AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Frederick City Watershed

Fishing Creek Reservoir–Blue Balls, 3 sights

4.1 mi · ▲ 840 ft · 1 hr 47 min

Fishing Creek Reservoir–Blue Balls, 3 sights is a 4.1-mile out-and-back in Frederick City Watershed near Laurelcrest, MD. The route reaches Fishing Creek Reservoir at the turnaround, 2.1 miles in. It climbs 840 ft, with sections as steep as 26% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 70/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi850 – 1,624 ft · steepest grade: 26%4.5 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Catoctin National Recreation Trail 39.51594, -77.49406
Nearest town Laurelcrest, MD
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Fishing Creek Reservoir–Blue Balls, 3 sights

4.1 mi · ▲ 840 ft · 1 hr 47 min

Elevation 851–1,624 ft

Out & Back · Frederick City Watershed

Trailhead: Catoctin National Recreation Trail · 39.51594, -77.49406

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

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Catoctin National Recreation Trail, heading NE.
  2. 450 ftTurn right onto Knuckle Buster Trail, heading E.
  3. 50 ftTurn left onto Blue Balls, heading N.
  4. 0.9 miSharp right onto Access Trail, heading N.
  5. 0.5 miBear right onto Wayne's Trail, heading NE.
  6. 350 ftTurn right onto Albatross, heading NE.
  7. 0.3 miTurn right onto Double D, heading E.
  8. 50 ftBear left onto Albatross, heading E.
  9. 0.3 miReach Fishing Creek Reservoir, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  10. 0.3 miBear right onto Double D, heading W.
  11. 50 ftTurn left onto Albatross, heading SW.
  12. 50 ftBear right, heading SW.
  13. 0.3 miTurn left, heading W.
  14. 150 ftContinue straight onto Wayne's Trail, heading SW.
  15. 250 ftBear left, heading W.
  16. 0.4 miContinue straight onto Access Trail, heading SW.
  17. 200 ftSharp left onto Blue Balls, heading NW.
  18. 0.5 miTurn right, heading S.
  19. 0.4 miTurn right onto Knuckle Buster Trail, heading SW.
  20. 50 ftTurn left onto Catoctin National Recreation Trail, heading SW.
  21. 350 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/fishing-creek-reservoir-blue-balls-out-back-3-sights

Trail surface

99% dirt1% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:56 AMSunset 7:12 PM

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from Catoctin National Recreation Trail Trailhead

Hikes near Laurelcrest, Maryland