South Mtn-Antietam CCW

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Frederick County, MD, US

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Panoramica del percorso

Paul Ruchlin

Fantastic rides near Frederick, MD

110 km

1.373 m

Beaucolic farmland, up and over Gathland Ridge twice and meandering through the battlefield of America's single bloodiest day highlight this route.

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Dettagli del percorso

This route begins/ends @point[Ballanger Creek Park](d,8.7), southwest of Frederick and the I-270/I-70/Rte 15 interchange.  Restrooms are available.  It is essentially the same route as Gathland Ridge-Antietam CW, except in the opposite direction.  You start out paralleling Routes 340 and 15 before turning northwest to cross over Rte 340 and head off towards Middletown, MD.

At @point[mile 4.7](d,7598.96) have your legs ready as you'll start the @slice[Cat 4 climb up to Jefferson Blvd.](d,7632.26,9629)  Don’t be fooled by the category, it gets quite steep in some sections.  On the way down, be sure to look for the @point[suit of armor](d,13462.26) off to your left on Cherry Lane just after mile 8.0

After a few miles of rolling farmland and you’ll come to climb number two, up @slice[Reno Monument Rd.](d,27098.77,28788.38)  You’ll probably welcome a rest at the top where you can check out the monument to General Reno and the battle which took place here.  You’ll really enjoy the nice descent from here and most of the way in to Boonsboro.  You’ll have a few options to stop for drinks or snacks as you ride through town, including the @poi[Alex Convenience.](1073754)

Once out of Boonsboro it's back to rolling rural farmland for a while; A nice chance to rest the legs and enjoy the scenery which becomes even more beautiful as you come to and ride through Antietam National Battlefield, where, during the Civil War, America experienced the bloodiest single day of battle in our history.  There is @poi[water and restrooms available at the Visitor Center](1081030) here and plenty of photo ops over the next 3.5 miles.  If history is not your thing, or you want to shorten up the route a bit, you can skip the @slice[battlefield loop](d,53657.72,60907.67) and continue south on Sharpsburg Pike into the town of Sharpsburg.  Cross Main Street and skip ahead on the cue sheet to the mile 38.0 cue and continue from there.

As you head southeast out of town you'll find yourself crossing Antietam Creek and have a few miles before you climb back up over @slice[South Mountain](d,73513.37,74880.86).  Take a few moments at the top to enjoy the spectacular National War Correspondents Memorial Arch. There is also a @poi[water spigot and restrooms](1073767) available a few meters up the entrance road to Gathland State Park.

12 miles from here to the small town of Jefferson and your @poi[last chance for refreshments](1073755), at the BP.  It's only a few short miles from there back to the finish in the park, but you’ve got one last good climb to get over on @slice[Mountville Rd](d,95802.11,97577.38).  Your legs may be aching but the view of the valley from the top is great and you know you’re almost home, which is mostly downhill.
## Notes:
- When I rode this route (5 Apr 2015) the @point[bridge on Burnside Bridge Road](d,62237.23) was under reconstruction.  There were warning and detour signs but the bridge was passable on foot/bike.  If you ride this route and find the construction complete, please drop me a note so I can update this entry.

- Be advised that when I did this ride in, opposite direction, with a few minor differences, my recorded GPS elevation gain was closer to 6100 ft.  Not the 4600 ft derived from the Google map.

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South Mtn-Antietam CCW

Panoramica del percorso

Dettagli del percorso

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