SPORTS & REC

ROCK CLIMBING

Although there isn't a whole lot of genuinely mountainous terrain around Baltimore, some of its hiking trails provide some decent opportunities to get off the path and up on the rocks. For those who require a little more challenging terrain (or like to keep their Spider-Man act sharp even when the weather's rough), Earth Treks has the two largest indoor climbing gyms on the East Coast (one in Timonium and the other in Columbia). They also offer lessons and will guide you to and through the best climbing terrain both near and very far -- including expeditions to Mounts Kilimanjaro and Everest. Check the Maryland Department of Natural Resources website above for local trails, or www.earthtreksclimbing.com for information on the rest.

Various Locations
Website: http://www.dnr.state.md.us/outdoors/hiking.html