Mesmerizing Blue Ridge Mountain views. Meandering hiking trails. Secluded picnic areas. A historic Tea Room. Descriptions of Gambrill State Park in Maryland sound like something borrowed from a storybook, and yet they are entirely accurate. Whether you have a spare hour or an entire weekend, you'll experience an immersive experience in nature when you visit this mountaintop state park.

One of my favorite things to do when exploring a new area is to visit a state park. These protected spaces offer so much in the way of natural history, cultural context, and, of course, beauty. Visitors of Gambrill State Park will learn a great deal about this particular corner of the Catoctin Mountains of Frederick County.

The park is divided into two sections, the Rock Run area and the High Knob area. It's perhaps most famous for its hiking and biking trails, totaling 16 miles! The High Knob Area is where visitors will find the park's famous stone overlooks. High Knob is located at an elevation of 1,600 feet and offers three unique look-out points of the Frederick and Middletown Valleys.

Due to the rocky and higher-elevation terrain of the park, most of the trails are rated as moderate or difficult. For an easier trek, we'd recommend the White Oak Loop, an easy 1-mile adventure.

A little history: the park is named for James H. Gambrill, Jr., a citizen of Frederick and a naturalist who believed the area should be preserved. In the early 1900s, a group of citizens donated the funds to purchase the land which was eventually donated to the state of Maryland. The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) built a majority of the buildings and facilities you'll find within the park today.

One of the most famous examples of CCC architecture is the Tea Room, a cozy space with an idyllic mountain view. It's available for rent and makes the perfect small wedding venue.

While the park makes a great day trip destination, why not extend your stay? There's a family-style campground in the Rock Run area open between April and October. You'll need to make a reservation first. There are also four rustic camper cabins, which tend to sell out months in advance.

Know before you go: There's a $3 admission fee per vehicle for Maryland residents and $5 for non-residents. You can pay at the honor boxes found in the Rock Run, Trailhead, and High Knob areas. You might also want to invest in a pair of sturdy hiking boots if you plan on spending time on the trails. We recommend checking out the Gambrill State Park website for additional details, including park hours, directions, and more.