Top 10 Camping Hidden Gems in Maryland

Camping Gems - Maryland Crampton Gap, Appalachian Trail:   At Gathland State Park, you'll have access to the Crampton Gap, a scenic stretch of the Appalachian Trail.  The best day hike is a 6-mile trek to the Weverton Cliffs, in the direction of Harpers Ferry, West Virginia.  The views are spectacular! Catoctin Mountain Park    With 25 miles of trails winding through Catoctin Mountain Park, a variety of experiences are available, many leading to outstanding scenic vistas. The roads of Catoctin Mountain Park offer scenic driving all year, but portions of Park Central Road and Manahan Road are closed in winter. Enjoy picnicking, wildlife viewing, fly-fishing, and cross country skiing. Cylburn Arboretum, Baltimore As you wander through this 176-acre estate, you'll find a variety of gardens, trails, a hands-on nature museum, a bird museum with dioramas, and a horticultural reference library. The museums and library are only open on Thursday afternoons. (4915 Greenspring Ave) Wye Island This Natural Resources Management Area is located in the tidal recesses of the Chesapeake Bay between the Wye River and the Wye East River.  Wildlife viewing and hiking are the most popular activities on Wye Island's six miles of trails. Hunting is also permitted in Fall and Winter. Millington Wildlife Management Area The mixture of habitats supports a variety of wildlife species, such as whitetail deer, turkeys, gray squirrels, rabbits, quail, woodcock, and waterfowl, as well as furbearers and songbirds. Ducks abound on the many ponds and streams, which also offer excellent fishing for bass and bluegills. Maryland Zoo, Baltimore Here you'll find more than 1,200 beasties waiting to entertain and educate you. They feature an innovative Children's Zoo, America's largest colony of African black-footed penguins, and the African Watering Hole where you can spot rhinos, zebras, and gazelles. (Druid Hill Park, 410-547-8333) Susquehanna State Park Dramatic rock outcroppings, deep forests, and winding trails make this a popular park for Marylanders.  Head here for the first-rate mountain biking, the hiking, and for fishing and boating on the Susquehanna River.  Don't miss the resorted Rock Run Historical Area with its working grist mill and Jersey Toll House. Loch Raven Reservoir Fishing, canoeing, boating, hiking -- Loch Raven has it all!  Visitors can angle for large and small mouth bass, yellow perch, and northern pike or spend their time paddling on the lake.  Hikers won't want to miss the oustanding Merryman Point trail, one of the prettiest in the region. Cunningham Falls State Park Set in the picturesque Catoctin Mountains, this park is known for its history and scenic beauty, as well as its 78-foot cascading waterfall. The Falls are located one half mile from the lake in the Houck Area via the Falls Trail. Anglers can fish for bass, bluegills, sunfish, crappie, and catfish, and there is also catch-and-release trout fishing in Big Hunting Creek. Westminster Hall and Burying Ground, Baltimore If you're a fan of Edgar Allan Poe's, visit his final resting place, along with many other famous Marylander's, in the Westminster Hall and Burying Ground, Westminster Churchyard. The dramatic church building, the graveyard, and catacombs were founded in 1786. (519 W Fayette St, 410-706-2072)