Monocacy NB Thomas Farm Trail - Frederick MD
N 39° 21.423 W 077° 23.449
18S E 294007 N 4359126
The Thomas Farm Trail is at Monocacy National Battlefield in Frederick MD. Stops along the way explain the location and action of the heaviest fighting in this U.S. Civil War "Battle That Saved Washington DC".
Waymark Code: WM6BYT
Location: Maryland, United States
Date Posted: 05/11/2009
Views: 7
** The public Thomas Farm Trail encircles private property. Please follow the markers and stay on the trail. **
Monocacy National Battlefield in Frederick, Maryland, has recently been improved with a new Visitor Center and much more of the battlefield is now easily accessible to the public. If you are in the area, take the time to visit the museum upstairs in the Visitor Center or listen to a ranger talk to better appreciate the history that happened here.
The Battle of Monocacy Junction on July 9, 1864 - “The Battle that Saved Washington, DC” - ended with a Union defeat but delayed Confederate Gen. Jubal Early's march to Washington long enough for the Union to reinforce that city's defenses. The fighting here was close and intense as the strategic bridge and railroad junction were defended and then captured. There are also amazing stories of local families caught up in midst of the combat that day.
The Thomas Farm Trail will take you across and around the area of the heaviest fighting of that battle day. The trail brochure indicates the stops and describes the action. The preserved Battlefield area remains much as it was that day.
The Thomas Farm Trail also connects with the Middle Ford Ferry Loop Trail. This shady walk alongside the Monocacy River offers interesting local history. Stops along the way point out the locations of Native American and early colonial sites. A tavern was established at a ferry crossing here in the 1750's and traces of roads used up until the 1830's can still be seen. On this trail, while you can sometimes hear and see cars rushing past on the Interstate nearby, you are reminded of a time when the pace was much slower.
To get to the start of the Thomas Farm Trail from the MNB Visitor Center, go south on Rte. 355. After the Monocacy River bridge crossing, turn right on Araby Church Road, then right again on Baker Valley Road to the Thomas Farm site.
Brochures for both trails can be found at the start of the Thomas Farm Trail or can be downloaded (PDF) from:
Thomas Farm Trail:
(
visit link)
Middle Ford Ferry Loop:
(
visit link)
We walked the Thomas Farm Trail with the Middle Ford Ferry Loop on a breezy spring afternoon. Tracked by my GPSr we walked about 2.5 miles in just over 1 hour including the time to read the brochures and look about at the trail stops. We'd rate this trail as easy and very pleasant. The Thomas Farm trail encircles farm fields but is under tree cover most of the way and the Ferry loop is under tree cover for its entire length. This could be a pleasant hike even on a hot summer evening before sunset.