Catoctin Mountain Park
Catoctin Mountain Park
4.5
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Monday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Tuesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Wednesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Thursday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Friday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Saturday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Sunday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
About
You can't visit the Presidential retreat of Camp David here, but you can take advantage of the park's 25 miles of scenic hiking trails plus many outdoor activities including camping, fishing and picnicking.
Duration: More than 3 hours
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See what travelers are saying
- Alicia_JA360 contributionsGorgeous Park with a Whiskey StillCatoctin Mountain Park is a beautiful oasis about 90 minutes northwest of Baltimore. The drive up to the visitor center is tight and scary but it was worth it. There are several well maintained trails that provide beautiful hikes. Be sure to do the very short walk to the Blue Blazes Whiskey Still for a piece of fun history.Visited March 2024Traveled as a coupleWritten April 6, 2024
- LightPacker308286Rockville, Maryland707 contributionsEnjoying lunches or just taking in the scenery at Chimney Rock and Wolf Rock formations.In the second Saturday morning of June, we explored the gateway loop trail. The trails features two of the most well known rock formations at Catoctin Mountain Park: Chimney Rock (1419 ft) and Wolf Rock (1401 ft). Each of these rock formations are great places to stop. Enjoying lunches or just taking in the scenery at two rock formations.Visited June 2024Traveled with friendsWritten June 15, 2024
- Steve around townCleveland, Ohio123 contributionsBring your water if it’s hot!Took a hike here during a heatwave. Luckily the mountain was much cooler than surrounding areas. Don’t be turned off by the rugged terrain or trails being labeled strenuous. They are rugged and tough but they level off after a bit (.4 miles in the case of the wolf rock parking area). I had my camelback water but lots of people seemed to be wandering around without much. It’s worth the walk up to chimney rock. Some road closures and trails may occur depending on if local camp David is busy, but those seem to be contained to areas further into the park away from the visitors center. This mountain park is worth at least a few hours to experience. Easy access from Frederick or Gettysburg.Visited June 2024Traveled soloWritten June 23, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
222 reviews
Excellent
133
Very good
71
Average
16
Poor
1
Terrible
1
gostartraveler
Forked River, NJ1,912 contributions
Mar 2020
This is a great park for hiking, with two orienteering trails set up - not too easy yet not too hard. The Visitor Center shouldn't be overlooked either, with a room on how the park came to be as well as hands-on exhibits for the kids. Stamps for the NPS passport are also in the center as well. Recommended.
Written April 26, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
PassinThrough2013
Maryland65 contributions
Nov 2020
Catoctin contains a nice network of trails with several great views. I hike were year round. The nature and historical displays in the visitors center were recently updated. One of the shorter hikes leads to a site used by bootleggers during prohibition. During the week, you can always find parking. On the weekends the lot can fill quickly. Free parking & free entry.
Written November 9, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Steve around town
Cleveland, OH123 contributions
Jun 2024 • Solo
Took a hike here during a heatwave. Luckily the mountain was much cooler than surrounding areas. Don’t be turned off by the rugged terrain or trails being labeled strenuous. They are rugged and tough but they level off after a bit (.4 miles in the case of the wolf rock parking area). I had my camelback water but lots of people seemed to be wandering around without much. It’s worth the walk up to chimney rock. Some road closures and trails may occur depending on if local camp David is busy, but those seem to be contained to areas further into the park away from the visitors center. This mountain park is worth at least a few hours to experience. Easy access from Frederick or Gettysburg.
Written June 23, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Farfromhomes
Clarksville, MD72 contributions
Dec 2022
Although this park is open throughout the year, a large portion of the road that runs through the park and several stops that are in the open section of the park were closed (despite what the ranger said at the visitor center), which was disappointing. We were wanting to walk on one of the easier hiking loops but those were located off sections of the park that were closed. We managed to find a picnic area, where we were all by ourselves. It was in part of the park that was closed off from cars but we accessed it by a 10 minute hike from the area where we were able to park the car (which was not very scenic). We had hoped to spend a few hours here but only stayed about hour due to so much of the areas to (legally) park your car were closed off, which prevented us from accessing their easier hiking trails. We will have to come back when the weather is warmer
Written December 30, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Arthur G
Endicott, NY918 contributions
Aug 2023 • Couples
An Appalachian Mountain Park with lots of trees and hills. The visitor center is basic, constructed by the CCC in the 1930s as were the camp ground buildings. We used the picnic grounds. We were disappointed that a ranger program we drove to was cancelled without notice. Long hikes are required to see many of the highlights of the park.
Written September 23, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Patty Z
29 contributions
Aug 2020
It was very busy. A beautiful day for August, not too hot. My husband and I couldn't find parking in the area we intended to hike so we only drove through. (We didn't have very much time to stop so we decided to return another day). It is very pretty and I look forward to another visit!
Written October 4, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
LightPacker308286
Rockville, MD707 contributions
Jun 2024 • Friends
In the second Saturday morning of June, we explored the gateway loop trail. The trails features two of the most well known rock formations at Catoctin Mountain Park: Chimney Rock (1419 ft) and Wolf Rock (1401 ft). Each of these rock formations are great places to stop. Enjoying lunches or just taking in the scenery at two rock formations.
Written June 15, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The_Wanderer1992
Columbia, MD2,541 contributions
Jun 2020
This is a well maintained park with plenty of trails ranging from easy to strenuous. The trails are well maintained with lots of signage. There is plenty of parking. Even though we went a Saturday afternoon on the first day of summer, not too many people were at the park. Or if there was a lot of people, there was plenty of trails to spread them all out.
Written June 21, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Alicia_JA
Chicago360 contributions
Mar 2024 • Couples
Catoctin Mountain Park is a beautiful oasis about 90 minutes northwest of Baltimore. The drive up to the visitor center is tight and scary but it was worth it. There are several well maintained trails that provide beautiful hikes. Be sure to do the very short walk to the Blue Blazes Whiskey Still for a piece of fun history.
Written April 6, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
hduck
Hancock, NY901 contributions
May 2021 • Couples
This park has great trails and views. I would have given a 5 out if 5 but the map does mislead the terrain in my opinion. They say gentle but are a climb here and there. We did do the Blue blazes whiskey still which was gentle and a nice in and out walk. We also hog rock and blue ridge trails which I would rate as moderate. Make sure you stop at the visitor center and get your stamp.
Written June 8, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Is there a general store or somewhere to buy ice nearby?
Written June 22, 2020
Is there much water flow in the waterfall right now? Is it worth hiking to?
Thanks so much.
Written August 6, 2019
Yes there is water at the waterfall and it is pretty however it is not a part of the park that we enjoyed the most. Only because it was very crowded there. And despite all the signs, people were walking on the waterfall and all of the rocks which takes away from the beauty of the waterfall.
Written August 7, 2019
I cannot hike far but would like to see waterfalls. How far is it from a parking area to view waterfalls? What would be the closest parking area?
Written October 29, 2018
I don't remember any falls in the free National Park part. But across highway 77 is a State Park (entry fee) that has falls. And there is a parking area about a half mile west of the turnoff for Catoctin Hollow Road. I've had knee replacements and I was able to walk the couple hundred feet of level boardwalk to get back to the big Cunningham falls. It is free and wheelchair accessible. If you go on Google Maps and click on the trail that ends at the falls it has a bunch of pictures so you can see what to expect. You can't touch the water from the boardwalk, but you get up within 20 yards of the falls so you can see it well. To actually go in the falls you would have to walk more rugged trails from the State Park side.
Written October 30, 2018
hi are you pet friendly and what are your prices for pets if you are and did you have Water and Electric for tents and how many people can be on a tent site on tents and are there bathrooms and is there a pool is there a laundromat or anything like that what kind of activities do you have what kind of historical things and activities do you have for grandparents and grandchildren and puppies
Written September 1, 2017
The Catoctin National Park is pet friendly (on leash). They have some limited rustic "tent only" camping. No electric or water. However, nearby across the road (MD route 77) is Cunningham Falls State Park which has camping that would suit your needs. There is also a lake for swimming. The closest laundromat would be in the near by town of Thurmont. 10 minutes away.
Written September 1, 2017
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