Catoctin Mountain Park

The weather was beautiful! A perfect day for a hike. Slightly chilly and cloudy.
Parking was crowded. A large group of us headed up the mountain and my daughter and I fell left behind — because she’s little and not used to this. I urged the others to go ahead. We were planning on a 2-​mile loop. I felt a bit nervous being alone with her but the trails were well-​marked. The trails weren’t crowded but we passed people often enough not to feel like we were the only ones up there.
I had cell service the whole time and was able to use my phone’s map feature to track us. We hiked up and back for three hours and easily found our car. We never did make it to the actual spot we were looking for because I didn’t want her scaling the rocks.
I’d do that hike again.

This review is going to get real real fast.
There’s a figurative black hole in my heart that remains dormant. When it awakens, it swallows my interior and leaves a void within me. It just grows and I only become aware of it after the fact when I feel an emptiness inside of me.
I think about others and wonder how they keep it all together. How are people not ticking time bombs waiting to explode a la Frank Grimes? I marvel at it all… Work, children, marriage. Thinking about how our fellow men are suffering. We are on a merry-​go-​round, going in circles on an endless loop being fed Ludovico images of all the crappiness in the world. How am I supposed to find happiness in receiving a funny vote on Unilocal?How is one click of a button supposed to rid me of my worries?
Whenever I feel like this, I channel Thoreau and McCandleness and remove myself from society. I go off the grid and attempt to escape my life even if it is for a day. I like coming to Catoctin because there are giant secluded boulders that are conveniently stacked atop of one another that offer a panoramic view of the park.
I don’t do much when I am on the boulder. I nap. I think. I draw. I write. I think some more. I do a lot of thinking. And like Tomorrowland, I try myself to think positively and believing that tomorrow will be better yesterday and today. After 5+ hours to myself, I start to feel better. I begin to feel at peace with it all. The life I wanted to take a break from will all still be there. and I will be more ready to live it again.
And if all else fails, I just think like Mr. Peanutbutter and the futility of our existence:
The universe is a cruel, uncaring void. The key to being happy isn’t a search for meaning. It’s to just keep yourself busy with unimportant nonsense, and eventually, you’ll be dead.

Where the Baltimore exurbs transition into some of the rugged wild that fills up much of western Maryland. This is great, unspoiled forestland with trails aplenty and opportunities aplenty to go off-​trail and follow the running streams you hear down below. These ungroomed areas are not overrun with bramble and underbrush, so you can make it down to the water and hop along the boulders that pop out of the stream in summertime. It’s all very peaceful. But it’s also all very vast, giving you uneasy, Blair Witch Trial-​type creepy feelings if you happen to be doing this in autumn as the sun is sinking fast. Finding your way back to the main trail requires quite a bit of angling-​by-​memory, as the footpaths follow ridges pretty high above you. Certainly not recommended on a solo hike. But the park is wonderful for urges to escape civilization, as you will catch very few signs of it once in its confines. I don’t know this, but I strongly suspect that Camp David is somewhere among these woods not too farflung from here.

Returned here a week later, this time to check out Cunningham Falls (the MD State park next door). We parked at the Visitor’s Center and hiked down to Cunningham.
After checking out the falls (which were bit of let-​down), we went a bit off-​trail and crossed the stream (resulting in a soggy sock and shoe combo for me for the rest of the hike… but no gangrene, so it’s all good) o check out the state park trails.
Blazings are a bit faded so keep your eyes open. Also, we ran into a woman who lost her dog in the park — unfortunate but I’m sure it will turn out ok (or maybe not).
Made it to the lake (which has a small, clean beach) and had ourselves a picnic — however, as found it the hard way, there is no way to take a loop back to the Visitor’s Center without going on the road (as we did) or going back through to the falls.

I really like how this park has several hiking routes and overlooks for you to choose from, all with their own access points and beauty. I stopped within the Visitor’s Center because I wasn’t too sure where to start and the ranger on duty was so polite and helpful! They have printable maps for you to take with you and they specify the distances/​difficulty of each route so you can gauge how much you want to push yourself for the day! Really looking forward to going back and trying different routes.

Fun hike getting lost a few times, because all the trail markers fell off and the paths can be easy to miss. Definitely check out Chimney Rock! Next trip we’re going to see the waterfalls!

Well, I thought it was a lovely small park. I went here on a rainy and somewhat gross day, although it did clear up for the afternoon (well, it stopped raining), and it was a weekday, so basically, I saw no one, just one other lone hiker who I passed once. The Visitor’s Center was small, but nice, clean bathrooms and very nice ranger lady who I chatted with for a while. I did the visitor to chimney rock to wolf rock and back, and then a few smaller trails. That hike was fine and dandy. It says strenuous to chimney rock, but it really wasn’t bad at all. I then did the little hike to see the whiskey still, which was cool and also did the Charcoal trail which was interesting. It was like a little hike with a lesson and «exhibits.» I also parked in the same lot as the charcoal trail and did the quick .5 to the view, which now I can’t remember the name. Pretty though. Definitely things to see even if you don’t want to do a lot of hiking. I’d like to check out more of it in the future. Overall, nice smallish park in a pretty area.

There is a national park and a state park. I liked the national park better… Well kept etc… And a little less busy…
Started at the rangers station where they were super friendly about pointing out the best trails to see things. There was parking at the station and another lot across the street.
The trails were easily accessible from the parking lot… Very well kept trail. Easy to follow. Tree covered so nice in the summer.
Took a quick detour to Cunningham falls. Nice falls but so many people just going off trail to see the falls… And so many people. Not sure what was going on… Oh well.
Back on the trail was nicer and a good way to spend the afternoon.
I would definitely go back!

I went to Catoctin Mountain Park on a weekend with some friends, and we had a great time hiking. We started at the visitor center, with plans to do the 8 mile loop, but later found that a large section of the 8 mile loop was closed. We ended up doing the chimney rock trail, the wolf rock trail, and the cunningham falls trail, which made for about 10 miles hiking overall nonetheless.
My favorite amongst the 3 was chimney rock. The rock just out from the top and provides stunning, panoramic views of the entire valley. The hike to get there is moderate to strenuous, so make sure you’re in shape before attempting it.
The trail to wolf rock is easy, and honestly, I couldn’t figure out what the hype was about. The views were decent but nothing special.
The Cunningham falls (locally known as McAfee falls) trail is about 1.5−2 miles from the visitor center, and is an easy to moderate hike. You can also walk there using the road if you’re not in the mood to hike. The falls are more easily accessible from the Cunningham Falls State park side, than from the Catoctin mountain park side. There are signs prohibiting you from venturing over the barricade into the water, but no one seemed to be paying them any heed. The view of the falls is pretty but the walkway ends a ways from the falls, so if you want a closer look, you have no option but to jump over and hop over some rocks, which we did. The water is cold, and it’s a great place to bring your dogs for some water fun too.
Overall, I had a great time at Catoctin, and i intend to go back during the fall to see if I can click some good pictures.

I took a group of kids camping at Popular Grove the week after Memorial Day.
The camp site is a lovely natural playground with a small field, fallen trees, snags, insects, and potential bears.
I am writing this review because I didn’t know it would be so basic. We did not have water, the fire pits were full of wet ash, the trash dumpster was overflowing when we got there and the pit toilets were not maintained.
This campsite has so much potential but I had to ask 3 different rangers to help me get water! I finally ended up getting it from the hose at the rangers private residence. I have traveled in many countries and visited a lot of campsites and this was embarrassing. I have written to the NPS because I hope this is a one off, but I also don’t want anyone else showing up with a bunch of dehydrated kids!

We chose The cotactin mountain park for one of those our weekend hikes mainly because it is only 45 mins drive from Rockville.
The drive to park was really pretty and we saw quite a few orchids on the way.
We started by visiting welcome center first and got the information regarding opened trails and a map from the rangers. The visitor is worth a pit stop for snacks an the small but cool display of inhabitant stuffed animals and a very aged tree stem section. The staff was very friendly and helpful.
As for the hike itself, we choose the 8 mile loop starting from visitor center consist of chimney rock, wolf rock and Thurmont vista and back to visitor center. The view along the trail was usual as you would hoped in this area. the trails wasn’t that busy. The 2 mile trail to chimmney rock is strenuous but the rest of the loop is easy hike. The View from chimney rock is breathtaking. The view point itself was very crowded and noisy but the beautiful view would definitely compensate for it. the wolf rock viewpoint is the rock formation and sitting there was very peaceful. Rest of the hike was pretty much straight or downhill trail. Packing sufficient water and snacks is must.
After coming back to visitor center, we hiked on the Cunningham falls trail and back which is another 2.4 miles loop. The parking lot near the falls is marked as disabled parking only, so the trail is the one option. the second option is you can walk along the road from visitor center but there are no walkways. The trail ends into the broadwalk which leads to the trail. The end of the walkway have two benches to sit on and enjoy the view of the falls. There are several signs along the broadway regarding not climb the falls or get off the broadwalk but there were plenty of people doing that anyway. The falls wasn’t that great but then again it was summer.

Some of the reviews for Catoctin are really funny because people are taking away stars for ludicrous things.
* Yes, Camp David is on the grounds and if the Prez shows up and a few roads are closed how is that the fault of the park? Their listing on
is updated regularly, I met the ranger that handles their web page & their Facebook account, with any closings be it because of the weather or a visit from POTUS. If you didn’t look it’s your fault not theirs.
* Don’t forget that right across the street is Cunningham Falls State Park. State Park meaning the state of Maryland not the National Park Service which also means a totally different set of rules, regs and requirements. Don’t confuse one for the other because they are not the same entity.
As for Catoctin itself:
We paid spent some time at the visitor center and while small it’s worth a brief pit stop. Clean bathrooms, a few snacks, drinks, books/​trinkets along with maps, a cool touch screen board that explains the different rocks/​vistas along with a small display of stuffed animals that inhabit the area.
The rangers there were extremely nice although either because they’re not allowed to or because they’re clueless, if you ask anything under the sun about Camp David including simple questions about its history you get a Sgt. Schultz answer.
As for the trails, I’m not a hiking snob so to me they’re perfectly fine. Sure I suppose it’s not the most scenic area (trees everywhere) but then again what do you expect coming out to the rural badlands of Central Maryland? Again, if you didn’t know what to expect you didn’t do your homework and quite honestly you’re an idiot.
We did the short and simple Blue Blazes trail to the ruins of the whiskey still and the far more challenging five mile-​ish Chimney Rock-​Wolf Rock-​Visitor Center Loop.
The one valid complaint about that loop hike is that they could use more signage because at times it is quasi-​difficult to figure out where the trail goes or if your making your own trail into who knows where?
In terms of crowds it was a cool, damp and drizzly October Saturday so while there were certainly people hiking when we did the five mile loop maybe we encountered ten-​twelve other people and the visitor center lot was deserted when we got there at ten and maybe half-​filled when we left a little after three.
If you go the key thing to keep in mind is that the cost is free so there really is no reason to complain about anything. As I usually say, your tax dollars keep it open so you might as well see what the hell is going on.
The visitor center is open 9:30 — 5:00 daily with the exception of the usual major holidays but the grounds are open 365 days a year from dawn until dusk. They do have a ton of on site camping options there as well but since to me camping is staying at a Hampton Inn I’m not much help in that department.
Park info:
Facebook:
Camping reservations:
If you have kids this place does offer a Junior Ranger Program. The booklet (s) (different books depending on age) can be printed off their NPS page and they’re not terribly difficult.

Camp David is in Catoctin Mountain Park which means sometimes roads are closed for security reasons. Even though it’s a beautiful park, the trails are rather short. It’s a nice hike back to Cunningham Falls, however we have been disappointed in that the falls never seem to run very strong. If you’re in shape, the trails are pretty easy to maneuver. Definitely not for flip flops so leave those at home as there are some ups and downs to the trails. You’d be surprised as to what we have seen trying to walk these trails! Yikes!
The first time we visited (9 years ago) we brought our dog (she has since passed away) and we had to turn around and find a dog friendly trail as they did not allow dogs. According to their website: «Hunting Creek Lake and Cunningham Falls are located in Cunningham Falls State Park and pets are not permitted in these areas.» Now it seems the park has opened up to allow dogs as there were a lot of four legged family members on the trails. Hmmm…
There are a number of picnic tables around the lake, however there is no wading or swimming in the lake, but you can take a canoe or kayak in :)

We came on the Saturday afternoon of Labor Day weekend and hiked from the Misty Mount Cabins, past the visitor center and down to Cunningham Falls with our two dogs. There were about a zillion other people and dogs there. Most hikers were polite and moved over so we could pass, but almost all the kids ran straight up to our dogs and pet them without asking. I realize this is not a reflection on the park, but I wanted to note it in case you have a dog that isn’t as friendly or if you are just looking for a serene hike in the woods. This place probably isn’t it!
Surprisingly, the trails were pretty tough to hike. From where we started/​ended, there was no indication (on the map or otherwise) of quite how steep and unstable the trail would be. The trails were extremely rocky and many of them had small pieces of slate covering the entire path. This made for a pretty slow hike. It took us about 3 hours to go just under 4 miles. Once you get down near Cunningham Falls, the path turns into a boardwalk. This was very easy to walk, but was crowded and tight. There are a ton of signs that inform visitors to remain on the boardwalk, but almost everyone jumps the barrier and climbs up the falls.
The paths are not especially well marked and in some places are mislabeled. For example, when we got to the Visitor Center, a sign indicated that Cunningham Falls was 1.2 miles away. When we saw signs from the falls and back to the Visitor Center, they indicated it was 1.4 miles away. I realize this isn’t a huge difference, but is still a little misleading.
Bottom line: I had a nice time because I really enjoy hiking and I liked the physical challenge. Our Border Collies were exhausted at the end of the day and so were we. However, the paths were just too crowded and a little harder than we expected.

Catoctin Mountain Park is only an hour from Washington, DC, but you’ll feel like you’re way out in the country as you drive out to Thurmont and pass all of the rolling farms and pick-​your-​own orchards. This park contains Camp David, the President’s wilderness retreat, hidden alongside the trails and campgrounds.
There are quite a few trails to choose from, and they vary in length and difficulty. You can pick and choose to make short or long jaunts, here-​and-​backs or loops. There are a few pretty vistas, though most of your hiking is through some fairly unmemorable Maryland woods. I prefer some of the more scenic local parks for visually interesting hiking alongside rivers, cliffs, or waterfalls.
The park gets pretty busy on lovely spring/​summer weekends, so you may not find a parking space in the lot you wanted. But the trails, especially the more remote ones, aren’t too overcrowded except at overlooks and other points of interest. Bathrooms are sparse, but you can find them at the Visitor Center and occasionally in a parking lot. It’s worth printing a map from the park’s website or picking one up at the park, so you can look at trails, terrain, bathrooms, etc.
It’s worth noting that this park features ticks a-​plenty, so apply insect repellent liberally, tuck your pants into your socks, cover as much skin as possible, and have a friend check your skin for hitchhikers when you get done. Lyme Disease and other tick-​bourne illnesses are worth taking seriously, and this park is in tick central.

It’s a tough terrain if you are a beginner hiker, especially the chimney trail !

We went hiking with our dog the last weekend of May. The park is generally beautiful, clean, and not too crowded. Parking was not an issue, but we did arrive around 10:30 am; the lot had filled up when we left around 2:45 pm. In sum, we’ll certainly return for future hikes.
Our biggest complaint is that the trail that leads to Cunningham Falls is marked as dog friendly at the trail head. All of the trails in Catoctin (as far as I know) are dog friendly. However, the trail leads into Cunningham Falls park via an accessible boardwalk and there is a not very well-​placed sign near that boardwalk that says that pets are prohibited. So, we had hiked 1.4 miles just to turn around and not see the falls from that trail.
Pros:
— The NPS has a great selection of hikes varying in length and difficulty. They created mixed-​and-​matched hikes for you, or you can go your own way (check out the various options here:
)
— Very clean
— Dog friendly (except for the cross over into Cunningham Falls)
— Bathroom, water fountain, and park benches at the visitor, as well as a few picnic tables sporadically placed
— Not too crowded (at least during the last weekend of May)
— Trails are well-​maintained and despite not being blazed, it’s clear where you should be going (but pick up a map at the visitor center anyway)
Cons:
— Over an hour drive to get here from the DC area

Three and a half stars. Despite limited parking, the trails adjacent to the roads are surprisingly busy thanks to free entry to Cunningham Falls. The rock formations surrounding the cascading water make for decent scramble opportunities. Some deer, lush undergrowth in summer. The park service staff are friendly, but it was unfortunate that Camp David’s use during our visit made some of the trail loops we had planned to hit inaccessible. I’ll be back to hit Chimney Rock.

This is my go-​to spot when the urge to go hiking hits. I go about two to three times per year, and I always go here. It’s about an hour and a half drive from me, which isn’t too bad, and it’s actually pretty easy to find. It’s beautiful year-​round, but especially in the fall.
They have all types of trails, and a map in the ranger station that tells you where they all are and how difficult they are. I always hike Chimney Rock. It’s one of the more difficult ones, but completely worth it at the end. The view is nothing less than breath taking. There’s also plenty to do in the area once you’re done hiking also, with the adorable little town of Thurmont closeby and farms in every direction that are always hosting great fall family events in autumn.
This is one of my favorite places to be. I can’t wait to come back!

* Dynamic trails, very rocky, though, so careful!
* Many many rock formations to check out/​climb around on.
* Pretty sweet interactive touch-​screen with the map at the visitor center
* No fee to park/​enter the park!
* Really friendly park rangers that help you with planning out a suitable hike/​trails to follow.
* Trail markings are pretty clear.
* Pretty cool to end the hike by the lake!
Useful Links:
(Downloadable map, but you can also obtain from the visitor center)