This trail is the major circuit trip within Catoctin Mountain Park. It encompasses many points of interest within the park on one 8.6 mile circuit. If you like wildlife this is a great trail with over 130 species of birds including red-tailed hawk (In fact there is small aviary with injured birds of prey at one entrance to the park that is worth checking out). There are also nearly 100 species of wildflowers along the trail. Stop in the Catoctin Mountain Park Visitor Center before taking off to get a map of the park and a brochure for the Hog Rock Nature Trail before heading to the trailhead across the street.
On this hike you will come across Hog Rock, Wolf Rock, and Chimney Rock at 2.1 miles, 5.3 miles, and 5.7 miles respectively. Hog Rock provides a wonderful overlook at the valley below which is especially great in the fall. Wolf Rock is a large quartzite rock that hardly looks like a wolf, but still a great stop on the trail. Chimney Rock is my personal favorite because of the many boulders. If you climb down into Chimney Rock you will feel like you?re at the bottom of so many chimneys as you weave your way through the maze of rock. Lots of fun scrambling and jumping here. I've been told to watch out for a few snakes in the summer, but as hard as I've tried I haven't been able to find any yet.
Directions:
From Baltimore take Rt. 70 West to Frederick
From DC take Rt. 270 North to Frederick
Once in Frederick:
Take US-40 W for 1.2 miles
Continue on US-15 N (signs for US-15N/Gettysburg) 14.3 miles
Left at Pryor Rd for .3 miles
Left to stay on Pryor Rd for 1.1 miles
Catoctin Mountain Park 6602 Foxville Rd, Thurmont, MD 21788
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