No mask required: Great local hikes to breath fresh air

Gambrill+State+Park+has+several+beautiful+trails.++

Gambrill State Park has several beautiful trails.

by Belen Romero, Reporter

 The first time I went hiking, I didn’t know I was about to hike. All my mom told my siblings and me was, “put your shoes on and get in the car.”

Every time she says that I put on my Crocs and get in the car. That day I grabbed my black fuzzy Crocs. Biggest mistake ever!! If we could go back in time and I knew we were about to hike, I would have put on sneakers. After being in the car for almost 30 minutes we arrived at Gambrill State Park

Gambrill State Park is just outside of  Frederick City. Since it was our first time hiking, we took the first trail we saw. It led us to a beautiful view. We enjoyed the view for a couple of minutes and then kept on walking until we got to a big hill. Remember how earlier I said wearing Crocs was a big mistake. While I was walking down the hill a couple of sticks caught one of my Crocs and made me trip. I limped the rest of the way. After that we kept on hiking till my siblings started whining. We headed back to the car and walking back was the worst we had to pass the hill again. I enjoyed hiking though. I loved the view and the big trees. I enjoyed everything but the big hill.

Catoctin Mountain Park was the second place I hiked. This park is located in Catoctin Maryland. I hiked here for an hour. It was an easy hike. The features I enjoyed the most were the creeks and the mud hills. I really liked the creek and the sound it made. It sounded peaceful. I didn’t hear any people talking, phone noises, just the water running down the creek. The mud hills were big. It wasn’t recent mud. It was hard. You could climb it but then end up with mud on your clothes. 

My two favorite places I’ve hiked are Rock Creek Regional Park and Cunningham Falls State Park.

Rock Creek Regional Park is located in Derwood Maryland. There are multiple trails. The trail I took led me to a lake. The lake was beautiful. It was so big and so blue. It was also surrounded by big green trees. 

Cunningham Falls State Park is located in Frederick County Maryland. When you first get there, there’s a trail you have to follow. After that trail there are a couple more. The trail I took wasn’t so long it led us to a waterfall. The waterfall was my favorite. It was really pretty and it wasn’t just there to see. You’re allowed to get close to it and even go in it. 

Hiking is a great hobby and exercise, too. Not only is it a hobby and an exercise. It’s also a great way to breathe fresh air.