Trail, heading E.
  4. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Trail 4, heading SE.
  5. 0.2 miSharp right onto Catoctin National Recreation Trail, heading SE.
  6. 350 ftTurn left onto Pond Access Trail, heading W.
  7. 0.1 miBear right, heading S.
  8. 150 ftBear right, heading SE.
  9. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Blue Connector, heading SW.
  10. 300 ftTurn right, heading W.
  11. 300 ftBear left, heading SE.
  12. 50 ftBear right, heading SE.
  13. 0.2 miTurn right onto Blue Balls second leg, heading S.
  14. 0.3 miTurn right onto Access Trail, heading E.
  15. 150 ftSharp left onto Blue Balls, heading S.
  16. 0.5 miTurn right, heading W.
  17. 0.4 miTurn right onto Knuckle Buster Trail, heading W.
  18. 100 ftTurn left onto Catoctin National Recreation Trail, heading SW.
  19. 0.6 miContinue straight onto Monarch Trail, heading SE.
  20. 0.2 miBear left onto Stoner Road, heading SW.
  21. 450 ftTurn right onto Huggy Bear, heading SW.
  22. 0.7 miSharp right onto Lawn Mower, heading SE.
  23. 0.3 miBear left onto Headless Hollow, heading W.
  24. 50 ftBear right onto Powerline Trail, heading W.
  25. 0.6 miTurn right onto Yellow Poplar, heading S.
  26. 0.3 miTurn right, heading SE.
  27. 1.4 miSharp left, heading S.
  28. 0.7 miTurn left onto Black - Green, heading SW.
  29. 0.2 miTurn left, heading S.
  30. 150 ftReach High Knob, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  31. 0.2 miTurn right onto Yellow Poplar, heading E.
  32. 0.5 miSharp left, heading E.
  33. 0.2 miSharp right, heading W.
  34. 1.8 miTurn left onto Powerline Trail, heading NW.
  35. 0.5 miBear right, heading NE.
  36. 0.1 miBear left onto Headless Hollow, heading NW.
  37. 50 ftBear right onto Powerline Trail, heading NW.
  38. 0.3 miContinue straight onto Lawn Mower, heading NW.
  39. 250 ftSharp left onto Huggy Bear, heading N.
  40. 0.7 miTurn left onto Stoner Road, heading SE.
  41. 450 ftBear right onto Monarch Trail, heading SE.
  42. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Catoctin National Recreation Trail, heading NW.
  43. 0.6 miTurn right onto Knuckle Buster Trail, heading NE.
  44. 50 ftTurn left onto Blue Balls, heading NE.
  45. 0.9 miSharp right onto Access Trail, heading N.
  46. 150 ftTurn left onto Blue Balls second leg, heading N.
  47. 0.3 miTurn left, heading NE.
  48. 0.2 miBear left, heading N.
  49. 50 ftBear right, heading N.
  50. 300 ftTurn left onto Blue Connector, heading N.
  51. 0.2 miBear left, heading NE.
  52. 150 ftBear left onto Pond Access Trail, heading NE.
  53. 0.1 miTurn right onto Catoctin National Recreation Trail, heading SE.
  54. 350 ftSharp left onto Trail 4, heading N.
  55. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Catoctin National Recreation Trail, heading NE.
  56. 0.2 miBear right onto Old Blue Trail, heading NE.
  57. 0.4 miBear right onto Old Blue Trail, heading E.
  58. 0.1 miArrive 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/high-knob-blue-balls-out-back-8-sights

Trail surface

97% dirt3% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:56 AMSunset 7:12 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 5.7 mi in (~159 min). Leave by 4:14 PM for the 7:12 PM sunset. Back at your car by 10:00 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

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