Walking & Hiking

Overview

The City of Hagerstown promotes walking as a healthy lifestyle and a mode of transportation and recreation in Hagerstown. The City is committed to improving and sustaining “walkability” and pedestrian safety through comprehensive programs, plans and policies. We continue to develop walking paths and require sidewalk construction to create a multi-modal transportation system.

The American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) shows that, now more than ever, people living in cities are stepping up their walking regimes. That's good news since, on average, every minute of walking can extend your life on average by about two minutes.

walking

The City of Hagerstown encourages those who live and work in the City to use their feet as a low polluting, cost-effective, and healthy way to travel. Over 90% of streets in Hagerstown have sidewalks on both sides, resulting in over 150 miles of sidewalks in the City. The City has an active sidewalk inspection program which inspects sidewalk conditions on a repeating cycle.

Multi-Use Paths and Trails

One of the most enjoyable places to walk in the City is on the multi-use paths in the City’s beautiful parks. Parks that have designated path systems and provide outstanding walking environments include the following: 

“Hagerstown Walks” Route Map 

The Third Edition of the “Hagerstown Walks” Map is now available. You can click here to download the map, or obtain printed copies from the Parks & Recreation Division. This map allows the user to find over 85 points of interest and more than 50 self-interpretive plaques throughout the City that highlight historic points of interest! The tours will take you over sidewalks and multi-use paths. 

The map provides five walking tours of the City, all beginning and ending at the Public Square in City center. The tours include:

  • North End Walk (3.7 miles)
  • Jonathan Street Neighborhood Walk (2.4 miles)
  • City Park Walk (2.4 miles)
  • West End Walk (3.3 miles)
  • National Pike Walk (1.9 miles)

Maryland Bicycle & Pedestrian Master Plan

January 2019, the Maryland Department of Transportation updated and published the "2040 Maryland Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan", which establishes a long range vision to support bicycling and walking as modes of transportation for Maryland residents. The goal of the plan is to provide guidance to promote bicycling and walking as elements of the State's multi-modal transportation network. The plan and its appendices can be accessed through the link above.

Maryland Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan


Sidewalks 

Well maintained sidewalks are an important element of a safe and livable neighborhood. The City of Hagerstown’s annual Curb and Sidewalk Repair Program for the upcoming construction season includes sending replacement notices to adjoining property owners. The goal for this program is to repair and/or replace deteriorated or deficient curb and sidewalk conditions throughout the City of Hagerstown, in conjunction with the City’s annual Street Pavement Preservation Program.

Another great resource for walkers interested in enjoying the benefits of nature and movement, is the following site provided by Washington County Health Department: washcopathfinder.com