Brunswick, Maryland

Weverton Cliffs and Smoketown Brewing Station might just be my new favorite combo. The cliffs sometimes get overshadowed by longer, more famous hikes near Harpers Ferry (looking at you Maryland Heights!). But you really get an incredible view for a pretty quick hike. And Smoketown Brewery is the perfect place to unwind in the quiet town of Brunswick, Maryland. Let’s dive in!

THE HIKE: Weverton Cliffs

Length: 2.0 miles (Continue along the Appalachian Trail if you want more) 
Elevation Gain: 567ft
Difficulty: Moderate (Some rocks and mostly uphill the first mile) 
Time: 1 hour (but leave plenty of time for relaxing at the overlook)
Trail use: Hiking, leashed pets allowed
Parking: No entry fee. Small lot but parking is allowed along road. Head along road towards the intersection. Trailhead starts there. Look for the AT signpost
H&H: 5/5

We did this hike on a camping weekend with friends. It was the perfect hike for a group because it has a gorgeous overlook and is only 2 miles! I’ve rated this trail as moderate because although it’s short, the incline to the top is no joke! Be prepared to take breaks and bring plenty of water. And the hike back down can be a little hard on the knees so I’d recommend walking poles if you have any knee or balance problems. But don’t let this deter you, this is the perfect workout with a big payoff at the top. If you’re into a challenge, the Weverton Cliffs trail connects to the C&O Canal which leads right into Brunswick. Round trip from the brewery to the cliffs and back would be just over 8 miles!

When doing this trail, just be aware that it’s very popular so parking might be limited and there could be some trail traffic. When we went, the parking lot was full but we were able to park along the road with no trouble. When do you park, don’t head directly into the woods; that’s not the right trail! From the parking lot, head back to the road and make a right. Across the road, you’ll see some stone steps leading into the roads, that’s the right trailhead. 

THE BEER: Smoketown Brewing Station

Address: 223 W. Potomac St.Brunswick, MD, 21716
Distance from Trail Head: 4.4 miles, ~8 mins 
Website: https://www.smoketownbrewing.com/
Food?: Snacks and Food Trucks 
H&H Rating: 5/5

Smoketown Brewing is in the old Brunswick Fire Station and everything in the brewery is a testament to that. I loved checking out of the history and fire memorabilia on the walls as we drank some really delicious beer. This brewery has a ton of seating both indoor and outside and offers up a small menu of bar snacks if you get hungry. Smoketown’s tagline is “Blue collar craft” which I think is really great. I love that they are pushing back against the idea that craft beer is super exclusive. They keep their place down to earth and have an impressively wide range of beer to suit any taste. We really enjoyed the vibe here and loved that it was full of hikers and locals. Smoketown has definitely shot to the top of my brewery list! 

If you’re looking for other things to do in Brunswick, check out River and Trail Outfitters for tubing and rafting and also Beans in the Belfry coffeeshop. 

Our Beer*: 

• Cranapple Crush Cider – Cider 8.1%
• Troy’s Bucket – NEIPA 6.1% 
• Smokestack – Black IPA 6.5%
• The Patsy – NEIPA 6.7% 
• Gandy Oatmeal Stout – 6.1% 
• Potomac IPA – American IPA  7.4% 

*it was so good that we went two days in a row!

SUM UP: Weverton Cliffs is an out-and-back, 2 miles hike with an incredible view over the Potomac river at the top. It’s steep but so worth it. Smoketown Brewery is only 5 miles away in Brunswick and serves up a wide range of beers in a really approachable environment. 

H&H overall rating: 5/5