Frederick City Watershed

Sand Flat–Catoctin National Recreation Trail, 4 sights

4.5 mi · ▲ 497 ft · 1 hr 45 min

Sand Flat–Catoctin National Recreation Trail, 4 sights is a 4.5-mile out-and-back in Frederick City Watershed near Cliffton Estates, MD. The route passes Sand Flat and Sand Flat. It climbs 497 ft and is mostly dirt. It scores 65/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi1,388 – 1,755 ft4.7 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Sand Flats Trail 39.56200, -77.49859
Nearest town Cliffton Estates, MD

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Sand Flat–Catoctin National Recreation Trail, 4 sights

4.5 mi · ▲ 497 ft · 1 hr 45 min

Elevation 1,388–1,756 ft

Out & Back · Frederick City Watershed

Trailhead: Sand Flats Trail · 39.56200, -77.49859

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

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Sand Flats Trail, heading E.
  2. 50 ftPass Sand Flat.
  3. 0.2 miPass Sand Flat.
  4. 350 ftBear right onto Nordic Track, heading S.
  5. 0.3 miBear left, heading E.
  6. 0.2 miTurn right onto Catoctin National Recreation Trail, heading S.
  7. 1.3 miTurn left onto Old Blue Trail, heading NW.
  8. 0.3 miReach Sand Flat, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  9. 0.3 miTurn right onto Catoctin National Recreation Trail, heading NE.
  10. 1.3 miTurn left, heading N.
  11. 0.2 miBear right onto Nordic Track, heading W.
  12. 0.3 miBear left onto Sand Flats Trail, heading NW.
  13. 0.2 miArrive back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Trail surface

99% dirt1% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:56 AMSunset 7:12 PM

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

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