The Fall Road Trip Outdoor Lovers Should Have on Their Radar

There’s a certain point in September when you can feel fall rolling in. The mornings get cooler. The first few leaves start to turn red. And suddenly, spending an entire Saturday outside feels like a must before the air turns too cold.

Sure, you could head to one of your usual fall haunts. Or you could point the car west toward the mountains of Maryland, where the scenery starts to feel decidedly different from home.

In Allegany County, Maryland, the landscape shifts into rolling mountains, forested trails and wide-open views that feel farther from Philly than the drive would suggest. Better yet, you don’t have to choose between an outdoorsy trip, a food-centric weekend or a small-town escape. Start on the trail, continue aboard a train and end over dinner and drinks in a walkable downtown.

Here’s how to get started.

Go for the views.

A fall road trip calls for taking the scenic route. Start at Rocky Gap State Park, where winding mountain roads open up to forests washed in shades of orange, yellow and red.

Then get even closer to the scenery on Lake Habeeb, a 243-acre lake known for its striking blue water. Kayak or paddle beneath Evitts Mountain as Rocky Gap Run winds through a mile-long gorge lined with cliffs, overlooks and dense forest.

Farther into the mountains, Green Ridge State Forest spans more than 47,000 acres and offers a scenic driving tour connecting some of the area’s best overlooks. At Point Lookout, take in panoramic views of the Potomac River and West Virginia from a former Civil War lookout. Banner’s Overlook looks out over Green Ridge’s miles of river shoreline, while Log Roll Overlook offers another sweeping perspective over Town Creek and the surrounding forest.

Save time for Zumbrun Overlook, where the view stretches from Polish Mountain across the Town Creek Basin toward Warrior Mountain and Flintstone. It’s also a gateway to more adventure, with access to the Great Eastern Trail.

Stay for the brews.

After a day outside, swap the trail for a taproom. You can set your own pace with the self-guided Mountain Maryland Tap & Pour Tour, a runner-up for Best Beer/Wine/Spirits Trail in Blue Ridge Outdoors magazine.

Among the stops, 1812 Brewery pours beer from a historic barn on a farm outside Cumberland, while Locust Post Brewery pairs handcrafted beers with wood-fired pizza and mountain views.

In downtown Cumberland, Charis Winery & Distillery offers wine and small-batch spirits at Canal Place, and Dig Deep Brewing Co. sits in the restored Footer’s Dye Works building, just steps from the Great Allegheny Passage and C&O Canal Towpath. Depending on when you visit, live music and food trucks may also be part of the experience.

Early risers can follow a different kind of trail. The Donut & Coffee Trail strings together local bakeries and cafés, including Caporale’s Italian Bakery, a fourth-generation Cumberland institution that has been around since 1906 and is known for its homemade jelly-filled turnovers.

In downtown Frostburg, Mountain City Coffeehouse & Creamery serves espresso drinks inside a historic Gothic-style building, complete with an indoor fireplace for particularly crisp fall mornings.

Before heading home, stop by one of Allegany County’s seasonal farmers markets for local produce, baked goods and other finds to bring back with you. Most markets run through October in Cumberland and Frostburg, including Thursday and Saturday markets at Canal Place and a Friday market at City Place in Frostburg.

Ride the rails.

Of course, you don’t have to see all those mountain views by foot or bike. Sometimes it’s nice to just roll through them on a train.

The Western Maryland Scenic Railroad follows a historic corridor that was once used to haul freight, coal and passengers through Maryland, West Virginia and Pennsylvania.

Today, the route is all about the scenery, departing from Cumberland’s Western Maryland Railway Station and snaking its way through the Allegheny Mountains to Frostburg.In fall that means you can settle in and watch the landscape shift outside the window as the train passes through the Cumberland Narrows, Helmstetter’s Curve, and other historic stretches of the line. The restored No. 1309 steam locomotive also adds a little old-school drama to the ride.

For something more hands-on, Tracks & Yaks puts you directly on the rails aboard custom pedal-powered bikes. Excursions leave from the Frostburg Depot and take about two to two-and-a-half hours from start to finish, passing through spots like Mount Savage Overlook, Brush Tunnel, and Helmstetter’s Curve.

If you want a balance of active and leisurely viewing, the Queen City Combo lets you pedal the rail bikes from Frostburg to Cumberland, then ride the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad home.

Hit the trails.

With more than 200 miles of developed trails across Allegany County, there’s no shortage of ways to get outside. Better yet, you don’t have to plan an all-day trek to make the most of them.

At Rocky Gap State Park, the Canyon Overlook Trail is a short hike with stunning views of the park’s mile-long gorge, while the lengthier 5.3-mile Lakeside Loop Trail circles Lake Habeeb, crossing footbridges and winding through the forest.

For something more rugged, Green Ridge State Forest offers more than 50 miles of hiking trails, with options ranging from the short Scenic Overlook Trail to longer routes like the Pine Lick Trail. The terrain and difficulty may vary, but sweeping mountain views are never far away.

Keep things flatter on the Great Allegheny Passage or C&O Canal Towpath, both of which offer long stretches for easy walking and running.

And if your idea of a hike involves a coffee stop and a little architecture, Cumberland and Frostburg both offer self-guided historic walking tours through their downtowns.

The point isn’t to conquer as much ground as possible. Pick the trail that fits your weekend, take time to enjoy the overlooks and save enough energy for whatever comes next.

Ready to plan your trip? Request a Mountain Maryland Destination Guide to start building your Allegany County getaway.

 

This is a paid partnership between Allegany County and Philadelphia Magazine