Catoctin Trail
Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox hiking 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 1930s 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 Script error: No such module "convert". and then leaves the park and enters the Frederick Municipal Forest (Frederick City Watershed). The trail travels north for Script error: No such module "convert". 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 Script error: No such module "convert". as it crosses Catoctin Hollow Road. After crossing the road the trail turns northwesterly and then climbs to its highest elevation of Script error: No such module "convert"., atop Bob's Hill. After traveling Script error: No such module "convert". through CFSP the trail enters Catoctin Mountain Park (CMP), a unit of the federal National Park Service. The trail traverses Script error: No such module "convert". through the Park to its northern terminus at Mt. Zion Road, Script error: No such module "convert". 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 Script error: No such module "convert"..[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.