Camping at Green Ridge State Forest

A tent in Green Ridge State Forest.

Scott McDaniel

If you want to feel a deeper connection to the land, our history and experience what Maryland may have been like long before our time, visit Green Ridge State Forest in Allegany County, Maryland. It is here that one can experience all that Western Maryland has to offer. Sandwiched in between the mighty Potomac River and the Mason Dixon line, Green Ridge encompasses some incredible 49,000 acres of time-worn mountain ridges and valleys with intertwining creeks, trails, rock outcrops, seemingly endless forest lands and almost one hundred primitive campsites. It is the ability to fully immerse myself in this landscape both day and night that takes it to the next level.

There are many types of camping that depend on experience, comfort level and personal preference – none are right or wrong. But at Green Ridge there are sites both north and south of Interstate 68, offering varying levels of privacy and space. All sites have a fire pit, picnic table and room for at least a couple tents. You cannot make reservations ahead of time, you must sign in and pay for your first-come, first-served choice at the 24/7 check-in kiosk at the Green Ridge Headquarters. It’s fun to try different sites each time and build a list of favorites that you can return to later. The forest service requests that visitors practice the "Leave no Trace" ethic while enjoying a primitive and remote camping experience.

When you wake up to the warm sun trickling through the dense forest surrounding you, you can take pride in boiling a pot of coffee and frying up some breakfast on your camp stove before embarking on a hike down one of the many trails that crisscross the forest. These trails typically follow along one of the pristine, rocky-bottomed creeks that eventually connect with the mighty Potomac River that serves as the southern border for the park. Trails within the park lead to clear mountain ponds, carved out gorges, and shaded bottomlands along the floodplains, where unique rock structures, wildflowers and a vast Appalachian ecosystem still persist. You will rarely find other hikers on smaller trails so you can expect to peacefully meander the forest lowlands framed by steep ridges on both sides. These mountains are part of Appalachian Mountain range that is one of the oldest on Earth.

This is an abridged article originally written by Scott McDaniel.