About
Hoye-Crest is the 3,360-foot summit of Backbone Mountain and the highest point in Maryland, just inside Garrett County at the West Virginia line. There's no road to the top: you reach it on foot from US 219 in West Virginia, which makes it a goal for state "highpointers" and anyone who wants a short, steep mountain hike.
Getting to the Trailhead
Follow US 219 south past US 50 at Redhouse, Maryland, into Silver Lake, West Virginia. Hiking guides place the trailhead about 1.1 miles past the WV Route 24 junction, with small roadside pull-offs on both sides of the highway that hold only a few cars, marked by green-and-white "MD High Point" signs. The logging road near the start is rough and not suited to ordinary cars, so park along the highway.
On the Trail
The route is about 1 mile each way with roughly 700 feet of climbing, and it is steep the whole way. The first half follows an old logging road and the second half is a rockier footpath. Look for red "HP" paint on trees and rocks, and watch for the marked turn at the split about halfway up, since the other branch leads onto private property. Near the top you pass an old stone boundary marker at the state line, then walk a short way north along the ridge to the summit.
At the Summit
The highpoint is named for Captain Charles E. Hoye, founder of the Garrett County Historical Society, and a marker erected by the Maryland Historical Trust and State Highway Administration was dedicated there in 1952. Hikers describe a cleared view east over the North Branch Potomac valley, a bench and a mailbox trail register you can sign, though the summit furnishings have changed over the years. The summit area is privately owned; the landowner allows hikers but not camping, so stay on the trail and pack out everything you bring.
Boots with good ankle support make the descent easier, and the trail can be muddy and slick after rain or nearby logging.
Address
Backbone Mountain, Oakland, MD 21550