RT Hoye-Crest

Ridge-top clearing marked by a sign, picnic area, and small viewpoint designating the highest elevation in Maryland.

General Information

Length:

2.1–2.3 miles roundtrip

Elevation Gain:

650–700 feet

Difficulty

Moderate

Hours:

Open daily, sunrise to sunset

Fees:

Free

Pet Policy:

Dogs are allowed but must be kept on a leash

Closest cities with hotels:

Oakland, MD (about 10 miles)

Seasons:

Spring through fall (accessible year-round with caution in winter)

Location:

US-219 near Silver Lake, WV / Backbone Mountain Trailhead

Website:

wikipedia.org

How to Get There

From Oakland, MD (10 mi): Take US-219 south into West Virginia, continue past Silver Lake for about one mile, and park at the roadside pull-off marked for the Maryland High Point Trail where a short uphill hike leads to the summit.

Overview

Hoye-Crest on Backbone Mountain is the highest natural point in Maryland at 3,360 feet, reached by a moderately steep hike on an old logging road through hardwood forest to a quiet clearing at the summit. The trail begins in neighboring West Virginia and crosses the state line near the top. A marker from the 1950s honors local historian Captain Charles E. Hoye.

This article uses material from the Wikipedia articles and official tourism pages for the Hoye-Crest, which are released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0.