In Cumberland, the story of transportation routes begins at a specific point: the first section of the National Road was completed at Mile 0. The C&O Canal tells another chapter: the National Historical Park preserves and interprets the 19th-century transportation canal and its associated scenic, natural, and cultural resources. 48 miles of the park lie in Allegany County.
Discovering Transportation Routes
The C&O Canal West Scenic Byway follows the historic canal section in Allegany County and provides access to the C&O Canal Towpath, Green Ridge State Forest, and Paw Paw Tunnel. Cycling is permitted on the towpath; check conditions before setting out. Railroad history also comes to life along a route: the Frostburg Flyer travels through the Narrows, over Helmstetter’s Curve, and through the historic Brush Tunnel, which is 916 feet long.
Tracks and Yaks offers another perspective with a two-and-a-half-hour railbike tour departing from Frostburg Depot and following the Western Maryland Railway. There is also a 10-mile railbike package from Frostburg to Cash Valley. The tour duration and package distance give you different reference points for planning; check in advance whether your preferred option is available.
Trail Options Between Forest and Water
For outdoor activities, Allegany County has more than 200 miles of developed trail systems for hiking, biking, and paddling. More than 80 miles of trails in Green Ridge State Forest are open to hikers, mountain bikers, and horseback riders. The forest also offers more than 50 miles of hiking trails for day hikes or multi-day backpacking trips. If you’re looking for mountain biking routes, you’ll find the 12.5-mile Green Ridge Mountain Bike Trail there: a loop that mostly follows singletrack and is rated moderate to challenging.
Lake Habeeb has fishing piers, swimming areas, two public boat ramps, picnic facilities, and camping options. The moderate Lakeside Loop Trail runs 5.3 miles around the lake. The paved Touch of Nature Trail is 0.25 miles long and leads to the fishing pier and the Lakeside Loop Trail. Another short loop is the 0.25-mile Canyon Overlook Trail, which offers views of the one-mile-long gorge. The different trail lengths and ratings can help you weigh a loop around the lake against a more challenging mountain biking route.
At Rocky Gap State Park, the Scales and Tales educational program shares information about injured raptors that cannot be released into the wild, as well as reptiles native to Maryland. If you’d like to attend the program, check its availability in advance.
Culture and Scenery at Your Own Pace
At the Allegany Museum, the Crossroads of America exhibit traces the history of human movement through Cumberland and Allegany County. Models and artifacts focus on canal boats, trains, the National Road, Fort Cumberland, and the C&O Canal, among other subjects. The Thrasher Carriage Museum brings early transportation history to life with costumed interpreters, tours, and explanatory signage.
Evergreen Heritage Center also brings culture and scenery together. It includes three museums; Evergreen House and the agricultural museums date to the late 18th century. The grounds cover more than 130 acres and include gardens, wooded areas, a pond, and trails. Those interested in regional art and cultural heritage will find another point of focus at Mountain City Traditional Arts, an organization dedicated to education, sales, documentation, and preservation in these areas.
The George Washington Trail 1753 commemorates George Washington’s first diplomatic mission to western Pennsylvania and runs through Allegany County from Oldtown to the ridge of Savage Mountain. Together, these places and trails offer different ways to explore the region: through transportation history and museums, as well as hiking, biking, and landscapes. When planning your trip, you can start by deciding which of these discoveries you’d like to focus on.
Discover more destinations: Frostburg, Cumberland, La Vale, Barton, Montgomery, Anne Arundel, Somerset, Garrett County.
Return to the main travel overview: Maryland.
