Catoctin Mountain Park Visitor Center -- A Quiet Gateway to the Mountains Tucked into the scenic hills of Frederick County near Thurmont, the Catoctin Mountain Park Visitor Center is a great starting point for exploring one of Maryland's more serene outdoor escapes. It's part of Catoctin Mountain Park, a federally managed park offering about 25 miles of hiking trails, plus camping and trout fishing. Worth noting: it's separate from nearby Cunningham Falls State Park, so plan accordingly if you're trying to hit both. We stopped by on a brisk, sunny weekday and were rewarded with light crowds and a peaceful atmosphere. There was some noticeable truck traffic passing through the area--turns out much needed road improvements are underway--but it didn't take away from the overall experience. The visitor center itself is on the smaller side but well maintained and thoughtfully curated. Informational displays, posters, and plaques highlight the region's history--from its Native inhabitants to the communities that later shaped life in these mountains. It's a nice touch that adds depth before you hit the trails. Inside, you can find maps, books, and a modest gift shop selection. The park rangers were approachable and knowledgeable, offering helpful updates on trail conditions and access points. Bonus points for clean restrooms and a convenient place to refill your water bottle before heading out. For the youngsters in your group. Don't forget to join the Junior Ranger program and get your booklet stamped! Fun way to get kids excited to visit and appreciate the many beautiful National Parks in our country throughout their lifetime! Whether you're gearing up for a hike or just passing through, this is a solid place to get oriented, learn a bit of history, and soak in the surrounding natural beauty. read more

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I've been here twice and have hiked the same loop, but both times it has been enjoyable! On this occasion I brought a friend. We parked at the visitors center and went inside to use the facilities prior to our hike. It's a cute visitors center with historical information about the area, the wildlife, and trees. They also sell trinkets, magnets, bug spray, etc. The rangers are always cordial and will answer any questions you may have. They have a charging station!!!! This was clutch as I drove my EV this time. It's free and had me charged and ready to go by the end of my hike. We hiked up to Wolf Rock, Chimney Rock, and back. The trails are rated (if you have the All Trails app and/or based on the map). I'd say this hike was moderate. It's mostly shaded which is nice. There weren't too many insects, but you should apply insect repellent nontheless. They have several other trails. This one was a bit over 3 miles, but the full loop connects all the trails. I would like to make it to Cunningham Falls. This is a great option for me as I live in Maryland. The trails are clean, litter free so take your trash with you. Come check it out! read more

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Review based on experience from 2011, 2020 Came here to hike various different times. Always beautiful views at the top. There are trails that are accessible for free. But for Cunningham Falls (the main attraction) it does cost a bit of money to get in. First talking about Catoctin Mountain trails: there are a good number of them. Some of which loop around so I'm sure you can find the trail that fits your difficulty level. Chimney Rock and Wolf Rock are nice spots with great overlooks. Cunningham falls: this area has picnic spots and even a fake beach. You unfortunately can't go swimming here though. But if you wanted to have a barbecue and then have the kids play around the sand, this is a good option. There is a bit of a walk to get to the falls itself. But it is a popular spot on a nice day. Depending on when you go, the flow may not be particularly strong. There a lot of big rocks at the foot of the falls that kids like to play in. You can climb up to the top as well. It will take a little more effort though. Small kids will probably struggle to get to the top. But views from the waterfall are lovely. (see pics) read more

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Pretty hiking spot near Frederick. Not too far up there away from the city. On the way back, we were able to find a lot of places to eat and near here, there are other things to do like Apple picking or peach picking. This park has some winding roads to drive on, but a good bit of parking throughout the place so you never really have to start at the bottom. The trails are pretty easy, but I would recommend some hiking shoes because there are a bit of rocks sticking out and if you go on the points or rocky tops, you would need some grip on the bottom so you don't slide. It can be challenging for kids to go up to the top though. Lots of accidents can happen. The trails are well maintained and the roads are pretty clear. It's hard to get lost. The parking situation can be tougher on weekends as there are NOT THAT many parking spots. A good bit, but not even close to a parking lot. read more

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Great park with a visitor's center, a variety of hiking trails, and some interesting history. On the day of our visit, we arrived to find that access to part of the trails was unavailable, so we ended up selecting the Blue Blazes Whiskey Still Exhibit from the remaining ones. It was a nice blend of nature (following along a stream with wildflowers) and historic, as signage explained the details of Prohibition in the area and the whiskey still itself, which can be viewed at the end of the trail. It was also interesting to learn about how the area was used for spy training during World War II. There's also an EV charger available in the lot near the visitor's center, which is much appreciated! read more

Catoctin Mountain Park - Signage - Parks Near Me - Thurmont, Maryland

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Back to Catoctin for a hike on my favorite trail - Wolf Rock. This trail is right next to the park visitors center building. It's a steady ascent for 1.5 miles all the way. The signage at the trailhead shows two trails, right for Wolf Rock and left for Chimney Rock. This is the first time we decided to do a loop, first Wolf Rock and back via Chimney Rock, for a total of just under 4 miles. Signage is clear for the whole loop. Only thing to note is that the last mile back from Chimney Rock is along Rt 77 and in addition to the road noise it's not very well maintained. You won't get lost since it's pretty straight forward even if you go off trail (which we did since markings disappeared for a bit) but it's not a pleasant trail to hike on, no peace and quiet, especially with massive road work going on (which we unfortunately encountered). So for Chimney Rock, I'd recommend just do an out-and -back via Wolf Rock to avoid this last stretch along the highway. The distance between Wolf Rock and Chimney Rock is only 0.4 miles anyway so the additional length to the hike is negligible. Wolf Rock is very fun with a long stretch of rocks for arbitrary scrambling, and the namesake rock does look like a wolf (or dog). No scenic overlook here however, for that you have to go to Chimney Rock with lots of flat top rocks to sit on and enjoy the view. read more

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[Coronavirus review] Like many areas, Catoctin is split between federal and state jurisdiction; this is the national park. Normally, people come to the mountain to see Cunningham Falls or to indulge in some recreation on the lake, which are on state property. However, most of that stuff is closed as of this writing in the coronavirus era (also note major road closures due to construction; you really need to check online before you go anywhere these days), bringing the more mountainous federal park into focus. The trails are only a few miles long, but are quite rugged. You can drive up the mountain, or you can park at the bottom and get up the hard way. It's a good workout. Because all the cool water sites are on state land, this area is relatively dry, though when it's been raining water trickles across the path through various small holes. There are some rocky overlooks (with signs warning of rattlesnakes), and a small history trail. If you are the President of the United States, there's also Camp David, but most of us are not allowed into the presidential retreat. Overall, this isn't the most exciting park, but it is scenic, driveable, and quiet. read more

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Came here for a group hike and loved it, there are a series of trails that allow you to take a 8 mile loop (not too strenuous) and so you can see 3-4 overlooks. The park is well maintained. I did not see any trash besides orange peels and carrots (these are considered trash- carry out!). The visitor center opens at 9 am and there are plenty of maps and rangers who can help you plan your visit. Bathrooms inside the visitor center are clean. There is also plenty of easy parking besides the visitor center - there was no cost to get into the park. It did recently rain and the water took the easy routine (which is the trail) so if you are hiking after a rain storm do be aware that many of the trails will be muddy and/or under several inches of water. The 8 mile loop was rated as strenuous and had an elevation of 700 feet- you get a mix up of walking on flat ground and walking on rocks. Rocks can and will be slippery and I definitely fell. Though it was rated as strenuous- I would not classify it as such. Hard maybe? But it was fairly easy for what it was rated. Good shoes are recommended with the usual hiking gear. Larger rock formations such as Chimney Rock is a popular place to eat - dogs are not allowed on the larger rock formations. Be very careful! I saw a lot of people falling! The views are pretty nice too! read more

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Incredible hikes that are well marked and have rewarding views at their peaks. Simply a tranquil, paradise waiting to be explored.

One of the most exhausting hikes I've ever been on in my life but so worth it considering the view. My GF and I found Catoctin while randomly searching for places to go, and bc hiking is our favorite activity together we decided to give it a try. What we got was pure exhaustion. The elevation makes it quite the workout but when I tell you the view was amazing, that's honestly an understatement. I want a rematch with that mountain tho. read more

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Beautiful set of trails with views every mile or less. Plenty of parking across several lots, bathroom or port a potties at every lot. Most lots have picnic tables, no grills or trash though. Dog friendly. Nice visitor center with bathrooms. Waterfall isn't that exciting from where we were standing on the boardwalk, but if you got off, which you're not supposed to, it's probably better. read more

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Catoctin Mountain Park is an beautiful place to learn about the history of the region and to see breathtaking views of the ridges through MD and PA. A great place to start is the welcome center. They provide maps of the many trails and historical places throughout the park, and answer questions you may have on the locations and difficulties of them. We have come a few times and done the Chimney Rock trail and Charcoal Trail so far. Chimney was much more difficult, but a great and worthwhile hike. Charcoal was a nice flat trail with lots of history to behold. This is a great National Park to spend a day or just go for a walk, and also has the neighboring Cunningham Falls State Park with picnic tables and waterfront to enjoy your day. I would highly recommend Catoctin to anyone! read more

Catoctin Mountain Park - Charcoal Trail - Parks Near Me - Thurmont, Maryland

Great place. Not a bad hike at all. Catoctin really is closer to 4 stars due to the most efficient, tidy, and friendly welcome center. And the lush trails. Very clean. Very well-marked. These guys are on point. I'm just disappointed in the lookout views. The cute little Cunningham Falls are just that. (Shame on all these rule-breakers who let their toddlers crawl on slippery rocks and who are the worst role models...just hop the fence and destroy the natural area the park is trying to preserve. Sigh. But I digress). The Hog Rock and Blue Ridge summit are also "just cute." I guess if I want a good view I need to try the other summits. We'll do that next time. Catoctin is definitely worth a return trip. I think we just need to find the right trail with the worthwhile view. read more

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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. read more

Catoctin Mountain Park - Parks Near Me - Thurmont, Maryland

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 nps.gov 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. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmzsWxPLIOo 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: http://www.nps.gov/cato/planyourvisit/hours.htm Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CatoctinNPS Camping reservations: http://www.recreation.gov/ 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. read more

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* 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: http://www.nps.gov/cato/planyourvisit/hiking.htm (Downloadable map, but you can also obtain from the visitor center) read more

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I had a wonderful day at this beautiful national park. Hiked on the wold rock and chimney rock trails which overall took my 2 1/2 hours. The hike was a bit intense in the beginning but much worth the hike for a medium/intermediate trail level. Lots of people I passed by were very friendly. Be sure to check this place out!! read more

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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. read more

Catoctin Mountain Park - Slick climbing falls if it even sprinkles. - Parks Near Me - Thurmont, Maryland

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. read more

Catoctin Mountain Park - Parks Near Me - Thurmont, Maryland

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Very nice visitor center with plenty to do in the center itself. Park has very nice trails with varying levels of time difficulty. Park looks well maintained and does have a very nice picnicking place called "Chestnut" with picnic tables and permanent grills as well as rustic but clean restrooms. Staff are professional, friendly,helpful and knowledgeable, certainly worth the visit. read more

Great hiking and scenic views. Well marked trails. Some history included. Additional handicapped parking and trails

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! read more

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! read more

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A great, well-maintained park. I did the 8 mile hike and enjoyed walking through the woods in a moderately strenuous hike. I wasn't overly impressed with the views, except for at Chimney rocks, but overall very much had a good time. I came on a weekday afternoon, and parking was ample and it was peaceful and quiet in the trails. Call ahead to make sure the POTUS won't be around the area, as the roads can be blocked off. read more

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Great park. Challenging trails. Some of the park has a fee: 5 per person (non residents) 3 per resident. Camp David is located here as well, so there are some parts that you can not get to. The trail we hiked, off of park central rd, was very well maintained. The 1/2 mile hike to the scenic view was a bit challenging but well worth the sweat. read more

Catoctin Mountain Park - Scenic view - Parks Near Me - Thurmont, Maryland

Super fun. Hike was longer than expected but views were stunning the entire way. Easy to get to, fairly tough to find parking though beware. Bring water. No bathrooms! Not stroller friendly but kid friendly. read more

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 :) read more

I went to the National Park and hiked the eight mile trail with a friend. I was not easy, but we finished it in about 3.5 hours. I liked the trail because most of it is under trees. However, at certain areas, we could not even tell if we were even on the trail. The trail needs to be maintained better by the park. Also, there were not many good overlooks. I only saw two of them. If you don't get to the park early, you will have a hard time finding a place to park. There are not many places to park. Finally, be careful of the snakes. We came across a three-foot rattlesnake. read more

Catoctin Mountain Park - Parks Near Me - Thurmont, Maryland

Gorgeous Western Maryland mountains, especially in the spring, fall, summer, winter ... it's never a bad time to visit this treasure close to the presidential retreat at Camp David. There are many great hikes here, but our favorite spots are Thurmont Vista, Wolf Rock, and of course photogenic Chimney Rock, the ultimate lunch spot for tired hikers. This is about as good as Mid-Atlantic day hiking gets. Even first-time or occasional adventurers will have a good time on the well-marked and mapped trails. read more

Catoctin Mountain Park - Chimney Rock, Catoctin Mts SP - Parks Near Me - Thurmont, Maryland

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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 Yelp? 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. read more

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. read more

Catoctin Mountain Park - Thurmont Vista - view from the edge! - Parks Near Me - Thurmont, Maryland

We visited and hiked in Catoctin Mountain Park (a national park in Thurmont, Maryland) in June 2017. They have several awesome trails of varying intensity levels. If you're looking for a challenge / intermediate trail, I'd recommend one of the loop trails. We ended up doing an easier hike to Hog Rock (about 1 mile round trip and on fairly level ground), which led us to Hog Rock, which was on a vista with a beautiful view of a valley down below. I'd recommend taking water, appropriate hiking shoes, and a sense of adventure. read more

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. read more

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! read more

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: http://www.nps.gov/cato/planyourvisit/hiking.htm) - 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 read more

Considering this place is free, not really that far from DC, and has a lot of pretty easily accessible trails, I'm surprised it wasn't more crowded. The park rangers in the visitors center were also really helpful. Nice area, I can see why they put Camp David here. Also, check out Cunningham Falls State Park across the road while you are there. read more

Nosey Nancy drives around in her white cart checking in on you every 10 minutes. But besides that's it's a great campground....

Amazing place to relax, exercise, hang with the fam. I couldn't be more at peace every time I'm here. Try and avoid weekends!!!!! Morning hikes on weekdays are quiet and not crowded at all. read more

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. read more

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! read more

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