Chimney Rock & Cunningham Falls via Catoctin National Recreation Trail is a 10.1-mile out-and-back in Catoctin Mountain Park near Manahan Ranch Estates, MD. The route passes Cunningham Falls before reaching Chimney Rock at the turnaround, 5.1 miles in. It climbs 1,870 ft, with sections as steep as 21% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 4/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
0 mi915 – 1,755 ft · steepest grade: 21%10.6 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Chestnut Horse Trail 39.64751, -77.47574
Nearest town Manahan Ranch Estates, MD
Directions
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Chimney Rock & Cunningham Falls via Catoctin National Recreation Trail
10.1 mi · ▲ 1,870 ft · 4 hr 18 min
Elevation 917–1,756 ft
Out & Back · Catoctin Mountain Park
Trailhead: Chestnut Horse Trail · 39.64751, -77.47574
Weather Sep 21: sunrise 6:57 AM · sunset 7:10 PM
Dogs allowed on leash · Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading SW.
- 0.1 miTurn right, heading W.
- 0.4 miBear left onto Catoctin National Recreation Trail, heading SW.
- 1.5 miBear left, heading NE.
- 0.2 miTurn left onto Boardwalk Trail, heading N.
- 50 ftPass Cunningham Falls.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading N.
- 0.2 miTurn right onto Hog Rock Loop Trail, heading NE.
- 1.6 miContinue straight onto Thurmont Vista Loop Trail, heading NE.
- 1.2 miBear left, heading E.
- 50 ftReach Chimney Rock, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 50 ftBear right, heading SE.
- 1.2 miContinue straight onto Hog Rock Loop Trail, heading NW.
- 0.4 miTurn right, heading SW.
- 1.1 miTurn left onto Cunningham Falls Nature Trail, heading NW.
- 0.2 miTurn left onto Boardwalk Trail, heading SW.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading W.
- 0.2 miBear right onto Catoctin National Recreation Trail, heading SW.
- 1.5 miBear right, heading NW.
- 0.4 miTurn left, heading NE.
- 50 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% dirt2% boardwalk1% paved10% unspecified
Weather
Sunrise 6:57 AMSunset 7:10 PM
Good to know
- Dogs allowed on leash
- Toilets at the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from Chestnut Horse Trail Trailhead
- Cunningham Falls–Frank Bentz Memorial Lake, 3 sights 11.7 mi · ▲ 2,192 ft
- Cat Rock & Bob's Hill Natural Area Viewpoint–South Bob's Hill Overlook, 4 viewpoints 12.1 mi · ▲ 1,432 ft
- Catoctin National Recreation Trail 4.5 mi · ▲ 595 ft
- Hunting Creek Lake–Cunningham Falls State Park Beach, 3 beaches 5 mi · ▲ 698 ft
- Hunting Creek Lake–Cunningham Falls State Park Beach, 4 sights 4.8 mi · ▲ 669 ft
- Catoctin National Recreation Trail 4.4 mi · ▲ 527 ft
Get outside more
A wild hike near Manahan Ranch Estates, emailed to you once a week.
Hikes near Manahan Ranch Estates, Maryland