A new biking adventure awaits you
With its unique geography, Frederick County, Md. is a great destination for cycling, with a wealth of opportunities to suit all skill levels. There’s something for everyone, regardless if you’d prefer a leisurely ride on the C&O Canal Towpath, a more challenging trek through the rolling terrain of northern and western Frederick County, a thrilling mountain bike adventure speeding down a trail at Gambrill State Park or an easy jaunt through Baker Park in downtown Frederick.Start your cycling journey at Frederick Visitor Center, where you can watch a short orientation film and explore exhibits on the history of Frederick County, and discover things to see and do while visiting. Visitor Center hosts can suggest must-see sites based on your interests. You’ll also find numerous maps and brochures, including the Frederick History Bicycle Loop and Heritage Bicycle Tours brochures.
The Frederick History Bicycle Loop is a 10-mile loop through the city of Frederick, named a “Bicycle Friendly Community” by the League of American Bicyclists, with stops at 22 sites. Most of the sites have ties to Frederick’s rich history, from Schifferstadt Architectural Museum to the Hessian Barracks to the Francis Scott Key Memorial and Civil War sites. The loop takes at least two hours to complete, or can be spread out over a day of exploration through Frederick’s 50-block historic district.The Frederick County Heritage Bicycle Tours brochure outlines five distinctly different tour routes throughout the county, each offering unique experiences. The city of Frederick Campaign Ride travels through the highlights of Frederick’s rich Civil War history. For a more challenging ride, the Transportation Heritage Trail journeys along mostly flat terrain with rolling portions that take cyclists along the C&O Canal and through historic sites and towns.On the North County Bridge Sampler, riders venture along scenic roads to explore bridges of various design and construction, including iron and steel truss bridges and fully operational historic covered bridges. The Catoctin Mountain Challenge tour traverses Catoctin Mountain, taking bikers through a myriad of parklands with optional rural gravel roadways and off-road trails that branch off the main route. The most difficult tour outlined in the brochure—“Spirits of Burkittsville”—explores the town made famous by the movie “The Blair Witch Project.” Cyclists learn about South Mountain Battlefield, whiskey distillery heritage and Gathland State Park.Experienced mountain bikers can enjoy the thrill of the ride on 16 miles of trails at Gambrill State Park. Many of the trails are looped and are ideal for practicing technical biking, but aren’t highly suggested for novice riders.
Every August, Frederick hosts the Tour de Frederick, a premier three-day cycling weekend throughout the county with rides of various lengths and levels of difficulty. The tour includes a Friday history ride, an 8-mile family ride, and 35, 62, and 100-mile routes on Saturday, as well as a 35-mile covered bridge ride on Sunday.During the Tour de Frederick, Frederick celebrates its history and love of bicycles with the Clustered Spires High Wheel Race, the only one of its kind in America. A high wheel bicycle, also known as a penny farthing, has a small rear wheel and a large front wheel pivoting on a simple tubular frame with rubber tires. The seat is positioned nine feet off the ground with only one gear and no brakes. Think of it as an extreme sport of the past.
The Saturday afternoon race begins in front of Brewer’s Alley and features riders in vintage clothing. This one-hour, multi-lap race loops along a 0.4-mile route through downtown Frederick and always draws a crowd.Every September, bikers look forward to Frederick’s Gran Fondo National Championship Series, which is part personal challenge and part serious competition. Known as the hardest road racing series in the nation, but also the most fun, rides are 30, 60, and 100 miles long. Riders with the fastest combined time earn a National Championship jersey. The Frederick ride offers some of the longest timed sections and most challenging terrain of any Gran Fondo.
Come to Frederick County and let history and beautiful scenic landscapes surround you as you explore the county on two wheels. You’ll see why it’s a premier cycling destination.
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