Monocacy National Battlefield

Monocacy National Battlefield

Visitor Center: 5201 Urbana Pike, Frederick, MD 21704
GPS Coordinates: 39.377533, -77.397397
(301) 662-3515

• Gambrill Mill Trail (Easy • Blue Blazes • 0.5 miles • Loop). This is by far the most productive birding trail at the battlefield, with over 180 species reported. The trailhead is at the parking area for the Historic Gambrill Mill just off Urbana Pike south of the bridge over the Monocacy River. The first ¼ mile of the Gambrill Mill Trail is a wide, wheelchair-accessible boardwalk that has wet woods on one side and an open meadow with native flowers on the other, before arriving at the confluence of Bush Creek and the Monocacy River. This is a good spot to look for water-associated birds in season, including species such as Baltimore and Orchard Orioles (breeding season), Louisiana and Northern Waterthrushes (migration), and Eastern Warbling Vireo (breeding season). From the end of the boardwalk, the Gambrill Mill trails continues as a grassy track along the streambank of Bush Creek, before turning south to pass through fields on the return to the parking area and the historic Gambrill Mill building. Behind the mill is a small freshwater pond – the old mill pond – that is ringed with vegetation and is another good spot to look for water-associated birds. From near the mill, a paved driveway winds up a slope to the historic stately Gambrill House (no public entry). It’s worth checking the large trees on the lawn near the house as well as the hedgerow behind it for songbirds.
• Dam Ruins Trail (Easy • Red Blazes • 0.3 miles one-way to the dam ruins, and 0.3 miles on a connector trail to the Upper Gambrill Trail • Spur and connector). The Dam Ruins Trail is a spur that breaks off from the Gambrill Mill Trail at the point where it turns south to go through fields. The Dam Ruins Trail continues east and enters wet woods on the south bank of Bush Creek, to end at the ruins of an old dam. Once at the ruins, you have a choice of either retracing your steps to the Gambrill Mill Trail, or taking a connector trail that goes south for about 0.3 miles through the woods to reach the Upper Gambrill Trail.
• Upper Gambrill Trail (Easy • White Blazes • 1.0 mile loop plus two spurs or connectors of 0.3 miles each • Lollipop). The park service uses the term “lollipop” to describe the shape of this trail, but it’s a lollipop with two sticks. One stick is the connector that comes through the woods from the Dam Ruins Trail to intersect the loop part of the Upper Gambrill Trail near its northeast corner; the other stick is a trail that breaks off from the paved driveway to Gambrill House, going uphill across the lawn, passing between the house and a maintenance building; then the trail goes behind the parking area for the house, following a woods edge, to join the loop of the Upper Gambrill Trail near its southwest corner. The loop part of the Upper Gambrill Trail goes around the edge of a big brushy field, hugging the woods that border the field. The Upper Gambrill Trail and its connectors give you a nice assortment of lawn, hedgerow, brushy field, and both upland and riparian woods.

Worthington Farm – four natural surface or gravel trails. See map set for a detailed map of the Worthington Farm Trails.

• Worthington Ford Trail (Easy • Red Blazes • 1.6 miles • Loop). This is a productive birding trail, with over 150 species reported and traversing diverse habitats. The trail starts at the Worthington House and follows an old gravel farm lane that runs along a hedgerow between open cattle pastures and crop fields, leading southwest and downhill toward the Monocacy River. At the river bank, the trail turns north and northeast, following the curve of the river through a forested buffer, and passing the historic Worthington Ford, which was used by Confederate troops during the Battle of Monocacy to outflank the Union Army. The trail returns to Worthington House via another old farm lane. Heads up: Do not enter fields containing cattle, or any other fenced fields.
• High Water Bypass Trail (Easy • White Blazes • 0.5 miles • Loop) This trail cuts diagonally across the loop of the Worthington Ford Trail, allowing avoidance of a low section of the Worthington Ford Trail that may be wet when the Monocacy is running high. The Bypass Trail goes through a narrow strip of trees, making for a birdy, pleasant walk.
• Brooks Hill Trail (Easy • Blue Blazes • 1.9 miles • Loop). The Brooks Hill Trail shares the first part of the Worthington Ford Trail, running along the gravel farm lane from Worthington House. But, the Brooks Hill Trail turns south from the gravel lane to traverse the edge of a field, then enters a woodland and crosses a stream on a wooden footbridge, and then goes uphill to high ground. The trail makes a big U through the woods to return to Worthington House, crossing the little stream again on another wooden bridge. The Brooks Hill Trail is the hilliest trail in Monocacy National Battlefield, with over 200 feet of elevation change, but switchbacks on the hills keep the trail from being steep. The trail provides scenic views of the landscape and is the only trail at the Battlefield that goes through sizable interior forest.  You can also walk the trail in the other direction, starting out heading south from Worthington House.
• Worthington Farm Entrance Lane (Easy • Not blazed • 0.8 miles • Out-and-back). The Worthington Farm entrance lane is not marked as a walking trail, but there’s a handy gravel lot where the Entrance Lane starts, just off Baker Valley Road, thus allowing you to park there and walk to the house and other trails, instead of driving. The Entrance Lane is shaded by trees and goes past the open fields of Baker Farm (private, no entry) to the west. On the east side, a wooded buffer shields the lane from the traffic rushing by on I-270, which runs parallel to the Entrance Lane. Because of the traffic noise, the lane is best walked in early morning, before the traffic picks up. Again, do not enter fields containing cattle.

• Thomas Farm Trail (Easy • Blue Blazes • 1.9 miles • Lollipop). The Thomas Farm Trail starts as a gravel lane that heads northwest from the Thomas Farm parking area just off Baker Valley Road. The lane passes the historic home and its outbuildings, then runs along the south edge of a set of three or four crop fields, separated by a hedgerow up the middle. You can take your pick of three trail sections running along these fields: one goes along the hedgerow, one goes through the middle of the open fields, and one runs through the riparian woods that separate the fields from the Monocacy River. A cross-trail allows you to make a shorter loop, or for a longer walk, you can go all the way to the north end of the fields along Urbana Pike.
• Middle Ford Ferry Loop Trail (Easy • Blue Blazes • 0.5 miles • Loop). The Middle Ford Ferry Loop Trail branches off the Thomas Farm Trail where it nears the Monocacy River, and passes by the site of a historic ford and ferry. This trail, entirely in the riparian woods, provides a pleasant walk along the river, offering good songbird possibilities, especially during spring or fall migration.

• Best Farm Trail (Easy • Blue Blazes • 1.0 miles and 0.9 miles • Double Loop). Best Farm, also known as L’Hermitage, is at the north end of the battlefield, in a quadrant bounded by a developed area to the north, Urbana Pike to the east, a railroad track to the south, and I-270 to the west. The farm house and outbuildings are located near the south end of the farm, adjacent to the railroad tracks, and are reached by a gravel lane that heads southwest from Urbana Pike. The parking area for Best Farm is near the house. The Best Farm Trail is actually a double loop, forming a figure-8 that passes around the edges of the farm’s crop fields. To reach the Best Farm loop trail, walk the farm lane back to a curve in the lane, where a fork to the left marks the beginning of the northern half of the figure-8. Follow the trail clockwise around the field; the third leg of the trail will be along Urbana Pike, and will bring you to the beginning of the entrance road. At that point, you can either take the gravel entrance lane back to the parking area, or you can continue walking straight ahead to take the south half of the figure-8. At the point where the loop trail turns way from Urbana Pike to return to the farmhouse area, there is an underpass that allows you to access the Junction Trail that forms a loop on the other side of the Urbana Pike, near the Visitor Center (see below). The Best Farm double loop trail is an easy walk, on flat ground with almost no elevation change. Mind the groundhog holes and occasional roots along the tree lines.

• Junction Trail (Easy • Red Blazes • 1.01miles • Loop). The Junction Trail gets its name from the historic railroad junction located near the south end of the trail loop. The trailhead for the Junction Trail is at the Visitor Center on the east side of Urbana Pike. This is an easy walk around a lowland crop field. From the Visitor Center, the trail runs south along a woodline bordering a north-south section of the railroad and the Monocacy River. About two-thirds of the way down the leg of the trail along the railroad track, at an opening in the trees, there is a railroad track crossover that allows you to get a view of the field on the other side of the tracks, but there is no maintained trail on that side. Observe extreme caution if standing at the railroad and obey the signal. From the railroad crossing, you can take a dirt track shortcut west across the field to the other side of the Junction Trail loop, or you can continue south along the tree line to the railroad junction, where the north-south rail line joins an east-west rail line at a triangular junction. This point is marked by a bench and a couple of interpretive signs. At the railroad junction, the Junction Trail loops back north and parallels Urbana Pike, to return to the Visitor Center. Also note that at the junction area, there is an underpass under Urbana Pike with a paved foot-trail that provides pedestrian access to the Best Farm Trail on the other side of the road.

Birdlife:

• Monocacy National Battlefield – 120+ species. This pin for this hotspot is at the Visitor Center; it serves as the generic hotspot for the whole property.
• Monocacy National Battlefield–Gambrill Mill Trail – 186+ species
• Monocacy National Battlefield–Thomas Farm Trail – 97+ species
• Monocacy National Battlefield–Brooks Hill Loop Trail – 87+ species
• Monocacy National Battlefield–Ford Loop Trail – 150+ species

• The first part of the Gambrill Mills Trail has a wheelchair accessible boardwalk trail goes through a half-mile of good habitat along the Monocacy River and Bush Creek.
• An auto tour route provided by the National Park Service provides access to much of the park.
• The Visitor Center has accessible restrooms, an elevator, and automatic doors.
• Additional information on accessibility is available on the National Park Service website.

• Monocacy National Battlefield is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
• The battlefield is part of the state-designated Carrollton Manor Rural Legacy Area.
• The Monocacy River has been designated as a Maryland Scenic River. Read the Monocacy Scenic River plan here.

• The Visitor Center includes a bookstore, public restrooms, and an interactive museum with historical and interpretive information and exhibits.
• There are numerous interpretive placards and monuments along trails throughout the battlefield.
• Restrooms are available only at the Visitor Center and the Thomas Farm.
• There are picnic tables at the Visitor Center, Gambrill Mill, Thomas Farm, and the Worthington Farm.
• An auto tour route provided by the National Park Service provides access to most of the battlefield.
• In addition, an audio tour can be downloaded to a smartphone or other device and can be used to accompany the auto tour or when walking.

• An audio tour can be downloaded to a smartphone or other device and can be used to accompany the auto tour or when walking.
• Several virtual tours allow armchair exploration of the grounds and buildings, including the interior of some historic buildings that are closed to visitors.
• The battlefield’s YouTube channel has a few videos on history topics.
• Additional videos are on the YouTube channel of the Monocacy National Battlefield Foundation.

Parking:

Designated parking at all major visitor areas and at some roadside monuments. See map set at link in orange box on this webpage.

• Visitor Center: 5201 Urbana Pike, Frederick, MD 21704. | GPS Coordinates: 39.377533, -77.397397
• Gambrills Mill: Urbana Pike just south of Monocacy River, approx. 4803 Urbana Pike, Frederick, MD 21704 | GPS Coordinates: 39.367108, -77.387471
• Thomas Farm: 4460 Baker Valley Rd, Frederick, MD 21704 | GPS Coordinates: 39.357026, -77.390594
• Worthington Farm (main parking near house): approx. 4280 Baker Valley Rd, Frederick, MD 21704, immediately west of I-270 underpass. | GPS Coordinates: 39.361905, -77.400532
• Best Farm: 5106 Urbana Pike, Frederick, MD 21704 | GPS Coordinates: 39.370517, -77.398791

Directions:

Monocacy National Battlefield is located just south of the City of Frederick in Frederick County, MD. The following directions take you to the Visitor Center at the northeast corner of the battlefield.

From the Baltimore area: From the Baltimore Beltway/I-695, take I-70 westbound toward Frederick. At Exit 54, use the second from the right lane to take the exit toward MD Route 85/Buckeystown Pike. Use the left lane to turn slightly left onto MD-85 south and in just 0.4 miles, at the first intersection, turn left to go south on MD Route 355/Urbana Pike. Go south on Urbana Pike for 1.6 miles to the entrance to the Visitor Center on the left, opposite the entrance to a business park at New Technology Way. If you cross the bridge over the railroad tracks or the Monocacy River, you’ve gone too far.

From the Washington, DC area: From the Capital Beltway/I-495, follow signs for I-270 north. This will be at Exit 35 if traveling west on the Outer Loop or at Exit 38 for the I-270 spur if traveling north on the Inner Loop. Follow I-270 north for about 24 miles toward Frederick. Take exit 26 for MD Route 80/Fingerboard Road west toward Buckeystown. After making the loop at the exit cloverleaf, you will encounter a traffic circle; take the 1st exit to continue onto Route 80. Follow Route 80 northwest for 1.5 miles, then turn right onto right to go north on Park Mills Rd. Follow Park Mills Road north for 1.0 mile and turn left onto MD Route 355/Urbana Pike. Follow Urbana Pike north for 3.0 miles, taking care to bear right at a fork where Araby Church Road goes left. After crossing a bridge over the Monocacy River and then over railroad tracks, the entrance to the Visitor Center will be on the right, opposite the entrance to a business park at New Technology Way. Alternatively, you go directly to the Gambrill Mill area to start your birding, as you will be passing it on your right on the way to the Visitor Center, just before the Monocacy River Bridge.

From Southern MD (Anne Arundel, Prince George’s, Calvert, Charles and St. Mary’s Counties): Go north on MD Route 2/4, or take US Route 50 west, to reach I-495/DC Beltway. Merge onto the Outer Loop of the Beltway heading toward Silver Spring and Bethesda. Then follow directions above from the Washington, DC area.

From the Eastern Shore: Depending on your location, use MD Route 213, US Route 301, and/or US Route 50 to reach the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. After crossing the Bay Bridge, continue west on US 50 to reach I-495/DC Beltway. Merge onto the Outer Loop of the Beltway heading toward Silver Spring and Bethesda. Then follow directions above from the Washington, DC area.

From Western Maryland (Frederick, Washington, Allegany and Garrett Counties): Use I-68 and/or I-70 to reach I-70 on the south side of the City of Frederick, MD. From I-70, use the right lane to take exit 54 to merge onto MD Route 85 south toward Buckeystown, and in just 0.4 miles, at the first intersection, turn left to go south on MD Route 355/Urbana Pike. Go south on Urbana Pike for 1.6 miles to the entrance to the Visitor Center on the left, opposite the entrance to a business park at New Technology Way. If you cross the bridge over the railroad tracks or the Monocacy River, you’ve gone too far.

Nearby Sites:

Frederick County: Audrey Carroll Audubon Sanctuary ■ C&O Canal – Mouth of Monocacy to Brunswick ■ Catoctin Mountain Park ■ Cunningham Falls State Park ■ Fred J. Archibald Audubon Sanctuary ■ Gambrill State Park ■ Lilypons Water Gardens ■ Seymour B. Cooper MOS Sanctuary ■ Sugarloaf Mountain

Habitats:

Bottomland Deciduous ForestsHedgerowsUpland Deciduous Forests FarmyardLawn, Ballfields, Golf Course Agricultural Crop Fields or Fallow FieldsHay Meadows, Pasture, Grass FieldOld Fields, Shrubby Meadows Freshwater Marsh or FloodplainFreshwater Pond, Lake, or ReservoirRivers & Streams

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