Tour of Gathland State Park
Date: Saturday, October 3, 2026
Time: 10:00am-12:00pm
Place: Gathland State Park, 900 Arnoldtown Rd, Jefferson, MD, 21755
Join University of Maryland (UMD) Extension plant and forestry educators, with additional expertise from the Maryland Native Plant Society and Potomac Valley Audubon Society, for an easygoing two-hour walk at Gathland State Park in Burkittsville, Maryland. Once the mountain home of Civil War journalist George Alfred Townsend, the park features a large stone monument dedicated to war correspondents, with the Appalachian Trail traversing the park and passing the base of the monument. We’ll enjoy fall colors while exploring this unique reference plant community and discussing how it can inspire landscape design, restoration, and land management decisions. The UMD Extension will also introduce new resources for landscape professionals, including the Native Plant Finder and updated native plant guides for the Piedmont region, which will be available for purchase at the time of the event.By the end of the tour, participants will be able to utilize native plant identification resources to analyze a reference woodland plant community, and apply their observations to improve landscape design, restoration, and land stewardship decisions.
All ages are welcome, but youth must be accompanied by an adult.
Walking Distance: Approximately 2 miles or less. An entire walk may take up to two hours
Pace: Leisurely (meandering, many breaks to stop and observe)
Exposure: Mostly shaded
Terrain: There is a slope at the start of the trail but it is mostly flat after the slope.
Restroom: Restrooms are available at this location
What to bring: Bring water and dress for the weather. We strongly recommend wearing sturdy shoes with good tread.
Meeting Place: Pavillion
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