AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Frederick City Watershed

Catoctin National Recreation Trail

2.7 mi · ▲ 373 ft · 1 hr 5 min

Catoctin National Recreation Trail is a 2.7-mile out-and-back in Frederick City Watershed near Laurelcrest, MD. It climbs 373 ft, with sections as steep as 19% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 74/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi1,348 – 1,585 ft · steepest grade: 19%3.1 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Access Trail 39.52395, -77.48514
Nearest town Laurelcrest, MD
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Catoctin National Recreation Trail

2.7 mi · ▲ 373 ft · 1 hr 5 min

Elevation 1,347–1,585 ft

Out & Back · Frederick City Watershed

Trailhead: Access Trail · 39.52395, -77.48514

Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:56 AM · sunset 7:12 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Access Trail, heading NW.
  2. 250 ftTurn right onto Blue Balls second leg, heading NE.
  3. 0.3 miTurn left, heading N.
  4. 0.2 miBear left, heading NE.
  5. 50 ftBear right, heading N.
  6. 350 ftTurn left onto Blue Connector, heading N.
  7. 50 ftTurn right onto Upper Canaan, heading N.
  8. 0.2 miTurn right, heading N.
  9. 200 ftBear left onto Pond Access Trail, heading NW.
  10. 0.1 miTurn right onto Catoctin National Recreation Trail, heading N.
  11. 0.2 miReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
  12. 0.3 miSharp left onto Trail 4, heading W.
  13. 0.2 miSharp right onto Catoctin National Recreation Trail, heading SE.
  14. 0.3 miBear left onto Blue Connector, heading SE.
  15. 0.1 miTurn left, heading S.
  16. 50 ftTurn right onto Soccer Mom, heading S.
  17. 0.3 miBear left onto Blue Balls second leg, heading SE.
  18. 0.3 miTurn left onto Access Trail, heading SW.
  19. 250 ftArrive back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Trail map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/catoctin-national-recreation-trail-out-back-4-km-2b17

Trail surface

96% dirt4% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:56 AMSunset 7:12 PM

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from Access Trail Trailhead

Hikes near Laurelcrest, Maryland