close
      The Watershed is a treasured jewel to area mountain bikers. It has has fantastic riding opportunities but like Gambrill the trails are rocky and technical. Due to advanced terrain and unmarked, the Watershed is a poor choice for beginners.
      Primary Trail Type: Cross-Country
      Shuttleable: YES
      Land Status: State Park
      Land Manager: MD DNR
      Parking google parking directions

      Trail info last updated

      Activities Click to view
      Region Details
      • 13
      • 8
      • 42
      • 14
      • 6

      Region Status
      Caution as of Sep 5, 2026
      Local Trail Association

      Stats

      Avg Trail Rating
      Trails (view details)
      85
      Trails Mountain Bike
      83
      Trails E-Bike
      2
      Trails Gravel Bike
      14
      Trails Adaptive Bike
      12
      Trails Winter Fat Bike
      12
      Trails Horse
      4
      Trails Hike
      75
      Trails Trail Running
      75
      Trails Dirtbike/Moto
      2
      Total Distance
      91 miles
      Total Descent
      19,561 ft
      Total Vertical
      1,248 ft
      Highest Trailhead
      1,839 ft
      Reports
      1,505
      Photos
      213
      Completed Counter
      29,745

      Articles

      Race Report: The Rain Soaked 2026 Shed Enduro
      Aug 7, 2026 from pinkbike.com
      Seven stages and roughly 5,200 feet of descending at Maryland’s Frederick Watershed and Gambrill State Park.
      Race Report: 2019 Sheduro Race Report - Frederick Watershed, Maryland
      Aug 22, 2019 from pinkbike.com
      One of the rockiest trail systems on the East Coast had record attendance during the 2019 Bike Doctor Sheduro

      Popular Frederick Watershed Mountain Biking Trails

      11
      Three Saws
      • 100 ★ 4.9 • 2 miles • 681 ft • 1,428 •
      Machine built, bike focused, multi-use trail. Bi-directional, Opened for use in Oct. 2019. Part of a Recreation Trails Program grant project. Climbing access from the bottom of the mountain to more gravity focused trails.
      Huggy Bear
      • 100 ★ 3.8 • 2,028 ft • 51 ft • 1,291 •
      Popular blue difficulty singletrack. This mountain bike primary trail can be used uphill primary. On average it takes 4 minutes to complete this trail.
      8
      Boundary Line
      • 100 ★ 4.7 • 1 mile • 0 ft • 1,246 •
      Machine built flow trail with multiple berms, gaps and tables. Part of a Recreation Trails Program grant project. Closed when conditions are soft or wet.
      3
      Knucklebuster
      • 95 ★ 4.2 • 1 mile • 121 ft • 919 •
      Used to be a more difficult trail before someone cut down some of the trees in the tightest sections (curse you, tree cutter). Not to be confused with 2. Some technical sections and fun rock features. Overall a fun trail and good...
      11
      Lawnmower
      • 100 ★ 4.5 • 4,816 ft • 78 ft • 847 •
      Highly rated popular blue difficulty singletrack. This mountain bike primary trail can be used downhill primary and has a moderate overall physical rating with a 78 ft green climb. It features berm and drop. On average it takes 7 minutes to complete this trail.
      4
      Rocky-Stream Bed Trail
      • 100 ★ 3.4 • 3,018 ft • 0 ft • 791 •
      Not much to say, loose and jenky chunky rocks -- pick your line and speed and blast into a creek ending...if i's hot, jump in.
      Blue Balls
      • 95 ★ 4.1 • 5,036 ft • 100 ft • 783 •
      Highly rated popular blue difficulty singletrack. This mountain bike primary trail can be used both directions and has a moderate overall physical rating with a 100 ft blue climb. On average it takes 12 minutes to complete this trail.
      3
      Killer Bee
      • 95 ★ 4.5 • 2,005 ft • 5 ft • 747 •
      Trail connecting Gambrill Park Road parking lot to the . It is technically easy with a few optional features and minimal elevation change.

      Recent Ride Log Activity in Region

      Today
      • 0 rides
      Yesterday
      • 16 rides
      Past Week
      • 60 rides

      Frederick Watershed Mountain Bike Routes

      23
      The Shed, A Moderate Length Difficult Loop
      ★ 5.0 • 6 miles • 933 ft • 5 • Loop •
      This is a loop that will challenge your descending skills on Drops and , and then challenge your cardio...
      22
      S3 Updated Option 2
      7 miles • 1,089 ft • 4 •
      Meet at Hamburg top lot. Still Shed newbie-friendly, but chunkier & rowdier. Must have bike handling...
      4
      S3 Option 1 - Women+ ONLY - Trail Fairy Starter Ride - Shed Newbie Sampler
      7 miles • 790 ft • 7 •
      Start: Hamburg Top Lot • 7 miles • 755 ft, Most Casual, must have basic bike handling skills and some...
      22
      S3 Option 2 - Women+ ONLY - Trail Fairy Step-Up
      9 miles • 1,470 ft • 6 •
      Meet at Hamburg top lot. Still Shed newbie-friendly, but chunkier & rowdier. Must have bike handling...
      3
      Short Loop from Hamburg Rd
      ★ 3.0 • 5 miles • 550 ft • 1 • Loop •
      Short loop that starts at the Hamburg Rd lot. Includes sections of the Blue trail, Huggy Bear,...
      62
      Blue Watershred
      ★ 5.0 • 11 miles • 1,502 ft • 36 • Loop •
      The blue zones. Hamburg lot to Volkswagon, Knucklebuster, Monarch, Huggy Bear, Lawnmower, Three Saws, and...

      Photos of Frederick Watershed Mountain Bike

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      143 |
      Aug 6, 2026 @ 12:29pm
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      Aug 6, 2026 @ 12:29pm
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      119 |
      Aug 6, 2026 @ 12:29pm
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      100 |
      Aug 6, 2026 @ 12:30pm
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      147 |
      Aug 6, 2026 @ 12:31pm
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      79 |
      Aug 6, 2026 @ 12:31pm
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      34 |
      May 16, 2026 @ 3:17pm
      May 16, 2026
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      47 |
      Mar 24, 2026 @ 7:08pm
      Mar 24, 2026
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      36 |
      Mar 24, 2026 @ 11:56am
      Mar 24, 2026
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      58 |
      Mar 24, 2026 @ 11:29am
      Mar 24, 2026
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      82 |
      Mar 7, 2026 @ 5:04pm
      Mar 7, 2026
      mtb
      75 |
      Sep 25, 2025 @ 7:03pm
      Sep 25, 2025

      Videos of Frederick Watershed Mountain Bike

      Dr Shred
      mtb
      0:07 | 160 | Aug 30, 2024
      Watershed run on the way home
      mtb
      trail: Kubla Khan
      0:10 | 291 | Mar 23, 2024
      girlfriends silence was deafening
      mtb
      trail: Lawnmower
      0:05 | 227 | Jul 17, 2023
      Evo Drop - Friday Fail
      mtb
      trail: Evolution
      0:08 | 497 | May 6, 2023
      Drop send to fail
      mtb
      trail: Kubla Khan
      0:09 | 489 | Aug 8, 2021
      catovid
      mtb
      5:04 | 476 | Sep 9, 2020
      wrong turns and loamy turns
      mtb
      trail: Fun House
      4:00 | 526 | Sep 9, 2020
      crashing uphill
      mtb
      trail: Three Saws
      0:33 | 77 | Sep 9, 2020

      Recent Trail Reports

      statustraildateconditioninfouser
      Rocky-Stream Bed Trail
      Sep 5, 2026 @ 9:44am (America/New_York)
      Sep 5, 2026
      		 Idealdl-nordeng
      Three Saws
      Sep 5, 2026 @ 9:44am (America/New_York)
      Sep 5, 2026
      		 Idealdl-nordeng
      Catoctin Trail
      Aug 9, 2026 @ 6:56pm (America/New_York)
      Aug 9, 2026
      		 IdealTrail closed due to property ownership...ruhroh
      Stoner Road
      Jul 4, 2026 @ 12:03pm (America/New_York)
      Jul 4, 2026
      		 DryE-Bike TimWhittemore
      Albatross
      Jul 4, 2026 @ 12:03pm (America/New_York)
      Jul 4, 2026
      		 DryE-Bike TimWhittemore
      Green Stones
      Jul 4, 2026 @ 12:03pm (America/New_York)
      Jul 4, 2026
      		 DryE-Bike TimWhittemore
      Volkswagon
      Jul 4, 2026 @ 12:03pm (America/New_York)
      Jul 4, 2026
      		 DryE-Bike TimWhittemore
      Yellow Access Trail
      Jul 4, 2026 @ 12:03pm (America/New_York)
      Jul 4, 2026
      		 DryE-Bike TimWhittemore
      Power Line Trail
      Jul 4, 2026 @ 12:03pm (America/New_York)
      Jul 4, 2026
      		 DryE-Bike Needs a serious corridor trim. Hard to...TimWhittemore
      Huggy Bear
      Jul 4, 2026 @ 12:03pm (America/New_York)
      Jul 4, 2026
      		 DryE-Bike TimWhittemore

      Activity Feed

      usernameactiontypetitledate
      dl-nordengaddreportactivity #103336610 and 1 more
      Sep 8, 2026 @ 6:04am
      3 hours
      rhaddad87wishlistregionactivity #103248260
      Sep 7, 2026 @ 3:22am
      1 day
      FrankkBelkswishlisttrailactivity #103093713 and 2 more
      Sep 5, 2026 @ 7:44am
      Sep 5, 2026
      ajphillips686votetrailactivity #103053965
      Sep 4, 2026 @ 4:19pm
      Sep 4, 2026
      kmallen111wishlistrouteactivity #102935341
      Sep 2, 2026 @ 7:22pm
      Sep 2, 2026

      Recent Comments

      usernametypetitlecommentdate
      NoahTortillatrailPLSteepest trail in the shed
      Aug 24, 2026 @ 6:44pm
      Aug 24, 2026
      JacekvFBNbmreportGreen StonesN 😳😘
      Aug 8, 2026 @ 7:42am
      Aug 8, 2026
      butjeffsaysreportKubla Khanmy phone decided to upload this 3 days later....
      Jun 22, 2026 @ 7:13am
      Jun 22, 2026
      matyktrailCatoctin TrailWhat's with all the branches piled up on the...
      Oct 4, 2025 @ 4:35pm
      Oct 4, 2025
      gemkantrailSalamander TrailTried several trails. All of them just...
      Sep 25, 2025 @ 10:58am
      Sep 25, 2025

      Nearby Areas

      namedistance
      Gambrill State Park 6 8 33.5 km
      Cunningham Falls State Park7.4 km
      Greenbrier State Park 4 8 27.6 km
      Emmitsburg Watershed Trail System 2 4 113.7 km
      River's Edge Trails 12 3 515.5 km

      Local Badges


      Activity Type Stats

      activitytypetrailsdistancedescentdescent distancetotal verticalratingglobal rankstate rankphotosreportsroutesactivity logs
      Mountain Bike8378 miles17,385 ft41 miles1,161 ft
      		#354#1252061,5054927,422
      E-Bike22,425 ft128 ft1,194 ft282 ft
      		#5,741#1,6211,17531,689
      Gravel Bike1419 miles1,486 ft6 miles1,066 ft
      		#440#22010891
      Adaptive Bike1217 miles1,526 ft6 miles1,066 ft
      		#439#220127
      Winter Fat Bike1222 miles4,685 ft12 miles1,010 ft
      		#440#220436
      Horse423 miles2,749 ft10 miles1,161 ft
      		#964#5072214
      Hike7584 miles14,377 ft41 miles1,250 ft
      		#408#21671,3942990
      Trail Running7584 miles14,377 ft41 miles1,250 ft
      		#1,826#4241,39410346
      Dirtbike/Moto210 miles640 ft3 miles984 ft
      		2217

      Frequently Asked Questions About Frederick Watershed

      ▼ What are the highest rated mountain biking trails in Frederick Watershed?
      The highest rated mountain biking trails in Frederick Watershed are: View all mountain biking trails sorted by rating.
      ▼ What is the best time of the year to ride in Frederick Watershed?
      Based on activity log data, the most popular months to ride in Frederick Watershed are:
      • August (361 activities)
      • July (327 activities)
      • June (281 activities)
      Check the Frederick Watershed reports page for current trail conditions, recent trail reports, and seasonal information from the local community.
      ▼ Where can I park to ride in Frederick Watershed?
      There are 11 parking locations listed in Frederick Watershed. The most popular parking spots are: View all parking and trailhead locations on the map to plan your visit.
      ▼ What is the longest trail in Frederick Watershed?
      The longest trail in Frederick Watershed is Catoctin Trail at 12.3 miles. View all trails sorted by distance.
      • By Dcp584TF Pro & contributors
      • Admins: MORE-FWS, MORE-FC
      • #9607 - 110,583 views

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