AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Frederick City Watershed

Frederick Overlook –Blue Balls, 6 sights

16 mi · ▲ 2,024 ft · 6 hr 21 min

Frederick Overlook –Blue Balls, 6 sights is a 16-mile out-and-back in Frederick City Watershed near Lost Eden, MD. The route reaches Frederick Overlook at the turnaround, 8 miles in. It climbs 2,024 ft, with sections as steep as 22% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 45/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.

Elevation

0 mi1,165 – 1,759 ft · steepest grade: 22%17.1 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

Frederick Overlook –Blue Balls, 6 sights

16 mi · ▲ 2,024 ft · 6 hr 21 min

Elevation 1,164–1,759 ft

Out & Back · Frederick City Watershed

Trailhead: Catoctin National Recreation Trail · 39.54220, -77.49074

Weather Sep 21: sunrise 6:57 AM · sunset 7:10 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 ftBear right, heading E.
  7. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Blue Connector, heading W.
  8. 300 ftTurn right, heading S.
  9. 350 ftBear left, heading SE.
  10. 50 ftBear right, heading SE.
  11. 0.2 miTurn right onto Blue Balls second leg, heading SW.
  12. 0.3 miTurn right onto Access Trail, heading E.
  13. 200 ftSharp left onto Blue Balls, heading S.
  14. 0.5 miTurn right, heading S.
  15. 0.4 miTurn right onto Knuckle Buster Trail, heading S.
  16. 50 ftTurn left onto Catoctin National Recreation Trail, heading SE.
  17. 0.6 miContinue straight onto Monarch Trail, heading SE.
  18. 0.2 miBear left onto Stoner Road, heading SW.
  19. 450 ftTurn right onto Huggy Bear, heading SW.
  20. 0.7 miSharp right onto Lawn Mower, heading SW.
  21. 0.3 miBear left onto Headless Hollow, heading NW.
  22. 50 ftBear right onto Powerline Trail, heading NW.
  23. 0.6 miTurn right onto Yellow Poplar, heading S.
  24. 0.3 miTurn right, heading SE.
  25. 1.4 miSharp left, heading S.
  26. 0.7 miTurn left onto Black - Green, heading S.
  27. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Green Ash, heading S.
  28. 300 ftBear left, heading SE.
  29. 50 ftReach Frederick Overlook , then turn around and head back the way you came.
  30. 350 ftContinue straight onto Black - Green, heading S.
  31. 0.2 miTurn right onto Yellow Poplar, heading NE.
  32. 0.5 miSharp left, heading SE.
  33. 0.2 miSharp right, heading W.
  34. 1.8 miTurn left onto Powerline Trail, heading NW.
  35. 0.5 miBear right, heading NE.
  36. 0.1 miBear left onto Headless Hollow, heading NW.
  37. 50 ftBear right onto Powerline Trail, heading NW.
  38. 0.3 miContinue straight onto Lawn Mower, heading NW.
  39. 250 ftSharp left onto Huggy Bear, heading N.
  40. 0.7 miTurn left onto Stoner Road, heading SE.
  41. 450 ftBear right onto Monarch Trail, heading SE.
  42. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Catoctin National Recreation Trail, heading NW.
  43. 0.6 miTurn right onto Knuckle Buster Trail, heading NE.
  44. 100 ftTurn left onto Blue Balls, heading NE.
  45. 0.9 miSharp right onto Access Trail, heading N.
  46. 200 ftTurn left onto Blue Balls second leg, heading NE.
  47. 0.3 miTurn left, heading E.
  48. 0.2 miBear left, heading N.
  49. 50 ftBear right, heading N.
  50. 350 ftTurn left onto Blue Connector, heading NE.
  51. 0.2 miBear left, heading E.
  52. 200 ftBear left onto Pond Access Trail, heading NE.
  53. 0.1 miTurn right onto Catoctin National Recreation Trail, heading SE.
  54. 400 ftSharp left onto Trail 4, heading N.
  55. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Catoctin National Recreation Trail, heading W.
  56. 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/frederick-overlook-blue-balls-out-back-7-sights-26-km

Trail surface

97% dirt3% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:57 AMSunset 7:10 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 5.7 mi in (~161 min). Leave by 4:10 PM for the 7:10 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:59 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

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