Catoctin Mountain
U.S.A. National Park
Location
Catoctin Mountain National Park is in Maryland, U.S.A. in the Appalachian Mountains, North America. The Appalachian Trail is a short drive from the Mountain Park and Cunningham State Park neighbors the park with falls, trails, a lake, and camping.
The Mountain Park has a divided West and East Trail network. The West side of the park's trails has Catoctin Trail and campgrounds, while the East side of the park has Camp Misty Mount, Visitors Center, and a challenging trail network with mountain vistas. This story map has the East Trails recorded with photographs of the park.
Hiking Trails and Waypoints
Two Treks
The East Trails have two main loops; 1. A purple blazed trail to Thurmont Vista, Wolf Rock, Chimney Rock, and a Charcoal Exhibit. 2. Hog Rock with yellow trail blazes and a Making Whiskey Exhibit.
The two challenging trail loops share an incline trail section near the Visitors Center and is the kindest incline on the trek!
Thurmont Vista on the Purple Blaze Trail.
The trail section(s) pop ups have distances in meters and blaze colors. The mountain waypoints have names, latitude, longitude, elevation and photographs.
Hiking to Thurmont Vista from Parking Area is a steady incline on a well maintained trail. Continuing south, the hike passes Wolf Rock and Chimney Rock.
Wolf Rock
A short walk from Chimney Rock
Hog Rock
The Hog Rock trail loop has different scenery than the first loop. "Catoctin Green Rocks" scatter the landscape until at lowest elevation near Route 77.
After Hog Rock Vista and crossing a small stream, the yellow blazed trail meanders through rock cropping and mountain scenery.
Hog Rock Vista
Blue Ridge Summit (cover photo) is before reaching the end of the loop and returning to Hog Rock Parking, Park Central Road.
Distances, Attractions, and Trail Routes
The two loops have different natural scenery and attractions.
Hog Rock trail loop has Catoctin Greenstone, which is the most notable difference in the landscape. As seen in photo below labeled on an interpretive trail sign:
Catoctin Greenstone
The mountain vistas are always a pleasant time while on the trails.
Additional park attractions on the two loops are 1. Charcoal Exhibit by Thurmont Vista Parking 2. Nature Trail Loop by Hog Rock Vista 3. Making Whisky Exhibit on the Blue Blazed Still
Making Whiskey Exhibit on Blue Blazed Still
Chimney Rock (photo right) has a great mountain vista and is easier to approach hiking south from Wolf Rock.
Trail difficulty is measured by trail impact factors, mainly slope, terrain, and trail surface. Additional common factors include, erosion, maintenance, and natural habitats.
Natural Landscapes on Catoctin Mt Trails
Trail intersection after descending from Chimney Rock.
Purple blazed trail in-between Thurmont Vista and Intersection to Wolf Rock
Hiking the yellow blazed trail from Hog Rock Vista (photo right)
Distance Statistics:
Thurmont Vista Loop (purple, orange, white, & yellow blazes)
Total Distance 8.3 km, Total Ascent: 236 m
Hog Rock (yellow blazes)
Total Distance: 8.3 km , Total Ascent: 241 m
Statistics are calculated by GaiaGPS with the raw recorded trails and waypoints. The link below is the Thurmont Vista Loop recorded trails on GaiaGPS.
Blue Ridge Summit (right)
The express map (below) has the three trail slopes to consider while out on the park's challenging trails.
Best Route Choice by Trail Difficulty
Catoctin Mt Hiking
Catoctin Mt National Park Hiking Trails
Hog Rock Vista on an early morning hike at Catoctin Mt Park.
