Walk Maryland Day is October 7, 2020!

This year’s theme is Walk Towards Wellness! Join the Washington County Health Department and Hagerstown Parks and Recreation in celebrating Maryland’s state exercise by walking the length of Maryland – 250 miles – the week of October 4-10!

 

Sign up here and track your walking each day here.

The Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans recommend that adults get 30 minutes of physical activity five days a week and that children get 60 minutes of physical activity a day. Walking is a great way to be physically active! Find places to walk in Washington County on the Washington County Pathfinder website!

Looking for local health related events and news? Visit the new Healthy Washington County website at https://healthywashingtoncounty.com

Healthy Washington County is Washington County’s local health improvement coalition which is made up of local community organizations such as the health department, Meritus Health, Brook Lane, Washington County Chamber of Commerce, Hagerstown YMCA, University of Maryland Extension, and many others. Every 3 years, the coalition creates the Community Health Needs Assessment. You can read the 2019 assessment on the new website. In addition, the new Healthy Washington County website has resources on a variety of topics including nutrition, physical activity, smoking cessation, mental health, substance abuse, and chronic diseases.

Walk Maryland Day is Wednesday, October 2^nd, 2019; coinciding with National Walk to School Day. The purpose of Walk Maryland Day is to celebrate Maryland’s state exercise – walking – by getting outside and taking a walk! Walk to school, walk to work, or take a walk on one of the many trails in Washington County! The Washington County Health Department and the City of Hagerstown are hosting a 30-minute lunchtime walk at noon on October 2^nd at the Hagerstown Cultural Trail. All participants will receive a miniature Maryland flag and the first 50 participants will receive a free salad from Bella’s Bites! Stop by to grab some lunch and take a walk! The Manning Media street team will be giving out free water and VFF Produce, the Mobile Farmers Market, will be there selling fresh, local produce. Everyone who joins the walk will receive a $1 coupon for the Mobile Farmers Market. Visit our website or Facebook page for more information about this event.

According to the U.S. Surgeon General, physical activity is one of the most important things people can do for their health. The Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans recommend that adults get 150 minutes a week and children get 60 minutes a day of aerobic physical activity. Even if you don’t meet the recommended amount of physical activity, being somewhat active is better than being inactive. If you’re looking to start being more active, try walking! Walking is one of the most popular forms of aerobic physical activity because it’s free, easy, and anyone can do it! Find all the great places to walk in Washington County on Washington County Pathfinder by visiting washcopathfinder.com.

Event Details

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Enter the Washington County Pathfinder Facebook Photo Contest!

The contest runs through August 31, 2019. A randomly selected participant will win a Fitbit Versa!

How to enter:

1. Take a picture of yourself walking, biking, or boating at one of the trails on Washington County Pathfinder at https://washcopathfinder.com
2. Like the Washington County Pathfinder Facebook page.
3. Send your picture through Facebook Messenger to the Washington County Pathfinder page and include the name of the trail and/or park where the picture was taken.
4. You may submit multiple entries, one for each different trail you take a picture at. For trails that are located in parks, you may submit one entry per park.

Encourage your friends to like your photo to vote for it! The most-liked photo will win a free entry into HEAL’s Color Splash 5k fun run on September 28th!

To vote for a photo, you must like the Washington County Pathfinder Facebook page and like your favorite photo entry. View the current entries.

Other Rules:

1. A person can only win one of the two prizes.
2. You do not have to live in Washington County to enter, but you must be able to come to the Washington County Health Department to pick up your prize if you win.

By Charissa Hipp

With the number of five national parks and eight state parks in Washington County, there are countless hiking opportunities to enjoy the area’s beautiful landscapes and connect with nature. Trail options exist for every age and ability, from flat paved surfaces to steep inclines and even a boulder field. So what are you waiting for? Grab some comfortable shoes, a trail map, water, snacks, and head outside for a hike!

If you’re new to hiking or consider yourself a beginner in search of easy terrain, both the C&O Canal towpath and Antietam National Battlefield offer easy trails. The towpath is 184.5 miles in length, stretching from Georgetown to Cumberland, with more than 78 miles in Washington County. It is predominantly flat with very gradual changes in elevation and provides an array of changing landscapes and opportunities for exploration.

Antietam National Battlefield – Three Farms Trail

Most think of history when they think of Antietam Battlefield, but there are ten hiking trails and miles of paved park roads suitable for hiking. The trails range from a quarter of a mile to 1.8 miles in length, consist of varying terrain, and can be connected to create longer hikes. Wayside markers are located throughout the battlefield, explaining the historical significance of each area, and more extensive trail guides are available for purchase at the bookstore in the Visitor Center.

Adjacent to the canal, just past milepost 112, Fort Frederick State Park has two easy hiking trails perfect for enjoying flora and fauna. Near Fort Frederick is the southern terminus of the Western Maryland Rail Trail in Big Pool. It offers 26 miles of paved trail, also suitable for hiking, with beautiful views along the way. Phase IV. of the rail trail was just completed in March of 2019, extending it all the way to Little Orleans, Maryland.

Appalachian Trail – Weverton

If you’re interested in more moderate to difficult hikes, most of the 40-plus miles of Appalachian Trail that pass through Maryland are within Washington County. This includes many scenic overlooks such as Weverton Cliffs, White Rock, Washington Monument State Park, Annapolis Rock, Black Rock Cliffs, High Rock, and Pen Mar. You can plan a hike that lasts a few hours or a few days. The trail is rocky in sections and includes several challenging climbs that will surely get your heart pumping. When looking at the Appalachian Trail in its entirety, the Maryland section is considered easy, but when comparing it to other hikes in the region, some of the terrain is definitely moderate to difficult.

Appalachian Trail – Annapolis Rock

Greenbrier State Park, part of South Mountain Recreation Area, is a multi-use recreation area with its own system of trails. The park has almost 11 miles of trails and part of the Appalachian Trail passes through the park. Several of the trails at Greenbrier are easy, like the Green Trail near the visitor center, while others, like the Big Red Trail, are much more challenging.

The Maryland Heights Trail is one of the most popular trails at Harpers Ferry National Historical Park and. As the name implies, it is actually located in Maryland but offers beautiful views of the historic town of Harpers Ferry, West Virginia; the confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers; and the C&O Canal towpath. The trail varies in length from approximately 4.5 to 6.5 miles, depending upon your starting point and often on parking availability. It’s a heavily trafficked trail with steep and rocky sections that intersect with the challenging Stone Fort Trail, showing the position of Civil War artillery batteries.

Weverton Cliffs

Hiking is a wonderful way to explore and appreciate the beautiful scenic landscapes in Washington County, plus connecting with nature has been scientifically proven to benefit your physical and mental health. Be sure to know your route before you begin (cell phone coverage is not always reliable) and follow trail blazes carefully to stay on course. Always have plenty of water and trail snacks. Be prepared for hiking conditions, temperature and terrain, and practice Leave No Trace principles when on the trail. Protect yourself against ticks and be aware of potential wildlife encounters with black bears, timber rattlesnakes, and copperheads. Most of all, enjoy exploring Washington County!