Rickard Mountain

Overview

Rickard Mountain (sometimes called Rickard Ridge) is a mountain in the Bear Pond Mountains area of Maryland and Pennsylvania. It runs almost directly in a south to north direction in the Ridge and Valley System of the Appalachian Mountains. The southern end of the ridge begins where Polecat Hollow and Blair's Valley meet near Blair's Valley Lake. The northern end of the ridge and Rickards high point is just north of the Mason Dixon Line and just south of Kasies Knob.




To the west is Blair's Valley with Sword Mountain rising as the first ridge west. To the east is Polecat Hollow and Powell Mountain.

Rickard has no maintained trails, and none of the existing trails are marked, making this hike pretty much a bushwack from any direction. There are many old logging roads but they lead in every direction. There is a nice logging road which basically follows the ridgeline for most of the length of the mountain. There are no views from the summit, but there are some pretty nice views westward from a few ledges and talus fields on the west side of the ridgeline. The view in the picture on the right is one of the few looking off the east side of the ridge and that was taken by climbing a hunters tree stand.

Getting There/Route

Directions
From I-70, take the Clear Spring exit and travel north on Route 68. Cross Old Route 40, bearing left onto Mill Street. Continue to a fork and bear right onto Broadfording Road going east approximately 1 mile. Take the first left onto Blair's Valley Road. The entrance to the WMA is approximately 3 miles north. For more information, contact the Indian Springs Wildlife Office at (301) 842-2702.




There are several parking areas near the WMA Headquarters on Blair's Valley Road and Blair's Valley Lake. Rickard Mountain is the long ridge to the east of this location. From any of these parking areas cross east over Blair's Valley Road and just start heading up the ridge of Rickard. The hike up the side is pretty easy until you reach the talus rock that pretty much covers the west side of the ridge as you near the summit. Once on the ridge there is an old logging road you'd take to the summit.

Red Tape

Camping is only allowed at the camping area at the Indian Springs WMA headquarters. For information about camping at Indian Springs, please contact the office at 301-842-2702. No campfires allowed.

Is it private or not? We saw a lot of land near Blair's Valley Road that was posted, north of the Indian Springs Wildlife Management Area, so we have avoided parking and hiking up from there. The Wildlife Management Area map shows much of Rickard as its property but they have very few signs stating bounderies, and the map is not very detailed. I would recomend hiking from the Wildlife Management Area, and if you see posted signs avoid that section or get permission.

External Links

Indian Springs Wildlife Management Area.

Topo Map

Images

View Rickard Mountain Image Gallery - 27 Images