Poplar Lick, Meadow Mountain, and Green Ridge, Maryland

Trail Report:
Poplar Lick, Meadow Mountain,
and Green Ridge, Maryland
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---Poplar Lick, Meadow Mountain, Green Ridge----

Trail Rating: 4WD Easy+ (subject to change during rain or snow)
Inexperienced Driver
Poplar Lick / Meadow Mountain: allow 2-3 hours each. Green Ridge: allow one full day
Scenic Backcountry experience suitable for families and stock SUV's
Forest scenery, streams and rivers, mountains, wildlife, fishing, hiking

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Author and Photographs: Joe Micciche, October 2000

Poplar Lick and Meadow Mountain

The State of Maryland offers offroad vehicle trails in three State Forests in the western part of the state. The area of the Green Ridge and Savage River State Forests we visited October 28 & 29, 2000 is defined by the rugged southern Allegheny Mountains, with dramatic vistas from ridges and mountaintops amid a dense northern hardwood forest, and broken up by numerous rivers and streams. All of the trails are open year-round to 4WD / SUV (no permit required), with winter restrictions from December 15 until March 15 on ATV's and motorcycles (permits required) in favor of snowmobiles.

The Poplar Lick trail abuts and crosses this rocky stream.

The Poplar Lick Trail (Trailhead: 39* 37.15 N, 079* 08.94 W) rides along a stream, with the trail abutting and crossing Poplar Lick in several places. The trail is very easy to follow, with no spurs or loops off the main route, and it's hardpack with very small rocks the entire distance. The trail is relatively flat as it follows the stream and provides little challenge for a stock 4WD.

Trout fishing in Poplar Lick.

All along the trail are primitive camping sites, which can be used by self-registering at the Visitor's Center. Poplar Lick offers trout fishing, and hunting is allowed in the forest.

After a quick bite to eat and some time to stretch, we traveled north up Lower New Germany Road to the Meadow Mountain trail (Trailhead: 39* 39.04 N, 079* 07.42 W). This trail is similar to the Poplar Lick route, but it ascends and descends Meadow Mountain with the trail ending at I-68. Where Poplar Lick offered shallow water crossings - which could be quite interesting during periods of rain or snow - Meadow Mountain was dry and rocky. Here again, the rocks were mostly small protrusions from the hardpack, with no threat of scraping the undercarriage or getting high-centered.


Ed Herman, Chris Delgado, and me at some of the creek crossings.

This area had been logged and also appeared to have some wind damage, as many areas along the trail were a tangled mess of fallen trees. Adjacent to, but off the trail in numerous areas, were significant boulders, which appeared entirely out of place with the surrounding terrain, but made the landscape surreal and lunar. This trail is also very obvious the entire route, again with no spurs to confuse drivers.

The two trails mentioned can easily be run in less than a full day by a stock SUV, and would make a very safe and scenic introduction to offroading for those new to the sport. Each trail is around 6 miles long, and the trailheads are within 2 miles of one another, so access is convenient. There are also many opportunities for fishing, hiking, observing wildlife, and primitive camping along both trails, and the Savage River State Forest is adjacent to New Germany State Park, with even more amenities and activities for family adventures.

Green Ridge

At the base of the powerline hillclimb.

For anyone who's never been offroad or who has a newer truck which they just do not want damaged or even scratched, the Green Ridge trail would be a perfect introduction to offroading.

Green Ridge (Trailhead: 39* 39.03 N 078* 26.66 W) is an undulating 18-mile loop, with numerous intersecting roads on and off state forest property offering additional exploration opportunities. The trail is actually East Valley Road and Stafford Road, and all intersections are clearly marked for easy navigation. The trail ascends and descends numerous hills and mountains, offering some ridgerunning, hairpin turns, and wet bottomlands. The trail itself is pure clay with many smooth small rocks breaking up the surface: during rain or snow, this trail could be quite challenging due to the slippery conditions.

Green Ridge, even under the forest canopy, is quite scenic.

The trail is open enough that you aren't fighting brush at all, but it's not open like a field or throughway. There are numerous switchbacks and protruding trees which require basic caution and attentiveness - there's plenty of space to negotiate, but with all the twists and turns it takes a little time. If it's wet, there's a real possibility the careless could slide into a tree; and street tires would make some of the hills pleasantly challenging.

This scenic overlook of the Potomac River valley is the reward of the trail.

About a quarter of the way in on the East Valley Road (but before Mertens Road) is a fearsome-looking hillclimb up powerlines, which we didn't try due to questions about legality. This hillclimb appears to be about a mile long up a steep grade with plenty of healthy rocks thrown in, but is marked "No ATV's" with barriers such that a 4WD / SUV could not get through. The climax of this trail is found at the intersection of Mertens and Stafford, with an awe-inspiring panorama of the Potomac River valley over 2,000 feet below.

Camping at Rocky Gap State Park.

The Green Ridge Trail is 12 miles east of Rocky Gap State Park at I-68 Exit 64 (15 Mile Creek Road, turn south). The forest is just off the highway, but it's a long ride to the trailhead on an unimproved "road". At the trailhead, drivers have the option of starting off on East Valley to the right, or Stafford to the left: I'd recommend saving Stafford, the overlook, and the quick descent until the end of the day.