AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Frederick City Watershed

Catoctin National Recreation Trail

3.5 mi · ▲ 486 ft · 1 hr 25 min

Catoctin National Recreation Trail is a 3.5-mile out-and-back in Frederick City Watershed near Lost Eden, MD. It climbs 486 ft, with sections as steep as 22% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 73/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi1,365 – 1,568 ft · steepest grade: 22%3.9 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Catoctin National Recreation Trail 39.54220, -77.49074
Nearest town Lost Eden, MD
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Catoctin National Recreation Trail

3.5 mi · ▲ 486 ft · 1 hr 25 min

Elevation 1,366–1,570 ft

Out & Back · Frederick City Watershed

Trailhead: Catoctin National Recreation Trail · 39.54220, -77.49074

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

  1. Start on Catoctin National Recreation Trail, heading S.
  2. 0.7 miContinue straight onto Trail 4, heading E.
  3. 0.2 miSharp right onto Catoctin National Recreation Trail, heading W.
  4. 350 ftTurn left onto Pond Access Trail, heading W.
  5. 0.1 miBear right, heading SE.
  6. 150 ftTurn left, heading E.
  7. 200 ftContinue straight onto Upper Canaan, heading SE.
  8. 0.1 miTurn left onto Blue Connector, heading S.
  9. 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
  10. 350 ftBear left, heading S.
  11. 50 ftBear right, heading S.
  12. 0.2 miSharp right, heading SW.
  13. 500 ftTurn left onto Catoctin National Recreation Trail, heading S.
  14. 0.1 miReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
  15. 0.1 miTurn right, heading SW.
  16. 500 ftSharp left, heading E.
  17. 0.2 miBear left, heading NE.
  18. 50 ftBear right, heading NE.
  19. 300 ftTurn left onto Blue Connector, heading NE.
  20. 50 ftTurn right onto Upper Canaan, heading NE.
  21. 0.2 miTurn right, heading NE.
  22. 150 ftBear left onto Pond Access Trail, heading N.
  23. 0.1 miTurn right onto Catoctin National Recreation Trail, heading N.
  24. 350 ftSharp left onto Trail 4, heading W.
  25. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Catoctin National Recreation Trail, heading N.
  26. 0.7 miArrive 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-6-km-0dcc

Trail surface

95% dirt5% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:56 AMSunset 7:12 PM

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