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Photo: Lowell Silverman at English Wikipedia, Public domain via Wikimedia Commons
Perhaps Maryland's best-known and most prominent monadnock, it's full of hiking trails and beautiful views over the Piedmont Plateau and towards the Appalachian Mountains. It's quite popular during the busy summer months, as it's less than an hour's drive from Washington, D.C. While a National Natural Landmark, it is a rare example of a privately owned (nonprofit) park open and intended for broad public use. Beautiful day trip. Parking is limited.
Sugarloaf Mountain is a small mountain and park about 10 miles (16 km) south of Frederick, Maryland. The closest village is Barnesville, located just over one mile from the foot of the mountain. The peak of this relatively low mountain is approximately 800 feet higher than the surrounding farmland. It is visible from many parts of northern Montgomery County and southern Frederick County, notably from I-270 north of the town of Germantown. Because of its geological and natural history interest, it was designated a National Natural Landmark in 1969. It is a notable example of an admission-free, privately owned scenic park.
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A fun getaway for picking fruit, pumpkins, Christmas trees (or they also have a shop out front if you just want to stop by and get some great fresh produce and other farm goods). Especially if you are with kids, be sure to look for the farm animal petting zoo!
Events are somewhat monthly (check the online calendar), and feature everything from the obvious hanging out with "farm" animals to live bands and vegan potlucks.
While its principal purpose is as a stocked hunting range, McKee-Beshers WMA is best known for its magnificent fields of sunflowers, in bloom towards the end of July. The sunflowers were planted not for public enjoyment—they are there to attract doves for the hunt! But there are miles of trails through the fields and forest, which do connect with the C&O Canal towpath, and the WMA is quite popular with photographers. Be sure to bring heavy duty insect repellent, long pants, and good boots, as the terrain is pretty marshy. It's a good idea to give them a call to see what the hunting situation is like—it's less pleasant to walk around the fields if hunters are out in force.