Near Oakland in Garrett County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Hoye - Crest
Photographed By J. J. Prats, August 6, 2006
1. Hoye-Crest Marker
Highest point in Maryland. Backbone Mountain, Garrett County, 3360 feet above sea level. Named for Captain Charles E. Hoye, founder of the Garrett County Historical Society. Dedicated September 1, 1952.Erected 1952 by the Maryland Historical Trust and the Maryland State Highway Administration.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Natural Features. In addition, it is included in the Maryland Historical Trust series list. A significant historical date for this entry is September 1, 1858.
Location. 39° 14.245′ N, 79° 29.122′ W. Marker is near Oakland, Maryland, in Garrett County. Marker can be reached from U.S. 219, 5˝ miles south of U.S. 50, on the left when traveling south. Marker is on the crest of the mountain, accessible only on foot. Access to this Maryland landmark is via a one mile hike from the the trailhead on U.S. 219 in West Virginia 2˝ miles south of the Maryland line. This area is on the left side of the road when traveling south and less than one mile south of the "Smallest Church in the 48 States" in Silver Lake, West Virginia. The trail is marked at the road with a red "MD" and an arrow painted on the back of a road sign visible on the left side of US 219 when traveling
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 6 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Preston County / Maryland (approx. 2.6 miles away in West Virginia); Fairfax Stone (approx. 3 miles away in West Virginia); a different marker also named Fairfax Stone (approx. 3.6 miles away in West Virginia); a different marker also named Fairfax Stone (approx. 3.7 miles away in West Virginia); Flag Raising (approx. 4.8 miles away in West Virginia); St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church of Red House, Maryland (approx. 5.3 miles away); a different marker also named Preston County / Maryland (approx. 5.6 miles away in West Virginia); Highest Point on the Maryland State Roads System (approx. 5.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Oakland.
More about this marker. Marker is approximately 300 feet from the Maryland-West Virginia border in Maryland.
Regarding Hoye - Crest. There is a picnic table and camera stand at the marker.
Also see . . .
1. Hoye-Crest, Backbone Mountain, Maryland.
Photographed By J. J. Prats, August 6, 2006
2. Hoye Crest
The cairn of stones on the right next to the marker marks the highest point in Maryland. Mailbox on the marker shelters a guest book and a stack of blank certificates. A notice on the door of the mailbox requests visitors to sign the guest book take a certificate as a memento of their climb. The camera stand is in the foreground and the picnic table can be seen on the left.
2. Wikipedia Entry for Backbone Mountain. (Submitted on September 1, 2018.)
3. Hoye Crest, Backbone Mountain. (Submitted on November 29, 2021, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio.)
Photographed By J. J. Prats, August 6, 2006
3. Trailhead on Route 219
My car is at the trailhead on U.S. 219. Notice the "MD" and arrow painted in red on the back of the highway sign on the right. A few hundred feet up this private road is a parking area. Most cars can make it up to the parking area, but if you would rather not, you can park in a wide spot on US 219 across from the trailhead. Elevation here is 2800 feet. The GPS coordinates at the trailhead are N39°14.738', W79°29.509'.
Photographed By J. J. Prats, August 6, 2006
4. Wide Spot on the Trail Where You Can Park
This is the parking are a few hundred feet up the trail. The trail continues to the left. You need a high-clearance vehicle to continue the climb in a motorized vehicle. The trail will veer off the jeep road before it reaches the mountain's crest and there is no place to park at that point. So abandon your car here and start walking.
Photographed By J. J. Prats, August 6, 2006
5. First Fork on the Trail
The red "HP" blaze points to the right. Even if the blaze was missing, just look to see which path goes uphill and take that one. N39°14.467', W79°29.184'.
Photographed By J. J. Prats, August 6, 2006
6. Second Fork in the Trail
This time the blaze says to keep left and continue uphill. N39°14.307', W79°29.234'.
Photographed By J. J. Prats, August 6, 2006
7. Third Fork at the Cairns
Here is where the trail leaves the jeep road. A blaze (out of frame on the right) points to the left where two cairns (piles of stone) mark the start of the foot trail to the crest. N39°14.179', W79°29.258'.
Photographed By J. J. Prats, August 6, 2006
8. Fourth Fork Provides a Choice
The path to the crest is to the right. But less than 50 feet on the left path is a 1910 cement obelisk that marks the Maryland-West Virginia border (see Photos 9 and 10). N39°14.182', W79°29.197'.
Photographed By J. J. Prats, August 6, 2006
9. Boundary Marker No. 3
(south face) No 3. Samuel S. Gannett, W. McCulloh Brown, Julius K. Monroe, Commissioners. (west face) W. VA.
Photographed By J. J. Prats, August 6, 2006
10. Boundary Marker No. 3
(east face) MD. (north face) 1910. Elevation 3400 feet at the top of the obelisk. GPS coordinates are N39°14.200', W79°29.187'.
Photographed By J. J. Prats, August 6, 2006
11. Last Fork on the Trail
You're almost there. The arrow on the log points right. As usual, it is the uphill choice. N39°14.213', W79°29.167'.
Photographed By J. J. Prats, August 6, 2006
12. First View of the Goal
Because of the dense foilage, you never see the marker until you make the last turn on the path. And there it is!
Photographed By J. J. Prats, August 6, 2006
13. View From Hoye-Crest on a Hazy Day
The only view is towards Maryland. Trees and shrubs block the view north, south and west.
Photographed By Craig Doda, February 15, 2020
14. Hoye - Crest Marker
Photographed By Sean Ward, September 17, 2008
15. View from the edge.
Wow, what a sight! Definitely a good reward for a good climb.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 2, 2023. It was originally submitted on March 11, 2006, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 9,553 times since then and 155 times this year. It was the Marker of the Week September 2, 2018. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on August 6, 2006, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13. submitted on August 7, 2006, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. 14. submitted on November 29, 2021, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. 15. submitted on October 31, 2008, by Sean Ward of Savage, Maryland.
Editor’s want-list for this marker. Photo of Backbone Mountain's crest from another vantage point • Can you help?
