Celebrate July Ice Cream Month by following the Maryland’s Best Ice Cream Trail . In its 14th year, the trail highlights Maryland’s dairy industry and locally made ice cream through September 7. Featuring on-farm creameries, farms with ice cream, and retail locations that use local milk, consumers are encouraged to visit participating locations to learn more about the dairy industry.
To enhance the experience, Maryland’s Best partnered with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources to highlight hiking trails near each of the creameries. Enjoy some ice cream and then explore our beautiful state. This year’s trail includes 13 on-farm creameries, including our own local Deere Valley Farm at 22919 Dickerson Rd in Dickerson near the C&O Canal and Monocacy Aqueduct; and Brown Cow Creamery at 28600 Ridge Road in Mt. Airy.
New for 2026, the trail has expanded to include select non-farm ice cream shops that serve locally sourced ice cream supporting Maryland dairy farms. Montgomery County additions include Mimi’s Handmade Ice Cream (Rockville and Clarksburg) and Sarah’s Handmade Ice Cream (Bethesda and Chevy Chase) locations.
To help you keep track of all Ice Cream Trail adventures, the Maryland’s Best program has invested in a FREE digital pass where you can keep track of all the locations visited. Unlike an app, this digital pass is web-based and can be saved to your home screen on your mobile device but does not take up any of your storage.
Use the app to find all the participating creameries and hikes. Each location is worth a certain number of points which can be earned once you check-in. Those points are then redeemed for small prizes or saved to enter to win the grand prize, The Maryland’s Best Ice Cream Trailblazer Champion!