A freshly-carved network of singletrack is quietly rewriting the script for inclusive trail design in Maryland. On July 18, state officials cut the ribbon on the newly expanded Margraff Plantation Trail System, located just outside the town of Accident in Savage River State Forest. Margraff features trails for all skill levels—including Maryland’s very first adaptive mountain bike trail on state forest land.
Six miles of new, progressive singletrack
The new trail development at Margraff Plantation has added six miles of fresh singletrack to the existing trail system and reworked some of the trails, bringing the system up to 10 miles in total. (The entirety of Savage River State Forest is home to 135 miles of trails.) The new additions include a 1.4-mile beginner loop, a 1.4-mile intermediate trail, a 1.2-mile advanced descent, and a 2-mile adaptive-accessible trail designed for hand cycles and three-wheeled rigs.
“The expanded and updated Margraff Plantation Trail System is a new gem in our state’s mountain bike and hiking network,” said Maryland Secretary of Natural Resources Josh Kurtz in a press release from the Maryland DNR. “It represents another step forward in our administration’s work to expand outdoor recreation opportunities throughout the state for everyone.”
While the nearby Deep Creek Lake area features rugged, rocky trails that cater to advanced mountain bikers, Margraff offers a more approachable alternative. The new trail system is designed to offer progression and variety, all in one compact area. Beginners will feel confident tackling the smoother singletrack, yet the layout will keep seasoned riders engaged. The trails should continue to serve riders, even as their skills progress.
Many groups worked closely together to make the new trails a reality
The project was a true collaborative effort, spearheaded by the Maryland Forest Service and including partners like the Maryland Park Service, IMBA Trail Solutions, Appalachian Dirt, and the Office of Outdoor Recreation. Construction was funded by Program Open Space and carried out by a team of eight builders from Appalachian Dirt over a three-month period.
Zachary Adams, owner of Appalachian Dirt, expressed pride in the work, and said that it’s great to have the trails so close to their home base in West Virginia. According to Adams, the feedback on the new trails has been overwhelmingly positive.
Advocacy groups also had a hand in the system’s long-term vision. “This project sets the bar for future trail development,” said Josh Spiker, Director of Garrett Trails, a local nonprofit. Volunteers have logged hundreds of hours maintaining trails in the Margraff Plantation over the years, and they’re especially excited about the new adaptive route. The new trails have been built using the latest modern sustainable trail design techniques, and they should require only light maintenance as the years roll on.
“We have already seen a lot of riders visiting the local businesses in Accident,” said Jeff Simcoe, Executive Director of the Frostburg Outdoor Recreation Economy Institute. “Someone thinking about moving here may choose Accident as a place to live solely based on the fact that the trails are close to home.”
With miles of singletrack running through Maryland’s deep forests and expansive views through breaks in the trees thanks to its 2,800-foot elevation, the Margraff Plantation Trail System promises a backcountry feel with close-to-home convenience.
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