The Hagerstown-Washington County Convention and Visitors Bureau has just released a new Bicycle Tours map and brochure for the county.
"The hundreds of miles of low-traffic rural roads in the county, almost all excellent for bicycling, have always attracted cyclists. The C&O Canal Towpath and the Western Maryland Rail Trail are also popular destinations, as well as Antietam Battlefield. Several local state parks also have excellent mountain biking, including Greenbrier State Park," the bureau said in a press release.
Tom Riford, president of the bureau, said the brochure was a joint effort with the county Planning Department, the City of Hagerstown's Engineering Department, the Cumberland Valley Cycling Club, and Icon Graphics.
Riford said Trails.com rankings show that half of Maryland's 10 most popular trails are in or near Washington County.
The colorful map, designed by Icon Graphics, folds out to include eight bicycle loop tours, including one through Hagerstown. Each tour varies in length, from 10 to 34 miles, and explores a variety of terrain.