Happy Memorial Day! How was your weekend! ‌ Despite the bouts of torrential downpours, we had a fun weekend glamping at @bennersmeadowrun and exploring the Laurel Highlands! 𝘞𝘦’𝘭𝘭 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘱 𝘴𝘰𝘰𝘯!! ‌ 10 MILLION tons of rock. 2,600+ tons of explosives. And one of the 𝗰𝗼𝗼𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗱𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗽𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘁. ‌ If you’ve driven I-68 through Western Maryland, chances are you’ve seen 𝗦𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗛𝗶𝗹𝗹 — but do you know the story behind it? ‌ For centuries, this mountain ridge blocked travelers moving west. Early settlers had a tough choice: go 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 the mountain… or go 𝗮𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 it. Either route was dangerous. ‌ Originally called “Side Long Hill,” the mountain was dramatically transformed in the 1980s when engineers chose to cut through it instead of tunneling beneath it. ‌ The result? One of the most impressive geological road cuts in the country. 🌎⛰️ ‌ 🔹 4.5-mile road cut 🔹 340 feet deep 🔹 10 MILLION tons of rock removed 🔹 Rock layers dating back 340–365 million years 🔹 Giant visible rock fold (syncline) + marine fossils showing this region was once underwater! ‌ And the best part? It’s completely FREE to visit. ‌ 📍Sideling Hill Welcome Center 3000 Sideling Hill, Hancock, MD 𝘔𝘪𝘭𝘦 𝘔𝘢𝘳𝘬𝘦𝘳 74 ‌ The eastbound side has picnic tables + a pedestrian bridge crossing over I-68, while the westbound side features scenic overlooks with picnic tables, a Vietnam Veterans Memorial, and mountain views. 𝘉𝘰𝘵𝘩 𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘰𝘮𝘴 + 𝘱𝘦𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘴. ‌ 🚗 Approximate drive times: • Frederick, MD – ~1 hr • Hagerstown, MD – ~35 min • Baltimore, MD – ~2 hrs • Washington, DC – ~2 hrs • Morgantown, WV – ~1.5 hrs • Laurel Highlands, PA – ~1.5 hrs • Pittsburgh, PA – ~2 hrs • Cumberland, MD – ~40 min ‌ This may be one of Maryland’s most underrated roadside attractions! ‌ Have you ever stopped here — or just driven past? 👀 roadsideattractions WesternMaryland SidelingHill USRoadTrip CumberlandMd