Brunswick City Parks
While you’re visiting downtown Brunswick, check out the public park spaces managed by the City that have lots of spots for recreation and community gathering. Find a quiet place to sit and enjoy the local scenery, meet other dog owners at the Dog Park, catch a friendly game of pickleball, tennis, or putt-putt, or have a picnic and a kids’ day out at one of the many playgrounds.
Appalachian Trail
Brunswick is 3.2 miles from the Appalachian Trail (A.T.) access point at Weverton, MD, which is mostly flat terrain. ​At Weverton, you can head south on the final three miles of the Maryland A.T. that follow the historic Chesapeake & Ohio Canal Towpath along the Potomac River to Harpers Ferry, WV (the flattest three miles of the entire A.T.) Or, head north and start your journey toward sites like the original Washington Monument and the only War Correspondents Memorial in the United States.
C&O Canal Towpath
The Towpath intersects with the heart of Brunswick at Mile Marker 55. With ample free parking in the adjoining MARC commuter lot and many food, drink & lodging options, Brunswick is the perfect starting point or rest stop for hikers, bicyclists, birdwatchers, and paddlers enjoying this natural corridor. Explore more connected trails and paths along the Towpath, including the Capital Crescent Trail, the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail, the Appalachian Trail, the Western Maryland Rail Trail, the trail system in Green Ridge State Forest, and the Great Allegheny Passage that connects Cumberland, MD to Pittsburgh, PA.
Antietam National Park
Learn, hike, and explore the site of the bloodiest single-day battle in American history. On September 17, 1862, 23,000 soldiers were killed, wounded, or missing after twelve hours of savage combat, which ended the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia's first invasion into the North and led to Abraham Lincoln issuing the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation. Key places to visit include the visitor center, Dunker Church, and the National Cemetery, with the Pry House Field Hospital also open during the summer and on spring and fall weekends. The park library is available for research by appointment, and visitors are encouraged to check the calendar for special programs offered throughout the year.
Harpers Ferry National Park
Harpers Ferry is where the Shenandoah and Potomac rivers meet on the ancestral land of the Tuscarora and Shawnee people. Here you can dive into history, including the famous John Brown Raid against slavery, and the struggle for freedom, education, and civil rights at Storer College. The area also offers miles of trails in the Blue Ridge and along Civil War battlefields, where you can enjoy recreation, historical inquiry, a quiet river stroll, or a guided ranger program.
