South Mountain State Park

Monument Knob & Appalachian National Scenic Viewpoint via Appalachian National Scenic Trail

3.7 mi · ▲ 620 ft · 1 hr 33 min

Monument Knob & Appalachian National Scenic Viewpoint via Appalachian National Scenic Trail is a 3.7-mile out-and-back in South Mountain State Park near Lens Rambles, MD. The route passes Monument Knob before reaching Appalachian National Scenic Viewpoint at the turnaround, 1.9 miles in. It climbs 620 ft, with sections as steep as 19% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 15/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi1,280 – 1,542 ft · steepest grade: 19%3.8 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 39.52436, -77.61762
Nearest town Lens Rambles, MD

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Monument Knob & Appalachian National Scenic Viewpoint via Appalachian National Scenic Trail

3.7 mi · ▲ 620 ft · 1 hr 33 min

Elevation 1,281–1,541 ft

Out & Back · South Mountain State Park

Trailhead: 39.52436, -77.61762

Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:57 AM · sunset 7:13 PM

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading S.
  2. 50 ftSharp left, heading SE.
  3. 0.3 miTurn right onto Appalachian National Scenic Trail, heading SW.
  4. 1.5 miPass Appalachian National Scenic Viewpoint.
  5. 50 ftReach Monument Knob, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  6. 1.5 miTurn left, heading NE.
  7. 0.3 miSharp right, heading NW.
  8. 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

80% dirt2% gravel18% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:57 AMSunset 7:13 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is right at the trailhead, so there is no walk out. Be there by 6:53 PM to have the sun's last 20 minutes of sky before it sets at 7:13 PM. Your car is right there — dark at 7:40 PM.

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