Catoctin Trail

The Catoctin National Recreation Trail is a 26.6 mi (42.4 km) hiking trail that traverses federal, state, and municipal woodlands along the northern half of Catoctin Mountain in Frederick County in central Maryland, USA. The hilly terrain is typical of western Maryland with large sections canopied under dense forest cover.

History

Original portions of the trail were constructed in the 1930's by the Works Progress Administration and the Civilian Conservation Corps. The trail was later upgraded and completed by the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club between 1979 and 1982. In 2011, the trail was designated a National Recreation Trail.^[1]

Route

The trail's southern terminus begins in Gambrill State Park (GMP). The trail continues north through GMP for approximately 3.0 miles (4.8 km) and then leaves the park and enters the Frederick Municipal Forest (Frederick City Watershed). The trail travels north for 10.6 miles (17.1 km) through the Forest, staying mostly to the east of the ridge crest on the bench of the mountain. As the trail enters Cunningham Falls State Park (CFSP) it descends northeasterly off the bench and into Catoctin Hollow reaching its lowest elevation of 600 feet (180 m) as it crosses Catoctin Hollow Road. After crossing the road the trail turns northwesterly and then climbs to its highest elevation of 1,760 feet (540 m), atop Bob's Hill. After traveling 8.8 miles (14.2 km) through CFSP the trail enters Catoctin Mountain Park (CMP), a unit of the federal National Park Service. The trail traverses 4.2 miles (6.8 km) through the Park to its northern terminus at Mt. Zion Road, 1.3 miles (2.1 km) miles north of Owens Creek Campground in CMP. From there, the Appalachian Trail may be reached by traveling west on Mt. Zion Road to Raven Rock Road for 2 miles (3.2 km).^[2]

Restrictions

• Camping is permitted along the Catoctin Trail only at Rock Run Campground, Gambrill State Park; the Manor and Houck Campgrounds, Cunningham Falls State Park; and Owens Creek Campground, CMP.

References

Hiking trails in Maryland
Allegheny Highlands American Discovery Anacostia Tributaries Appalachian B&A Billy Goat Borden Tunnel BWI Capital Crescent Catoctin C&O Canal College Park Trolley Cross Island Dalecarlia Tunnel East Coast Greenway Eastern Continental GAP Great Eastern Grist Mill Gwynns Falls Jones Falls Ma and Pa Mason-Dixon Metropolitan Branch North Bethesda Patuxent Branch Potomac Heritage Rachel Carson Savage Mill Short Line Sligo Creek Torrey C. Brown (Northern Central) Trolley Line #9 Tuscarora WB&A WMRT

1. ↑ "Catoctin Trail Designated National Recreation Trail - Catoctin Mountain Park (U.S. National Park Service)". www.nps.gov. Retrieved 2016-06-06. 
2. ↑ Myers, Janet (2008). Appalachian Trail Guide to Maryland-Northern Virginia. Appalachian Trail Conservancy. ISBN 0915746530.