Monument Knob–Appalachian National Scenic Viewpoint, 4 sights is a 15.1-mile out-and-back in South Mountain State Park near Bagtown, MD. The route passes Monument Knob before reaching Appalachian National Scenic Viewpoint at the turnaround, 7.5 miles in. It climbs 2,597 ft, with sections as steep as 20% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 22/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
0 mi863 – 1,811 ft · steepest grade: 20%15.5 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Thurston Griggs Trail 39.58301, -77.60324
Nearest town Bagtown, MD
Directions
AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com
Monument Knob–Appalachian National Scenic Viewpoint, 4 sights
15.1 mi · ▲ 2,597 ft · 6 hr 20 min
Elevation 864–1,810 ft
Out & Back · South Mountain State Park
Trailhead: Thurston Griggs Trail · 39.58301, -77.60324
Weather Sep 22: Rain, high 60°F / low 56° · precip 86% · wind 5 mph · sunrise 6:59 AM · sunset 7:09 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Thurston Griggs Trail, heading E.
- 0.9 miTurn right, heading SE.
- 3.8 miTurn right onto Appalachian National Scenic Trail, heading S.
- 2.9 miPass Appalachian National Scenic Viewpoint.
- 150 ftReach Monument Knob, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 2.9 miTurn left, heading NE.
- 3.8 miTurn left onto Thurston Griggs Trail, heading SE.
- 0.8 miArrive back at the trailhead.
Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.
Trail surface
98% dirt1% paved1% gravel
Weather
RainTemperature 60°F56°
Precip86%Wind5 mphUV0Humidity92%
Rained 0.1″ yesterday
Hourly temperatureRain chance
65°50°
Sunrise 6:59 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PMSunset 7:09 PM
Wed
63°53°
28%
Thu
64°44°
Fri
71°43°
Sat
72°45°
Sun
75°46°
Mon
76°49°
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 7.5 mi in (~229 min). Leave by 3:01 PM for the 7:09 PM sunset. Back at your car by 10:57 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from Thurston Griggs Trail Trailhead
- South Mountain State Park Sunset Point & Thurston Griggs Trail 9.6 mi · ▲ 1,756 ft
- Old Road via Thurston Griggs Trail 4.3 mi · ▲ 1,316 ft
- Annapolis Rock–South Mountain State Park Viewpoint, 3 viewpoints 5.5 mi · ▲ 1,081 ft
- Thurston Griggs Trail 2.6 mi · ▲ 826 ft
- Black Rock & Thurston Griggs Trail 3 mi · ▲ 918 ft
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