Frederick City Watershed

Catoctin National Recreation Trail

2.3 mi · ▲ 221 ft · 53 min

Catoctin National Recreation Trail is a 2.3-mile out-and-back in Frederick City Watershed near Laurelcrest, MD. It is mostly level, with 221 ft of elevation gain, and mostly dirt. It scores 74/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi1,348 – 1,585 ft · steepest grade: 15%2.7 mi

Getting there

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

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Catoctin National Recreation Trail

2.3 mi · ▲ 221 ft · 53 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. 0.2 miBear left, heading E.
  8. 150 ftBear left onto Pond Access Trail, heading NE.
  9. 0.1 miTurn right onto Catoctin National Recreation Trail, heading NW.
  10. 0.2 miReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
  11. 0.2 miTurn left onto Pond Access Trail, heading W.
  12. 0.1 miBear right, heading W.
  13. 150 ftBear right, heading W.
  14. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Blue Connector, heading S.
  15. 300 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  16. 300 ftBear left, heading S.
  17. 50 ftBear right, heading S.
  18. 0.2 miTurn right onto Blue Balls second leg, heading SE.
  19. 0.3 miTurn left onto Access Trail, heading SW.
  20. 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 surface

87% dirt13% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:56 AMSunset 7:12 PM

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

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