Civil War: The Battles of South Mountain • Fox's Gap • Turner's Gap • Crampton's Gap • Frostown Gap
Park Info: George Townsend • Gathland • Washington Monument • AT North • AT South
Park Tours: South Mountain State Battlefield Driving Tour • Fox's Gap Walking Trail

Gathland State Park and the Appalachian Trail
Crampton Gap (Gathland State Park) to Weverton

Road Approaches and Parking

To reach Crampton Gap: From US Alt-40, take MD 67 south (from west), or MD 17 south (from east). Then turn onto Gapland Road (MD 572), which leads to a free parking lot in Gathland State Park, at Crampton Gap. Another parking lot at the gap is adjacent to Arnoldstown Road. Distance is 59 miles from Wahington, D.C., and 1.2 miles from the center of Bukittsville.

From US 340, take MD 67 north (from west), or MD 17 north (from east), and see above.

Brownsville Pass Road: On MD 67, park at picnic area beside nameless access road to Brownsville. Overnight parking is not recommended. Hike access road into Brownsville and turn left onto nameless main street of town. Then turn right onto paved road identified by a sign as "Brownsville Pass." This ascends and becomes a dirt road after the last house. Some old blazes are still visible in the woods. Distance from picnic area to Brownsville Gap is about one mile. Distance from Brownsville to Weverton is 4.4 miles.

To reach Weverton: From US 340, take MD 67 north. Then take first right, turning onto nameless road. There is lots of room to park on right, in clearing beside abandoned section of old highway, at curve in road. The AT, going north, parallels the nameless road toward the ridge. Access is at left end of parking area. Distance is 61 miles from Washington, D.C.

From US Alt-40, take MD 67 south. Then take the last left turn, onto nameless road, before reaching the US 340 junction. Then see above.

Points of Interest

Crampton Gap, scene of heavy fighting during the Civil War, has preserved earthwords, a memorial to Civil War newspaper correspondents, a museum, and the ruins of Gathland. At several places along the ridge, rocky knolls exhibit interesting formations, and numerous beech trees exhibit graffiti (some authentic, some doubtful) from the turn of the century. Weverton Cliffs (0.1 mi by side trail, at 5.8/0.9 mi) offers a magnificent view of the Potomac River gorge.

Maps

PATC Map 6 and USGS Keedysville and Harpers Ferry Quadrangles

Camping

Camping and fires are prohibited throughout this section.

Supplies

Water is available only a Crampton Gap, when park facilities are open. Burkittsville as a post office.

Brief Description

The historical interest in Crampton Gap and the view from Weverton Cliffs make this one of the most popular sections of the AT in Maryland. The trail follows both the crest of the narrow ridge and the western rim, with little change in elevation, through a mature forest with excellent footing. North to south is easier because there is a net descent of 500 feet between Crampton Gap and Weverton.

Side Trails

To viewpoint (at 3.2/3.5 mi)
To Weverton Cliffs (at 5.8/0.9 mi)