AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Frederick City Watershed

Salamander Rock–Sand Flat, 5 sights

9.8 mi · ▲ 1,019 ft · 3 hr 47 min

Salamander Rock–Sand Flat, 5 sights is a 9.8-mile out-and-back in Frederick City Watershed near Laurelcrest, MD. The route passes Sand Flat before reaching Salamander Rock at the turnaround, 4.9 miles in. It climbs 1,019 ft, with sections as steep as 15% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 66/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi1,365 – 1,841 ft · steepest grade: 15%10.5 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 39.52539, -77.48421
Nearest town Laurelcrest, MD
Google Maps Apple Maps

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Salamander Rock–Sand Flat, 5 sights

9.8 mi · ▲ 1,019 ft · 3 hr 47 min

Elevation 1,366–1,841 ft

Out & Back · Frederick City Watershed

Trailhead: 39.52539, -77.48421

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

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading NW.
  2. 0.4 miBear left, heading NE.
  3. 50 ftBear right, heading N.
  4. 350 ftTurn left onto Blue Connector, heading N.
  5. 50 ftTurn right onto Upper Canaan, heading N.
  6. 0.2 miTurn right, heading NW.
  7. 200 ftBear left onto Pond Access Trail, heading NW.
  8. 0.1 miTurn right onto Catoctin National Recreation Trail, heading N.
  9. 400 ftSharp left onto Trail 4, heading NE.
  10. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Catoctin National Recreation Trail, heading NE.
  11. 0.2 miBear right onto Old Blue Trail, heading W.
  12. 0.4 miBear right onto Old Blue Trail, heading NW.
  13. 0.3 miTurn right onto Catoctin National Recreation Trail, heading N.
  14. 1.3 miTurn left, heading N.
  15. 0.2 miBear right onto Nordic Track, heading N.
  16. 0.2 miPass Sand Flat.
  17. 0.2 miBear left onto Sand Flats Trail, heading NW.
  18. 350 ftBear right onto Fireroad, heading NW.
  19. 0.3 miTurn right onto Skink, heading NW.
  20. 150 ftTurn left onto Salamander Trail, heading N.
  21. 0.6 miTurn right onto Red By-Pass Trail, heading NW.
  22. 0.1 miTurn right onto Salamander Trail, heading N.
  23. 0.3 miReach Salamander Rock, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  24. 0.3 miTurn left onto Red By-Pass Trail, heading N.
  25. 0.1 miTurn left onto Salamander Trail, heading SW.
  26. 0.6 miTurn right onto Skink, heading SW.
  27. 150 ftTurn left onto Fireroad, heading SW.
  28. 0.3 miBear left onto Sand Flats Trail, heading SE.
  29. 350 ftBear right onto Nordic Track, heading SE.
  30. 0.3 miBear left, heading SW.
  31. 0.2 miTurn right onto Catoctin National Recreation Trail, heading SE.
  32. 1.3 miTurn left onto Old Blue Trail, heading SW.
  33. 0.3 miBear left onto Old Blue Trail, heading S.
  34. 0.4 miBear left onto Catoctin National Recreation Trail, heading S.
  35. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Trail 4, heading E.
  36. 0.2 miSharp right onto Catoctin National Recreation Trail, heading NE.
  37. 400 ftTurn left onto Pond Access Trail, heading E.
  38. 0.1 miBear right, heading E.
  39. 200 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  40. 150 ftContinue straight onto Upper Canaan, heading SE.
  41. 0.1 miTurn left onto Blue Connector, heading S.
  42. 50 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  43. 300 ftBear left, heading W.
  44. 50 ftBear right, heading W.
  45. 0.2 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/salamander-rock-sand-flat-out-back-6-sights-16-km

Trail surface

95% dirt5% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:56 AMSunset 7:12 PM

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Laurelcrest, Maryland