We are hikers, primarily and foremost, the oldest hiking club in Maryland (since 1934) and the premier hiking group in the state. We are a Baltimore-based volunteer organization that is centered on hiking. We support Leave No Trace principles, work on local trails and on the nation's first National Scenic Trail, the Appalachian Trail. We organize and lead hikes and other outdoor activities, such as camping, seasonal canoe trips and backpacking weekends. We offer seasonal canoe trips and backpacking ventures. We have a year-round schedule with hikes in local parks and paths, in State Parks, National Parks, National Forests, and sites in and around Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, New Jersey and Delaware. Members receive a newsletter, Hiker Highpoints, and schedules of hikes, work trips and other events.
Our year-round schedule offers regular (and often, multiple) hikes on Wednesdays and weekends that are led by experienced leaders. The hikes are rated both by length and challenges. You are sure to find one that suits you. In the spring and fall our schedule includes service work trips to maintain and renew trails, and from time to time we present informal workshops to train hike leaders, learn trail maintenance techniques or backpacking skills. River tubing, canoeing and weekend camping are also offered from time to time in various venues. We work hard at having fun!
We offer service. The Mountain Club of Maryland is proudly one of the 30 hiking clubs in America who share responsibility for maintaining sections of the 2,175-mile footpath designated the Appalachian Trail. For over 60 years, our volunteers have cleared storm damage and deadfall from the Trail, worked on repairing trail damaged by ice storms, hurricanes and severe erosion. We have built and maintained four shelters along the AT in Pennsylvania. Our monitoring teams regularly scout the boundaries of the AT corridor, and our AT trail maintainers check on the trail conditions.
We are active partners with the Appalachian Trail Conservancy and the National Park Service that jointly oversee our nation's first National Scenic Trail.
Come join us!!!
You'll have fun, learn a lot and make new friends. And it costs a lot less than the gym or a personal trainer.