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Short Hill Loop Hike

Greenbrier State Park, just off I270, is another of Marylands wonderful recreation areas, with everything from picnicking, camping, watersports, hiking, and much more. The hiking is on the easy side, with a multitude of interconnecting trails. The hike we have here follows the 4.7 mile Big Red Trail circuit.

Navigating the the labyrinth of trails at the park is made easy with excellent intersection singe. For this hike all you have to do is stay on the Big Red Trail.

From the parking area, walk along the raised burn on the edge of Greenbrier Lake to the treeline where a Information Kiosk marks the beginning of the Big Red Trail.

Enter the forest as the big Red Trail gradually climbs over the first small hill and passes the green blazed Copperhead Trail. Follow the trail to the left where it makes a switchback at the intersection of blue blazed Rock Oak Fire Trail, then continue for a short distance to a four way intersection.

Turn left at the intersection remaining on the Big Red Trail as it passes thought the quieter western section of Greenbrier State Park. You will pass two more intersections before the Big Red Trail makes a sharp right uphill for the steepest section of the loop.

There is another intersection that leads to a parking area at the top of Short Hill. Remain left on the Big Red Trail as it follow the ridge of Short Hill and passes the Snelling Fire Trail on the left, and shortly thereafter passing the opposite end of the blue blazed Rock Oak Fire Trail.

The Big Red Trail will make a gradual ascent, before descending and passing the orange blazed Camp Loop Trail, that as the name implies, goes to the camping area.

Arrive back at Greenbrier Lake and stay left as the trail passes over the dam before making its way back around to the start of the loop and Information Kiosk. Cross back over the burn returning to the parking area.

Explore 26 trails near Boonsboro, MD

Know Before You Go

  • The Short Hill Loop Hike is a 5-mile trail located in Greenbrier State Park near Boonsboro, MD, offering an easy to moderate hiking experience.
  • The hike primarily follows the Big Red Trail, which is well-marked and easy to navigate due to excellent signage at trail intersections.
  • The loop offers varied terrain, including lakeside paths, forest trails, and a short, steep climb up Short Hill, providing a diverse hiking experience within Greenbrier State Park.
Interactive topographic map for Short Hill Loop Hike located in Boonsboro, MD. Click the "View Map" button to load GPS coordinates and trail markers.
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Distance
5.0 mi
Difficulty
Moderate
Type
Loop
Est. Time
2.5 hrs
Elev. Gain
714'
Rating
3.0
Added
March 20, 2025
Updated
April 06, 2025

Weather Forecast

Tonight
Low 25°F
Chance Light Rain
Thursday
High 29°F
Mostly Sunny
Thursday Night
Low 18°F
Partly Cloudy
Friday
High 36°F
Partly Sunny
Friday Night
Low 28°F
Mostly Cloudy
Saturday
High 44°F
Chance Rain And Snow Showers
Saturday Night
Low 22°F
Slight Chance Rain And Snow
Sunday
High 30°F
Slight Chance Light Snow
Sunday Night
Low 15°F
Partly Cloudy
M.L. King Jr. Day
High 32°F
Mostly Sunny
Monday Night
Low 12°F
Partly Cloudy
Tuesday
High 26°F
Mostly Sunny
Tuesday Night
Low 12°F
Mostly Clear
Wednesday
High 33°F
Mostly Sunny
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Total Change
529'
Ascent
714'
Descent
713'
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Download the GPX Data for Offline Use

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Download Short Hill Loop Hike GPX Data to the MyHikes Mobile App

Features

Vista / Lookout Point
Dogs
Mountain Summit
Water Source

Points of interest

  1. Parking

    39.540493, -77.616024
  2. Main Trailhead

    39.540621, -77.615619

Safety information

For your own safety: plan ahead, let someone know where you'll be, and hike at your own risk.

Hazards

Snakes (Rattlesnakes, Copperheads, others)
Poison Ivy or Poison Oak

Availability

All seasons

Surface type

Dirt

Trip Reports (Reviews)

Rated 3.0 out of 5 based on 2 ratings.

Ready to help fellow hikers? Add a trip report to share your experience and provide valuable insights for other hikers!

By: westmdlady
5.0 miles / 8.0 km
February 01, 2018
Greenbrier trails offer many options for difficulty and length of time so I'm able to choose a new circuit each time I go depending on how much time I have. Personally I like the red circuit--it's quiet and offers the peace I prefer to reflect and get a workout.
Legacy Review
By: DisforDaniel
5.0 miles / 8.0 km
November 25, 2017
This hike was not very challenging and overall boring. The big red trail borders a hunting area, had we known there were going to be hunters in the area, we may have not gone on this hike. There were various areas strewn with trash and camping remnants, possibly from hunters. We only saw a few people total during this hike, but that may be due to the late date in the season. I would not rate this hike as a level 3 difficulty, it's probably closer to 1. There are no good views during this hike. Annapolis rock, just down the road is a much better, but also much busier hike. The lake is pleasant to see at the end of the hike. Parking is ample because it is a state park, but requires a $3 admission fee per vehicle.
Legacy Review
No community routes found. To add your own hike as a Community Route for this Trail guide, leave a Trip Report with an attached GPX file.

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