Gambrill State Park

Yellow Poplar - Black Locust–Yellow Poplar Trail Loop, 3 sights

3.7 mi · ▲ 439 ft · 1 hr 27 min

Yellow Poplar - Black Locust–Yellow Poplar Trail Loop, 3 sights is a 3.7-mile loop in Gambrill State Park near Hawbottom Heights, MD. It climbs 439 ft and is mostly dirt. It scores 34/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.

Elevation

0 mi1,463 – 1,641 ft4.1 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 39.48119, -77.49244
Nearest town Hawbottom Heights, MD

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Yellow Poplar - Black Locust–Yellow Poplar Trail Loop, 3 sights

3.7 mi · ▲ 439 ft · 1 hr 27 min

Elevation 1,462–1,640 ft

Loop · Gambrill State Park

Trailhead: 39.48119, -77.49244

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

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading SE.
  2. 0.1 miTurn left onto Yellow Poplar, heading SE.
  3. 300 ftBear left, heading SE.
  4. 0.1 miTurn right onto Catoctin Trail - Yellow, heading NE.
  5. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Catoctin Trail, heading S.
  6. 50 ftBear right onto Yellow Poplar Trail, heading S.
  7. 0.5 miTurn right onto Black/Yellow, heading S.
  8. 250 ftSharp left, heading S.
  9. 50 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  10. 0.1 miBear left onto Green Ash - Yellow Poplar, heading SW.
  11. 0.2 miBear right onto Yellow Poplar, heading S.
  12. 50 ftSharp right onto Yellow Poplar - Black Locust, heading S.
  13. 0.4 miSharp left onto Yellow Poplar, heading N.
  14. 1.9 miTurn left, heading SE.
  15. 500 ftThe loop closes back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Trail surface

93% dirt2% gravel5% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:56 AMSunset 7:12 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.9 mi in (~28 min). Leave by 6:25 PM for the 7:12 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:53 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

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