Moderate 12 Mile Appalachian Trail Hike! Crampton Gap, Fox Gap, Turners Gap, and Washington Monument with Optional Post Hike Meal!

On a warm, sunny Sunday in 1862 a force of 9000 Rebels used the ramparts of South Mountain as a natural fort from which to stage a delaying action against 30,000 Yankee soldiers. Although they lost the mountain, they won the day, saving General Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia from almost certain destruction. This AT hike passes through the three mountain gaps over which this bloody battle raged.

The hike crosses easy terrain, and makes for a long, yet easy hike of 12.2 miles from Crampton Gap to our end point.

Transition Hike!

This is simply a perfect transition hike for those interested in increasing your endurance/ mileage! While this hike is a respectful 12 miles, it is on mostly flat terrain in addition to being all in the shade. Thanks to an outstanding vista and a couple of interesting historical features, such as the original Washington Monument (great views from the top) and the infamous church where part of The Blair Witch Project was filmed, there will be some time to rest a bit while you take in the sights. I highly encourage anyone who has comfortably hiked at least 7 miles within the past 2 months; to use this to transition to longer hikes if that is of interest to you. It doesn’t hurt to have your fellow hikers to converse with along the way either-grin.

Hike Pace

A moderate pace of about 2.5mph (most common pace).

Trail Information
Nearby City: Burkittsville
Length: 12.3 total miles
Route:From Crampton Gap through Fox Gap and Turners Gap
Trail Type: Point-to-Point
Skill Level: Easy side of Moderate but moderate due to length
Duration: 8 hours including meal time
Elevation +/-: 900 to 1772 to 1250 ft
Natural History Feature: White Rocks vista on Lambs Knoll
Social History features:South Mt. battlefield sites at Crampton Gap, Fox Gap, and Turner Gap; South Mt. Inn(where we are eating after the hike if you join us for our post hike meal); Dahlgren Chapel (pictured on the right); and see the original Washington Monument.

Weather Information
We hike rain or shine! Click here to see an up to the minute forecast for where we will be hiking.

Gear Suggestions

Here are some suggestionsfor what to wear and what not to wear for dayhikes.

Carpool Information
There are 2 Carpool Locations for this hike

Savage Station Carpool
To carpool from the Baltimore area, you can arrange to meet people at Savage Station. Click here for directions to Savage Station. Use the comment section to discuss carpooling with other members.

Franklintown (Security Blvd. I-70 Park and Ride)
There is an additional carpool location for this hike. Click here for directions to where we meet for this carpool.  Use the comment section to discuss carpooling with other members.

If you can drive or want to carpool from additional locations such as the DC area, please post your location in the comment section below. For those who need a ride, reach out to the drivers. Make friends, and support the environment - by just offering a ride!

Directions to the Trailhead

Click here for directions to the trailhead for this hike.

Hike meetup time is at 9:00 a.m.

Carpool meetup time from Savage Park and Ride is 7:30 a.m.

Carpool meetup time from Franklintown is 7:30 a.m.

Please remember we are a social hiking group that values fellowship and camaraderie and practice good hike etiquette. We take breaks as necessary and have at least one guide in the front in addition to a "sweeper" in the back which helsp ensure that no hiker is left behind. If you get upset because someone has to rest at the top of a hill etc. then please find another group! We are very supportive, encouraging, and focus on safety while getting or staying fit on the trail and practicing Leave No Trace outdoor ethics.

Please note that our holiday and holiday weekend hikes are not refundable due to too many people backing out of the at the last minute before the refund cut-off. Sorry, but this is the only way to help make sure that there is a good turnout and our leaders not offer to lead a hike on their holiday in vein...or they will be burned enough that they will no longer offer. Since we have made holiday hikes non-refundable it has boosted attendance rate significantly and often have perfect attendance, yay! Thanks so much for your understanding.

Fido is Welcome on This Hike!

Lei: [masked]

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