AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Frederick City Watershed

Sand Flat–Blue Balls, 7 sights

11.4 mi · ▲ 1,058 ft · 4 hr 20 min

Sand Flat–Blue Balls, 7 sights is an 11.4-mile out-and-back in Frederick City Watershed near Cliffton Estates, MD. The route passes Sand Flat and Sand Flat. It climbs 1,058 ft and is mostly dirt. It scores 67/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi1,365 – 1,755 ft12.0 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Sand Flats Trail 39.56200, -77.49859
Nearest town Cliffton Estates, MD
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Sand Flat–Blue Balls, 7 sights

11.4 mi · ▲ 1,058 ft · 4 hr 20 min

Elevation 1,366–1,756 ft

Out & Back · Frederick City Watershed

Trailhead: Sand Flats Trail · 39.56200, -77.49859

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

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Sand Flats Trail, heading E.
  2. 50 ftPass Sand Flat.
  3. 0.2 miPass Sand Flat.
  4. 350 ftBear right onto Nordic Track, heading S.
  5. 0.3 miBear left, heading E.
  6. 0.2 miTurn right onto Catoctin National Recreation Trail, heading S.
  7. 1.3 miTurn left onto Old Blue Trail, heading NW.
  8. 0.3 miBear left onto Old Blue Trail, heading S.
  9. 0.4 miBear left onto Catoctin National Recreation Trail, heading E.
  10. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Trail 4, heading E.
  11. 0.2 miSharp right onto Catoctin National Recreation Trail, heading SW.
  12. 400 ftTurn left onto Pond Access Trail, heading SW.
  13. 0.1 miBear right, heading S.
  14. 200 ftTurn left, heading S.
  15. 150 ftContinue straight onto Upper Canaan, heading S.
  16. 0.1 miTurn left onto Blue Connector, heading E.
  17. 50 ftTurn right, heading E.
  18. 350 ftBear left, heading S.
  19. 50 ftBear right, heading S.
  20. 0.2 miTurn right onto Blue Balls second leg, heading S.
  21. 0.3 miTurn right onto Access Trail, heading SE.
  22. 200 ftSharp left onto Blue Balls, heading E.
  23. 0.5 miTurn right, heading W.
  24. 0.4 miTurn left onto Knuckle Buster Trail, heading SW.
  25. 0.9 miReach Sand Flat, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  26. 0.9 miTurn right onto Blue Balls, heading S.
  27. 0.9 miSharp right onto Access Trail, heading N.
  28. 150 ftTurn left onto Blue Balls second leg, heading NE.
  29. 0.3 miTurn left, heading SE.
  30. 0.2 miBear left, heading N.
  31. 50 ftBear right, heading N.
  32. 300 ftTurn left onto Blue Connector, heading E.
  33. 50 ftTurn right onto Upper Canaan, heading NE.
  34. 0.2 miTurn right, heading N.
  35. 200 ftBear left onto Pond Access Trail, heading NE.
  36. 0.1 miTurn right onto Catoctin National Recreation Trail, heading N.
  37. 400 ftSharp left onto Trail 4, heading N.
  38. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Catoctin National Recreation Trail, heading W.
  39. 0.2 miBear right onto Old Blue Trail, heading E.
  40. 0.4 miBear right onto Old Blue Trail, heading SW.
  41. 0.3 miTurn right onto Catoctin National Recreation Trail, heading W.
  42. 1.3 miTurn left, heading SW.
  43. 0.2 miBear right onto Nordic Track, heading NE.
  44. 0.3 miBear left onto Sand Flats Trail, 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/sand-flat-sand-flat-out-back-8-sights-18-km

Trail surface

98% dirt2% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:56 AMSunset 7:12 PM

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from Sand Flats Trail Trailhead

Hikes near Cliffton Estates, Maryland