Savage River State Forest, Garrett county Maryland. 

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Welcome to Savage River State Forest, 53,000 acres located in Garrett county Maryland.  An avid hiker might think that in 53,000 acres of state forest land there would be numerous hiking trails totaling several miles, however such is not the case.  We discovered this disappointing fact on an unscheduled trip to Savage River.  I also learned a valuable lesson about "judging the book by its cover".

Now perhaps KC Trailblazers is a somewhat spoiled hiking group in that we have grown accustomed to certain "types" of trails.  Let me start by saying hats off to everyone who enjoys the outdoors and makes any effort to get out there and partake in it!  Having said that, let me say that "we", as a whole, do not enjoy road-like, multi-user trails.  Our measure of comparison is our home state, West Virginia.  We hike predominantly rugged, narrow, foot-traffic restricted trails to scenic vistas and along mountain rivers or streams.  Hence the critique of Savage River State Forest.

"Trail" would be a more accurate description of what it has to offer.  There are two state parks nestled within the boundaries of the forest or somewhere in between.  The actual lines of park and forest boundaries are definitely shades of gray.  Suffice it to say that only one trail is truly in the forest.  Though we inquired on more than one occasion and to both park and forest officials, we were given the same information, only 24 miles of hiking exists.  But as I have referred back to the map to write this article I see again that a 17-mile trail does exist.  It is Big Savage trail and it follows the crest of the mountain by the same name and we never made it there. (That critique will simply have to be, to be continued…)

What about the other 24 miles of hiking you ask?  As I have already pointed out we have certain criteria for hiking trails and they fail to meet them.  The trails are located within the boundaries of the two state parks and listed as a loop trail system.  In order to complete the loop you must…hike along the Savage River Road… at one point.  And it's no small point I might add.  We're talking about 5 or 6 road miles here, not exactly a hiker's preference.

I will give one trail within that system a plug though.  The Monroe Run trail, 6 miles long, seemed like it would be fun.  I started the trail in the late afternoon into early evening hours and had to abort due to gnat swarms.  (Could have happened to the best of trails anywhere.)  I entered the trail from its Big Run State Park access point.  I hiked approximately 1 1/2 miles and encountered no elevation change but did cross the stream a few times.  This trail is touted for its 20 stream crossings.  Although the stream scenery that I encountered was not majestic or spectacular, it was fun to actually cross the stream.  I was told that the elevation would change, at some point, to provide a moderate to difficult rating. (Another criterion for trails we hike.)

But alas, all was not lost.  We were informed of a trail that met our criterion.  It was 28 miles away in Potomac State Forest.  We eagerly and gladly made the journey for which we were not disappointed.  We arrived to the tenth of the mile by the directions we were given. (Always a plus.)  The Lostland Run trail is a 3.5-mile trail that meanders along a stream and ends at the North Branch of the Potomac River.  It is picturesque and crosses two swinging bridges for added ambience.  Save for the fact that railroad tracks can be seen from the river outlet, it is a magnificent crescendo.

Hikers beware, you now know what the aforementioned parks and forest's have to offer or not offer.  That is the moral of this story.  For if we had researched just a smidgen beyond spontaneity, we too would have been forewarned.  (All scheduled trips

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