In Maryland it follows the Gunpowder Creek, flowing lazily along, with the occassional rapids and even a few falls. One particularly picturesque spot overlooking a falls, shown in the photo above, includes a warning about poisonous snakes. The surface of the trail is mostly packed sand and clay. Along the way are iron mile markers, which reckon the mileage of the original train line. Wooden mile markers reckon the Trail mileage from Ashland to Pennsylvania.
G oing north, heading upstream, is a steady, but low, uphill grade.
We started our ride at the Monkton station. There are a few road crossings, but the trail is mostly isolated by trees, meadows, and streams. Here the trail climbs noticeably in a long arc to the left along the railroad tracks. Just past the crest of the hill the trees give way to the open vista of the town of New Freedom, which is the highest point of the trail. After riding so many miles through forests and along meadows, the experience of suddenly arriving in a town is like a shock back to reality.