Rocks State Park: King and Queens Seat Plus Lunch at Kilgore Falls! About 4-5 Total Miles! (Scramble Up to the Seats is Moderately Strenuous and is Optional, Otherwise this is an Easy Side of Moderate Hike)

Note: This Hike is Timed So That the Leader from the This Mornings Oregan Ridge Hike Can Have Time to Get to This Hike as He is Leading Both Hikes.

"We will explore some of the 885 acres of dense forest and massive boulders rising above Deer Creek, culminating in the main attraction: King and Queen’s Seat, 90-foot rock outcroppings once the ancestral meeting place of the Susquehannock Indians. Soaring natural rock outcrops provide breathtaking views, as well as a challenge to rock scramble. Once believed to be a ceremonial gathering place of the Susquehannock Indians, the King and Queen Seat soars above Deer Creek at a height of 190 feet. There are many vertical rock faces on the outcrop some of which are as high as 94 feet. Note that if you do not do the optional scramble up to the "seats" this is considered an easy side of moderate hike. Also, you do not need to decide if you want to scramble to the seats until you are there so you can scope them out first! After the main hike, we will go and visit Kilgore Falls which is the second largest and tallest falls in the state of Maryland (picture further down in this listing).   The first thing you will see on this trek is the infamous yellow sign which reads "Caution, freeclimbers have been seriously injured while trying to free climb". This applies to King and Queens seat (pictured at the left and top of this posting) which we visit at the end of this jaunt. For now, there is enough to occupy you on the extremely steep and rocky approach to the main loop trail where during the first 900 feet of the trail you will gain 200 feet. The movie 'Tuck Everlasting' was filmed in this park and features all of the aforementioned attributes to the area.

Trail Information
Trail Type: Irregular Loop
Nearby City: Street
Length: 3.4 total miles plus 1 mile at the falls
Trail Surface: Packed dirt and rock
Exposure: Shade
Skill Level:Easy and Newbie Friendly if not scrambling up to the seats. However, this trek become easy side of strenuous if you do venture up to the seats. All hike leaders offer both options on this hike so come on out either way as this is a fantasitc hike either way! 
Duration: 2.5 hours
Season: Year-round
Trailhead Elev: 310 feet
Top Elev: 610 feet

Weather Information

Due to the type of hike this is it is shine only. Especially since the second portion involves swimming and standing beneath a waterfall! Click here for the trail forecast. A 40% or greater chance of rain for at least 50% of the hike will cancel the adventure and a refund issued. Please check back here and your e-mail before heading out if the weather is questionable!

Park Fee:

2.00 per vehicle and not per person 

Lunch at Kilgore Falls (A Not to Miss Experience!)    

Pack your lunch to enjoy at Kilgore Falls after the hike! The waterfall (Kilgore Falls) in the Falling Branch section of the park is Maryland's second highest vertical drop waterfall. When it is warmer outside, we enjoy swimming around and under the falls for a truly unique experience. In the summer I like to stand under the falls and pretend I am on an exotic island-grin.The falls are just under .5 mile from where we park and it is an out and back so we will only be walking about 1 total mile to get to the falls from the parking lot so we don't hike far at all on full tummys...

Carpool Information                          
There are 3 carpools for this hike!

Baltimore Area Carpool             
To carpool or caravan from the Baltimore metro area, meet at Savage Station. Click here for directions to Savage Station. Use the comment section to discuss carpooling with other members.

Annapolis Area Carpool
To carpool or caravan from the Annapolis area, meetup at the Harbour Center Mall Starbucks. Click here for Annapolis carpool directions for getting to the carpool location. Use the comment section to discuss carpooling with other members.

DC Area Carpool
To carpool or caravan from the metro DC area, meetup at the Centerville Park and Ride. Click here for informationand directions to the Centerville location.  Use the comment section to discuss carpooling with other members.

If you can drive or want to carpool from additional locations, 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 where we meet for this hike.

Hike Meetup Time is 2:30 p.m.

Capool meetup time from Savage is 12:30 p.m.

Carpool Time from Annapolis is 12:15 p.m.

Meetup Time for Carpooling from DC is 12:00 p.m. (Noon) 

Gear Information
Click here for suggestions for what to wear and what not to wear for our hikes.

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 to help ensure that no hiker is left behind. If you get upset because someone has to rest at the top of a hill etc. then find another group or go on one of our more strenuous hikes! 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!

Let's have good times and see you on the trail!

Kristopher: [masked]