Out and Back I-70 Footbridge to Ensign Cowall Shelter (18miles)

Matt and I decided this route would help us gauge our fitness levels as it is just under 20 miles and therefore as if doing half the Maryland Challenge. Since the route we are taking will be Southbound, I will start with us reaching Ensign Cowall Shelter and hiking towards the I-70 Footbridge. Which is good, as we had just descended down to Wolfsville Rd, sadly realizing we would be climbing up that same hill. Ensign Cowall shelter lies 10 miles from the border of Pennsylvania along the Appalachian Trail. At this point of our journey we will be a quarter of the way done, and about to ascend up South Mountain to the Annapolis Rocks. The shelter is right along Wolfsville Rd and has all the comforts of trail hiking – an outhouse, a spring, campsites, and a nice lean to. We rested here for a brief period before beginning our climb back up the mountain.


In front of the Ensign Cowall Shelter

There is a 300-foot elevation change from the shelter to the South Mountain ridgeline, although not difficult this portion of the trail is very rocky, and your progress is slowed trying to navigate through the rocks. The next three miles were typical ridgeline hiking with a few small ups and downs but nothing significant. Finally, after hiking the ridgeline for 6 miles we made it to Annapolis Rocks.


Matt traveling some of the rocky parts of the trail

Annapolis Rocks is Maryland’s premier spot along the Appalachian Trail, and is visited frequently from hikers and rock climbers. The hike from the US-40 parking lot to Annapolis Rock is about 2 miles, which makes a good hike for the average day hiker who has spent the winter indoors. This was the case today, as there were 20-30 people along the rocks. The rocks themselves are steep cliffs, which face west towards Hagerstown. The view today was nice. Our thoughts were we would not be stopping when we hike past the rocks on our Maryland Challenge, therefore now was the time to take in the views.


View from Annapolis Rocks

After the Annapolis Rocks, the trail flattens out again. The portion of the trail from Annapolis Rock to the I-70 footbridge is well traveled, and there are few if any rocks on this portion. The trail itself widens out and becomes almost a highway going through South Mountain.