Last year, Maryland Governor Larry Hogan designated Hancock as the state of Maryland’s Trail Town.
Hancock is located near the halfway point between the Tuscarora Trail’s southern and northern terminuses (where the TT rejoins the Appalachian Trail), is located along the C&O Canal towpath and the Western Maryland Rail Trail.
To celebrate the town’s trail distinction, the Town of Hancock is co-sponsoring self-guided hikes from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on June 5, National Trails Day.
The Potomac Appalachian Trail Club (PATC), which oversees the Tuscarora Trail sections here, and other organizations, will be participating. The primary hike route will be a family-friendly, 3.9-mile stretch (one-way) of the Tuscarora that overlaps the C&O Canal Towpath.
Starting at the municipal parking lot for the Western Maryland Rail Trail, the walk-at-your-own pace route extends to the Little Pool Biker/Hiker Camping Area.
Blue blazes on trees along the C&O Canal in Hancock mark where the Tuscarora Trail overlaps the towpath.
Feel free to shorten or lengthen your hike.
Parking is free and plentiful in the municipal lot bounded by Taney Alley, Canal Road, and Williams Street.
Hancock and PATC volunteers will set up a booth to register and recruit new members/hikers and will advertise for maintenance crews needed for future work on the Tuscarora Trail.
PATC will be offering the choice of a Tuscarora Trail patch or map to the first 50 people who sign up and complete any portion of the hike. Sign up will take place the day of the event at the Hancock Tuscarora Trail Day table.
Those who wish to sign up early can send an email to LandsSupervisor@patc.net with participants’ names. Early sign-ups will still need to confirm their information at the registration table on Saturday, June 5.
Other local events are being organized in conjunction with Trail Days, and will be announced as they are finalized.
