Laced into a 2800-foot ridge overlooking the town of Accident are six miles of carefully crafted mountain bike trails offering riders whatever they may be seeking in a trail, whether an adventurous challenge or a place to learn new skills.
The Margraff Plantation Trail System in the Savage River State Forest is only 10 minutes from McHenry. “We love practicing at Margraff because they are progressive, well-designed, and purpose-built trails, which allows our coaching staff to plan safe and challenging routes to meet the individual needs of our riders,” said Aaron Horduby, Director of the Garrett County Composite Mountain Biking Team.
In July 2025, four new trails opened after a months-long project intended to rehabilitate an area of underused trails and increase the opportunities for mountain biking in Garrett County. The Maryland Forest Service, Park Service, and Office of Outdoor Recreation wanted to create a trail system catering to riders of all skill levels. This would complement other trails in the county by offering varying difficulty levels, mileage, and elevation changes for an engaging user experience. Sustainable trail-building methods would ensure the trails’ durability and reduced maintenance. The State partnered with the International Mountain Biking Association (IMBA) and Appalachian Dirt, a WV-based trail construction company, to complete the project.
Unique to Margraff is the first adaptive mountain biking trail in the State Forest system. This intermediate 2-mile loop trail serves as the system’s core, as it starts and stops at the trailhead parking lot and serves as the connector to all other trails. These include: beginner (1.4 miles), intermediate (1.4 miles), and advanced (1.2 miles) trails. Gravel roads and an older loop trail south of the new trails can also be explored. Ben Reuter of Accident said, “If you’re a little more adventurous, try the old trail system, and don’t be afraid to try the gravel roads if you want a few steeper hills.”
The Margraff trail system, much like a downhill ski area, accommodates groups of riders of varying abilities. They can ride together on a common trail before splitting off to ride more challenging trails within each rider’s comfort zone, all within the same visit. Nobody will feel left out or left behind, as the adaptive loop trail always guides riders back to the trailhead.
“It’s really nice that we have a network of trails that can cater to a wide variety of people and uses,” said Sara Kramer, Recreational Planner for the Maryland Forest Service. She added, “They can provide an opportunity for a parent to ride with a child learning how to mountain bike on the beginner trail, and then a couple of years later they can ride the intermediate trail, while the parent could be riding the advanced trail if they wanted.” While unloading six bikes from his vehicle at the trailhead recently, Zach Krisher of Oakland said, “It’s a great trail for our whole family to do together. Our kids, ages three to 14, all love it. We feel really lucky to live in this area that we have such accessible trails.”
The new trails have attracted attention from residents and visitors alike, and not just for mountain biking. Garrett Trails’ counter data show a ninefold increase in activity in 2025 compared to 2024. Reuter said he and his partner, “come to Margraff almost every day to either ride our bikes or walk our dogs.” Horduby observed that during Coyote practices, “we have several parents that like to hike or jog the trails while their child is biking with the team.” Use of the trails is year-round, and winter sees fat biking, cross-country skiing, and hiking over snow-covered trails.
Located at the trailhead parking area is a covered information kiosk with a comprehensive trail map. This map includes trail blaze colors, distances, and trail intersections or hubs. When on the trail, there’s also a trail map at each hub for convenient wayfinding. The hubs add potential variety to each visit, as each one offers the opportunity for users to switch to another trail while ensuring that they always know their location and how to return.
Each hub also has a bench for rest and relaxation. As much fun as it is to keep moving on these trails, stop occasionally to enjoy the butterflies, wildlife, and scenery while listening to the ambient sounds that only a Maryland State Forest can provide: wind whistling through pines, and the calls of songbirds and raptors. Two of these benches were installed as part of a local Boy Scout’s Eagle Project several years ago, while the others were purchased by the State with funds donated by a nearby resident and frequent trail user.
Trails flow over land used differently over the years, and clues exist if you look off-trail while riding. Stone piles and foundations remain from earlier agrarian roots, and signatures of timber harvests reflect a managed forest for nearly 100 years. Wellhead stations in the meadows are part of a natural gas storage facility about a mile and a half underground, created about 60 years ago after extraction ended.
Getting there: There is no street address. Fratz Road will take you to Margraff. In Accident, turn right on Accident-Bittinger Road, drive 1 mile, and turn left onto Fratz Road. Continue 0.5 mile up the ridge to the unmarked gravel entrance road, and the trailhead parking is about 0.3 mile on the left. Please be neighborly and mind the speed limit when on Fratz Road. Visitors to Margraff should note there are no bathroom facilities, and the area is open to horseback riding, camping, and hunting.
Written by Evan Byrne.
