Hike Description
Crampton Gap has a number of interesting diversions in addition to being a gentle section of the A.T. It boasts the only memorial to war correspondents, a number of civil war memorials, and a collection of buildings designed and constructed by George Alfred Townsend, a civil war correspondent.
While a short stroll on the A.T. across the field to the north of the gap is lovely, it is possible to take an extended hike on the A.T. to the south of the gap.
- If you park in the upper parking lot and head south on the A.T., you make a gentle steady ascent (about 0.2 miles) before reaching a level section of the Trail that extends almost all the way to the Ed Garvey Shelter, 4 miles to the south.
- Walk as far as you like, then retrace your steps to complete the hike.
Directions
From the west on US Alt 40, take MD 67 south for 7 miles to Gapland Road/MD 572. Go left (east) on Gapland 1 mile to Gathland State Park in Crampton Gap. The most prominent feature in the park is a stone arch at the intersection of Gapland Road and Arnoldtown Road. Alternatively, from the east on US 40A, take MD 17 south from Middletown for 6 miles. Turn right (west) onto Gapland Road/West Main St in the small town of Burkittsville and go about a mile to the park.
