Sec. 08.01.03.11. Designated Trails

A. The following areas are designated ORV trails.

B. Garrett State Forest in Garrett County.

(1) The trails listed in this regulation may only be used in accordance with this regulation.

(2) Piney Mountain Trail (Map Number 1)

(a) The Piney Mountain Trail beginning at the Sang Run-Cranesville Road and ending at the intersection of the Piney Mountain Road and the unnamed dirt road may be used by:

(i) Snowmobiles from December 15 through April 15, except during deer firearms season; and

(ii) Two-wheel and four-wheel vehicles year-round and during the deer firearms season.

(b) The western half of the loop may be used by snowmobiles only, and may not be used by any motorized wheeled vehicle.

(3) Snaggy Mountain Trail (Map Number 2).

(a) That portion of Snaggy Mountain Trail beginning at Cranesville Road and running south along Snaggy Mountain Road/Hutton-Switch Road to the bridge at the head of Herrington Lake may be used by:

(i) Snowmobiles from December 15 through April 15, except during deer firearm season; and

(ii) Two-wheel and four-wheel vehicles year-round and during the deer firearms season.

(b) That portion of Snaggy Mountain Trail forming the eastern side of the northern loop beginning and ending at the points where the loop leaves the part of the trail running along Snaggy Mountain Road/Hutton-Switch Road, the southern portion of the trail beginning at the bridge at the head of Herrington Lake to the trail’s end, and the trail connecting at midway the northern loop to the southern portion of the trail may only be used by snowmobiles and may not be used by any motorized wheeled vehicle.

C. Potomac State Forest in Garrett County.

(1) The trails described in this section may only be used in accordance with this regulation.

(2) Wallman/Laurel Run Trail (Map Number 3).

(a) The northern portion of Wallman/Laurel Run Trail beginning at the western boundary of the forest at Rileys Spring Branch and running eastward toward the Potomac River along Laurel Run to the parking lot at the end of the road may be used by:

(i) Snowmobiles from December 15 through April 15, except during the deer firearms season; and

(ii) Two-wheel and four-wheel vehicles year-round and during the deer firearms season.

(b) The eastern portion of the Wallman/Laurel Run Trail beginning at the western boundary of the forest at Rileys Spring Branch and running southward along Wallman Road to the parking lot at the end of the Wallman Road may be used by:

(i) Snowmobiles from December 15 through April 15, except during the firearms season; and

(ii) Two-wheel and four-wheel vehicles year-round and during the deer firearms season.

(c) The western portion of the Wallman/Laurel Run Trail beginning where it leaves the eastern portion of the trail near the dirt access road identified as the Loop Road Snowmobile Trail, and running south on and along the access road to the point where the trail ends when it intersects with the southern portion of the trail described in §C(2)(d) of this regulation and the center trail connecting the western and eastern portions which follow the access road may:

(i) Be used only by snowmobiles from December 15 through April 15, except during the deer firearms season; and

(ii) Not be used by any ORVs for the remainder of the year.

(d) The southern portion of the Wallman/Laurel Run Trail beginning where it intersects with the western portion of the trail at the Loop Road Snowmobile Trail and running southward to its intersection with the eastern portion may be used only by snowmobiles, and may not be used by any motorized wheeled vehicle.

(3) Backbone Mountain Trail (Map Number 4).

(a) That portion of Backbone Mountain Trail beginning near the intersection of Maryland Route 135 and Maryland Route 38 and running northeast to the Juvenile Services Boy’s Camp may only be used by snowmobiles, and may not be used by any wheeled vehicle excepting that portion of the trail that runs along the CCC Camp Road, which is open to two-wheel and four-wheel vehicles year-round and during the deer firearms season.

(b) That portion of Backbone Mountain Trail beginning near the intersection of Swanton Hill Road and Maryland Route 135 and running northeast along the Burkholder Trail to the Juvenile Services Boy’s Camp may be used by:

(i) Snowmobiles from December 15 through April 15, except during deer firearms season; and

(ii) Two-wheel and four-wheel vehicles year-round and during the deer firearms season.

D. Savage River State Forest in Garrett County.

(1) The trails described in this section may only be used by the ORVs indicated.

(2) Meadow Mountain Trail (Maps Number 7, 8, 9, and 10).

(a) The northern portion of Meadow Mountain Trail beginning at and running along East Shale Road (approximately 1/4 mile south of US Route 68) southward to the point where it intersects New Germany Road may only be used by:

(i) Snowmobiles from December 15 through April 15, except during the deer firearms season; and

(ii) Two-wheel and four-wheel vehicles during the remainder of the year and during the deer firearms season.

(b) The portion of Meadow Mountain Trail beginning on the southwest side of New Germany Road and running south to Frank Brenneman Road may only be used by snowmobiles, and may not be used by a motorized wheeled vehicle.

(c) The southern portion of Meadow Mountain Trail beginning at the intersection of the Thayerville fire tower road and the State park road and running in a northeasterly direction and ending on Compartment 77 may be used by snowmobiles, and may not be used by a motorized wheeled vehicle.

(3) A snowmobile may be unloaded either at Deep Creek Lake State Park parking lots or the New Germany State Park/Savage River State Forest maintenance area parking lot if the snowmobile is driven directly to Meadow Mountain Trail on the designated access trails provided.

(4) Margraff Plantation Trail (Map Number 5) may be used only by:

(a) A snowmobile from December 15 through April 15;

(b) Two-wheel and four-wheel ORVs from July 15 through the beginning of deer bow season; and

(c) Any vehicle registered with the Motor Vehicle Administration as a licensed motor vehicle for on-road use may use the Trail at any time.

(5) Negro Mountain Trail (Map Number 6) coincides with portions of the forest access roads through compartments and may be used only by snowmobiles from December 15 through April 15, and may not be used by any ORV for the remainder of the year, except as provided under Regulation .06A(3)(b) of this chapter.

(6) St. John’s Rock-Red Dog Road Trail Map Number 11may be used only by:

(a) A snowmobile from December 15 through April 15;

(b) Two-wheel and four-wheel ORVs from April 16 through the beginning of the spring turkey season, and from the end of the spring turkey season through the beginning of the deer bow season;

(c) No more than 15 ORVs per day and a daily reservation permit must be obtained prior to using the Trail; and

(d) Any vehicle registered with the Motor Vehicle Administration as a licensed motor vehicle for on-road use may use the Trail at any time.

E. Deep Creek Lake Natural Resources Management Area.

(1) The frozen lake surface may be used only by snowmobiles.

(2) Access to the lake surface may occur only at:

(a) A designated parking area at Deep Creek Lake State Park; or

(b) If permission has been obtained from the permittee, a buffer strip use permit site.

(3) Snowmobile operators use the lake surface at their own risk. The Department makes no assurances regarding the safety of:

(a) Operating a snowmobile on Deep Creek Lake; or

(b) The ice conditions.

F. ORV trail status will be made public on the Department’s website.