Worthington Farm Trail Map (click to enlarge)

Length:  2.5-mile loop with the High Water Trail
Time:  1 hour
Difficulty: Easy with one moderate hill

The Ford Loop Trail begins at the Worthington Farm stop on the Monocacy National Battlefield Tour. It covers the area where Confederate general John McCausland’s 1,100-man strong cavalry unit crossed the Monocacy River via Worthington Ford—an area shallow enough to cross on horse or on foot—in order to attack the Union left flank at the Thomas Farm.

One half of the “official” Ford Loop Trail is the gravel road that runs past the Worthington House. This road is actually part of both loop trails at the Worthington Farm, the other being the Brooks Hill Loop Trail. If you hike both, you will walk down the road twice. What most people do not know is that there is a new trail, the High Water Trail, that you can take to avoid the gravel road but still make a loop out of the hike.

Since I had already hiked the Brooks Hill Loop Trail, I opted for the new route along the High Water Trail. If you want to hike the official Ford Loop Trail, then begin on the gravel road and keep walking until you reach the forest near the Monocacy River. A directional sign marks the turn onto the river section of the Ford Loop Trail (the river section is covered later in this review).

Gravel road at the Worthington Farm, Monocacy National Battlefield

To reach the High Water Trail, take the gravel road from the Worthington Farm parking lot until it curves just before the Worthington House. The mowed grass path that forks off to the right is the Ford Loop Trail, so turn here.

View from the Worthington Farm parking lot towards the Worthington House, Monocacy National Battlefield

The Ford Loop Trail begins next to the Worthington House on the grass path that forks off the gravel road, Monocacy National Battlefield

Follow the grass path along the tree line down a long, gradual hill until coming to another fork (.2 mile from the parking lot). A right leads into the forest. This is the Ford Loop Trail, and this is the proper way to go. You can also continue along the grass path that now follows the cow pasture to the west, but on a hot day it is better to stick to the official trail and get out of the sun.

The Ford Loop Trail at Monocacy National Battlefield begins as a grass path on the north end of a field next to the Worthington House

Take a right into the forest to remain on the Ford Loop Trail, Monocacy National Battlefield

If you do walk along the pasture, .2 mile farther down is a connector path on the right that leads to the intersection of the Ford Loop Trail and High Water Trail. There are no signs that identify these trails, but the intersection of the two is obvious. Left is the High Water Trail and straight ahead is the Ford Loop Trail.

A grass trail parallels the Ford Loop Trail on the north end, Monocacy National Battlefield

Connector trail to the High Water Trail / Ford Loop Trail intersection at Monocacy National Battlefield

I stayed on the Ford Loop Trail by following the path into the forest. The trail is narrow with a clay-like surface that can be very slick when wet. It parallels the cow pasture (and the grass path), and in fact, the forest is so narrow that you can often catch glimpses of the field. The trail is marked with blue blazes, which are paint splotches on trees that you follow like Hansel and Gretel breadcrumbs.

Typical terrain on the northern end of the Ford Loop Trail at Monocacy National Battlefield

The intersection with the High Water Trail is .2 mile from the turn into the forest. A left leads up to the cow pasture. Right is the continuation of the Ford Loop Trail towards the Monocacy River. Straight ahead (and slightly to the left) is the High Water Trail, which is the way I went, and this review is written from that perspective.

Four way intersection of the High Water Trail and Ford Loop Trail at Monocacy National Battlefield

The High Water Trail is at times so close to the cow pasture that you could flip a coin to it, and you can often see the cows. On the right side is the field that separates the High Water Trail from the Ford Loop Trail. When it rains hard, the field and the Ford Loop Trail may be very muddy, or even flooded. If that’s the case, the High Water Trail is how you would make a loop with the Worthington Farm gravel road. It is high enough above the field and river to stay dry.

View of the cow pasture from the High Water Trail at Monocacy National Battlefield

This section of the High Water Trail is flat and the surface is smooth, largely free of rocks and roots. It is an easy stretch of trail to hike. It is marked with plenty of blue blazes, but at this point there is only one way to go, so you never have to rely on the blazes to find your way.

Typical terrain on the High Water Trail at Monocacy National Battlefield’s Worthington Farm

Typical terrain on the High Water Trail at Monocacy National Battlefield’s Worthington Farm

After a half mile, the High Water Trail ends at the Worthington Farm gravel road, though at this point the gravel has petered out and it is now just a dirt road. Take a right to continue on the Ford Loop Trail.

Southern terminus of the High Water Trail at Worthington Farm, Monocacy National Battlefield

Walk down the earthen road for about 50 yards and make the turn into the forest along the section of the Ford Loop Trail that follows the Monocacy River. The turn is marked by a post with a blue stripe across the top.

View from the southern end of the High Water Trail towards the turn onto the section of the Ford Loop Trail that runs along the Monocacy River, Monocacy National Battlefield

Turn onto the section of the Ford Loop Trail that runs along the Monocacy River, Monocacy National Battlefield

The Ford Loop Trail is not necessarily within view of the Monocacy River at all times. It alternates between running along the river, running along the aforementioned field that could be flooded and muddy after a rainstorm, and being in the forest between the two, though with the distance from river to field rarely being more than 50 yards, even in the middle area you are well aware that a river is on one side and a field on the other. And by the way, the trail surface along the river is also made of clay. If it has been raining and people have been on the trail before you, just look for the skid marks and you’ll know where the slippery spots are. If you are the first on the trail, then most likely you’ll be the one making the skid marks.

Section of the Ford Loop Trail that runs along the Monocacy River at the Worthington Farm, Monocacy National Battlefield

View of the Monocacy River from the Ford Loop Trail at the Worthington Farm, Monocacy National Battlefield

Section of the Ford Loop Trail located in the forest between the Monocacy River and a field, Monocacy National Battlefield

Section of the Ford Loop Trail at the Worthington Farm that parallels a field next to the Monocacy River, Monocacy National Battlefield

A little more than a half mile from where the Ford Loop Trail first began following the river (1.7 miles into the hike overall), it veers east and heads inland, back towards the intersection with the High Water Trail.

Ford Loop Trail at the Worthington Farm crosses the field at the north end, Monocacy National Battlefield

Once at the intersection, either take a right to stay on the Ford Loop Trail or continue straight to get on the grass path at the cow pasture. Whichever way you go, retrace your steps back to the parking lot.

Short path to the cow pasture from the Ford Loop Trail-High Water Trail intersection, Monocacy National Battlefield

I wasn’t all that impressed with the Ford Loop Trail. For a river trail, it’s rarely close enough to the water to make the hike worthwhile if river scenery is what you are looking for. And certainly don’t try hiking it after a rainstorm unless you have on hiking boots and don’t mind getting muddy. Furthermore, while the trail indeed covers the area where the Battle of Monocacy took place, there are no monuments, cannon, or other physical reminders of the battle.

Round trip along the High Water Trail and Ford Loop Trail is 2.5 miles. I expect that the loop with the Worthington Farm gravel road and the Ford Loop Trail is of a similar distance.

Back to the Top