Has anyone made a loop using the AT and Catoctin Trail in Maryland? What roads did you use to connect them? Is there anywhere to camp on the Catoctin Trail? I’m trying to plan about a 50 mile loop.
Thanks,
Bubble Toes
GA-ME '05
Bubble Toes
AT - Catoctin Trail MD
system
#2
It will take some doing to make this work. I’m not sure of where your start/end point on the AT should be, probably around Gathland State Park. The trick is the cross-over point, since the trails don’t intersect. I’d suggest Raven Rock Rd (MD-491) as the road walk best for the purpose. You’d head east (right) from the trailhead on the AT and bear right onto Mt. Zion Rd (the third right) to reach the Catoctic trailhead. It’s roughly two miles of roadwalk, but I don’t know the conditions of the roads. That looks like your best bet for a fifty mile hike.
There are four places to camp on the Catoctin, at Owen’s Creek Campground (Catoctin Mt. NP, north end of trail), Houck Campground (Cunningham Falls SP, mid-north), Manor Campground (Cunningham Falls SP, near mid-point), and Rocky Run Campground (Gambrill SP, south end of trail). I’d check with the relative parks about rules, etc.
Hope this helps in the planning.
Strategic
Strategic