Journey Through Hallowed Ground

National Scenic Byway | Frederick County, Maryland

The Journey Through Hallowed Ground is where history is around every corner of one of the most scenic drives in Maryland.

Designated a National Scenic Byway, this 180-mile corridor stretches from Gettysburg, Pennsylvania to Monticello in Virginia. All 57 miles of the Maryland portion run through Frederick County, tracing landscapes shaped by the American Revolution, the Civil War, and generations of farming families who still call this region home.

In Frederick County, the Journey Through Hallowed Ground passes through Downtown Frederick, running north-south paralleling Catoctin Mountain, connecting historic architecture, public art, craft breweries, wineries, and sweeping rural views. You can stroll along Carroll Creek Park before touring a local distillery, sample small-batch beer in a restored 19th-century factory building, or discover family-run vineyards tucked into the foothills of the Blue Ridge.

Just off the route, outdoor adventure awaits. Visit Cunningham Falls State Park to see Maryland’s tallest cascading waterfall. Explore Catoctin Mountain Park and hike the Blue Blazes Whiskey Still Trail, where signs tell the story of Prohibition-era distilling in Frederick County. Continue north to scenic overlooks, mountain orchards, and quiet countryside roads that feel unchanged by time.

This byway invites you to slow down and savor the region - its stories, its flavors, and its landscapes. Sip craft beverages made from local bounty, wander historic streets, and take in mountain sunsets.