Catoctin Mountain Park

Catoctin Mountain Park

6602 Foxville Road, Thurmont Road, MD 21788
(301) 663-9388

Catoctin Mountain Park, part of our National Park System, encompasses 5,890 acres – 8 square miles – on the Catoctin Mountain ridge, located on the eastern ramparts of the Blue Ridge Mountains, part of the larger Appalachian Mountains. The park is located in the northwestern corner of Frederick County, just south of the Pennsylvania line. It is a place of great beauty, offering grand vistas of the surrounding mountains. The Visitor Center (Park Central Road just north of MD Route 77/Foxville Road) sits at an elevation of 920 feet, but elevations in the park vary greatly, with high points at Blue Ridge Summit Overlook (1,520 feet), Thurmont Vista (1,499 feet),Chimney Rock (1,419 feet) and the highest overlook, Hog Rock (1,610 feet).

The park includes plant communities and habitats that are not common in Maryland, and features sparkling streams, rock outcroppings, extensive hiking trails, and panoramic views. The topography is rugged, with steep sections on some of the trails, which are generally rock-strewn – sturdy hiking boots are recommended.

Most of the park is covered with second-growth hardwood forest and is known for displays of brilliant colors in the fall. The forest generally consists of oak-hickory-tulip poplar woodlands, but tree species vary within the park depending on soil, elevation, and situation, resulting in great diversity. Tree species on ridge tops include chestnut oak, table mountain pine and pitch pine, while lower elevations hold white oak, tulip poplar, red maple, black birch, American beech, sour gum, eastern hemlock, elm, yellow birch, and sycamore. The western portion of the park is particularly rich in diversity, with sugar maple, basswood, hickories, hornbeam, white ash, beech, and tulip poplar. The shrub layer in the park includes mountain laurel, spicebush, lowbush blueberry, and viburnum. Invasive shrubs include multiflora rose and barberry, and the park is attempting to control these.

All of the land here had previously been logged repeatedly, dating back to colonial times, but following the creation of the park in 1936, the Civilian Conservation Corps was mobilized to plant trees as well as to build park features such as cabins, trails, and footbridges. Today, the park is actively engaged in activities to protect the forest, including deer management, fighting invasive species, and battling invasive insects such as spongy moth and hemlock wooly adelgid.

The main vehicle access to the park is via Park Central Road, which runs north from the entrance and Visitor Center and then turns west to traverse the park. In addition, Manahan Road and Foxville Deerfield Road run north-south through the western section of the park.

The park has ample camping facilities, with three cabin areas (Camp Misty Mount, Camp Greentop, and Camp Round Meadow), two tent camping areas (Owens Creek Campground and Poplar Grove Youth Campground), and two Adirondack shelters for a primitive camping experience. Even if you’re not camping, these campground places provide handy landmarks for navigating around the huge park, which boasts over 25 miles of hiking trails. Picnic tables (no grills) are located at many of the parking areas, such as the Visitor Center secondary parking area, the Thurmont Vista Parking Area, and the Hog Rock Parking Area. The Chestnut Picnic Area and the Owens Creek Picnic Area provide grills as well as tables. There are no food concessions in the park; you must bring your own food. Restrooms are located at three parking areas (Hog Rock Parking Area on Park Central Road; Chestnut Picnic Area on Park Central Road; and Owens Creek Picnic Area on Foxville-Deerfield Road) all helpfully shown on an interactive park restroom map.

The Manahan Road area has the most reliable population of Cerulean Warblers in this part of Maryland and nesting populations of several other warbler species. The nearby Owens Creek Picnic Area includes the Brown’s Farm Nature Trail that is also good for warblers, including Louisiana Waterthrush. Wood Thrush, Ovenbird; other denizens of mature deciduous forests are common throughout the park.

Cunningham Falls State Park lies immediately to the south of Catoctin Mountain Park, and just a couple miles to the east, Seymour Cooper MOS Sanctuary is on Eyler Valley Flint road, making for additional birding possibilities.

Camp David, the presidential retreat, lies within Catoctin Mountain Park, and some public roads and sections of the park will be closed when the President is in residence. Needless to say, security is always high near Camp David, which is closed to the public, and birders should never attempt to enter the posted No Entry zone.

Fun fact: During its early years (1948-1954), the Maryland Ornithological Society held its annual statewide conference at Camp Greentop in Catoctin Mountain Park. Attendees slept on cots in cabins, and Sunday activities featured a religious service. In those years, the conference typically had over 100 attendees each year. The brochure advertising the 1952 conference (marked with notes in Chan Robbins‘ handwriting) shows the cost for an adult to attend the weekend conference was just $5.45, including registration, two nights lodging, four meals and three snacks!

Historical Note: Camp Greentop and Camp Misty Mount are part of a historical district that is on the National Register of Historic Places as well as the Maryland Inventory of Historic Places. The files in these registers document the historic and cultural importance of the camp structures that were built by the Civilian Conservation Corps.

Birdlife:

Over 140 species have been reported on eBird from Catoctin Mountain Park. A number of eBird hotspots cover the park, including:

• Catoctin Mountain (overall area) – 143+ species
• Catoctin Mountain Park–Brown Farm Nature Trail at Owens Creek Picnic Area – 106+ species
• Catoctin Mountain Park–Chestnut Picnic Area – 77+ species
• Catoctin Mountain Park–Owens Creek Campground – 100+ species
• Manahan Road – 118+ species
• Thurmont Vista Trail – 66+ species

The park has breeding populations of Cerulean, Hooded, and Kentucky Warblers, American Redstart, Ovenbird, Yellow-throated Vireo, Veery, Baltimore Oriole, and Scarlet Tanager. Regularly seen are most woodpecker species, along with other forest species such as Red-eyed Vireo, Cedar Waxwing, Common Raven, and small woodland birds. In migration, the park is a good place to find a variety of additional warbler species, migrating hawks, and thrushes. In the winter, Purple Finch and kinglets can be seen.

Wheelchair and Other Access:

Catoctin Mountain Park has outstanding accommodations for those with a variety of disabilities.

• The Spicebush Trail is a quarter-mile wheelchair-accessible trail with a natural-looking specially bonded WoodCarpet® that is firm and stable. The trailhead is in the Chestnut picnic area. Accessible parking and two wheelchair-accessible picnic tables connect to the trail. Restrooms are within 200′.
• The Chestnut Picnic Area features two wheelchair-accessible picnic tables and grills and accessible restrooms.
• Catoctin Mountain Park’s tent-camping area features three accessible sites, the accessible Sawmill Interpretive Trail, and restrooms with paved access. The restrooms include accessible facilities, but some corners are tight and the doors are not mechanized.
• The Sawmill exhibit located next to Owens Creek Campground has a wooden ramp system to access the sawmill itself. Interpretive signs are located along the ramp and there are resting platforms along the ramp and at the sawmill. The exhibit is open all year but the ramp access from the campground is limited to the camping season, April 15th through November 1. Year round access to the Sawmill exhibit is available from the Sawmill Parking Area on Foxville Road which also has a wooden ramp system for exhibit access. The Blacksmith Shop is wheelchair accessible.
• The Visitor Center, located at 14707 Park Central Rd, Thurmont, MD 21788, has a small exhibit area that is wheelchair accessible.
• Both Camp Greentop and Camp Round Meadow are accessible. Camp Greentop is used by The League for People with Disabilities each summer. Camp Misty Mount, with rental cabins, has a few accessible cabins but it is recommended you contact the park for specific information on pathways within the camp. Call (301) 271-3140 for information.
• Color Correction Eyeglasses in adult and children’s sizes are available for loan during visitor center operating hours. There is no cost to borrow the glasses. The glasses filter colors in a way that corrects for red/green color blindness.
• For those with other visual disabilities, there are tactile models in the Visitor Center including a raccoon, a snake, a rabbit, a radio, tree trunks, barrels, tools, and stones.
• For those with hearing impairments, captioned videos provide information about the park history and natural resources.

Pet Policy:

• Pets must be physically restrained on a leash no longer than 6 feet in length at all times or be otherwise physically confined.
• Pets are permitted in Owens Creek Campground and on park trails.
• Pets may not be left unattended and tied to an object.
• Pets may not make noise that is unreasonable considering location, time of day or night, impact on park users, and other relevant factors, or that frightens wildlife by barking, howling, or making other noise.
• Pets are not allowed on the rock formations. They must stay on established trails.
• Pets, except for guide dogs or service animals, are prohibited inside all buildings and are not permitted in the following areas:

1. Camp 1 – Misty Mount
2. Camp 2 – Greentop
3. Camp 4 – Round Meadow
4. Poplar Grove Youth Group Tenting Area
5. Adirondack Backcountry Shelters
6. Poplar Grove Youth Camping Area
7. Wolf Rock Geologic Formation
8. Chimney Rock Geologic Formation
9. Pets are prohibited in rock climbing areas

Special Designations:

Catoctin Mountain Park is part of the Maryland Blue Ridge Important Bird Area (IBA), as designated by the National Audubon Society

Special Features:

• Camp David, the Presidential Retreat, is located within the park. When the President is in residence, large sections of the park and some public roads may be closed. However, both Manahan Road and Owens Creek Picnic Area usually remain open.
• Catoctin Mountain Park is not open for public hunting, but the National Park Service employs licensed sharpshooters as part of a deer management plan to protect the ecosystem.
• Popular activities in the park include rock-climbing, fishing (especially fly fishing), cross-country skiing, orienteering, and horseback riding (bring your own horse).
• There are ranger-led programs for adults and children during the spring, summer, and fall; see the park calendar.

Local MOS Chapter:

The local chapter of the Maryland Ornithological Society is the Frederick Bird Club, which hosts fields trips and meetings with informative presentations, all free and open to the public. Of course, the Audubon Society of Central Maryland also provides activities for birders in Frederick County; see their website for details.

Multimedia: 

The Audubon Society of Central Maryland’s YouTube channel features presentations on birds and birding recorded at their monthly meetings and on other occasions.

Parking:

Paved and gravel parking lots are available throughout the park; see Trail Map at in the orange box in the “At a Glance” section. Roadside parking is only permitted along Manahan Road.

Directions:

From MD Route 15 in Thurmont, take Route 77 west for about 3 miles to the Catoctin Mountain Park Visitor’s Center on the right. To reach Manahan Road, continue on Route 77 for another 3 miles and turn right on Foxville-Deerfield Road. After a short distance, turn right on Manahan Road. The best birding begins after crossing the Park Central Road. To reach Owens Creek Picnic Area, stay on Foxville-Deerfield Road for another mile to the turn-off for the picnic area on the right.

Nearby Sites:

Frederick County: Audrey Carroll Audubon Sanctuary ◾ C&O Canal – Mouth of Monocacy to Brunswick ◾ Cunningham Falls State Park ◾ Fred J. Archibald Audubon Sanctuary ◾ Gambrill State Park ◾ Lilypons Water Gardens ◾ Seymour B. Cooper MOS Sanctuary ◾ Sugarloaf Mountain

Habitats:

HedgerowsUpland Deciduous Forests Old Fields, Shrubby Meadows Rivers & Streams

Features:

BeginnersCampingFishingFree - No Entry Fee at Any TimeGift Shop or BookstoreHiking/Walking TrailsHorseback RidingNature Education ProgramsOvernight Lodging or CabinsParkingPets AllowedPicnic AreaRestroomsVisitor Center, Interpretive Displays, ExhibitsWheelchair Accessible FeaturesYoung People / Families

Type:

Audubon Important Bird AreasNational Parks & Monuments