Ferndale Trail

Starting from the southern side of the Antietam Lake Park trailhead, follow the yellow blazes uphill, passing the Bingaman Nature Center. It's a steady climb for the first 3/4 of a mile, at which point you'll cross List Rd. After a little rocky descent, you'll be climbing again, until you reach Kuechler's Roost. This old wine cellar, from 1882, is at the highest point of the hike (just over 1,000 feet). Here the Ferndale Trail merges with the Gravity Trail (blazed red). Follow the yellow and red blazes past Rotary Park, down another little rocky descent, to Haag Rd. Turn right on Haag Rd for about 10 yards, and then left back into the woods. The next section is fairly easy--a straight, relatively flat walk up to Angora Rd. The Gravity Trail splits off to the left here, but you'll cross Angora Rd and continue to follow the yellow blazes. The trail widens here, and then as you get close to Drenkel Field, the yellow blazes break off to the left. Follow them to up to Drenkel Field--home of the "Flying Dutchmen," a model airplane flying club. If you want to extend your hike, you can walk south along Skyline Drive for half a mile to see the famous Reading Pagoda, with great views of the city and Mount Neversink, or you can walk north along Skyline Drive to the William Penn Memorial Fire Tower (also half a mile), which is Mount Penn's summit (1,120 feet). Hike back the way you came, or, if you want a little variety, when you get back to Kuechler's Roost, stay on the Gravity Trail (follow the red blazes), which also ends at the Antietam Lake trailhead.