About
Kindness Demonstration Area Trailhead is the start of an easy, self-guided interpretive walk in Garrett State Forest, off Fingerboard Road west of Oakland. It's a good outing for families, school groups and anyone curious about how a working forest is managed.
Where Maryland's State Forests Began
The Kindness Demonstration Area covers 387 acres within the land the Garrett brothers donated to Maryland in 1906, the gift that established Garrett State Forest and became the foundation of the state's public lands system and the Maryland Forest Service. Garrett Trails notes the tract was originally known as the "Kindness Tract" and was the first parcel of the Maryland State Forest system.
What You'll See
- A gently rolling 1.25-mile trail (one way) along an old logging road
- Interpretive signs explaining forest management, timber harvest and wildlife improvement practices
- Several different types of timber plots along the way
Garrett Trails lists the trail for walking, hiking, mountain biking and cross-country skiing, which makes it a pleasant ski in winter as well as a summer stroll.
Before You Go
Garrett State Forest is managed by Maryland DNR as part of Potomac-Garrett State Forest, with headquarters at 1431 Potomac Camp Road in Oakland, where you can pick up trail maps and the interpretive brochure. Staff are often out in the field, so call ahead before stopping in. Pets are welcome throughout the forest on a leash at all times, and DNR asks visitors to wear blaze orange during hunting seasons. Garrett State Forest itself lies between Swallow Falls and Herrington Manor State Parks, so the walk pairs well with a visit to either.
Bring the brochure along and you'll get much more out of each sign.
Address
Fingerboard Rd, Oakland, MD 21550