The Catoctin Trail is 26 miles in length and passes through one national park, two state parks, and two municipal watersheds while traversing the eastern most ridge of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Maryland. Portions of this trail were originally designed and constructed by the Works Progress Administration and the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s. The Catoctin Trail provides recreation to the Towns of Thurmont and Smithsburg on the north and Frederick, Maryland on the south in addition to serving over three million visitors per year from the Washington Baltimore metropolitan area.
The trail lies within three miles of the Appalachian Trail, crosses a State Scenic Byway, and parallels the Catoctin Mountain National Scenic Byway. Along its route there are historic districts (Camp Greentop and Camp Misty Mount) as well as historic and prehistoric archeological resources including Indian flint napping sites and Colonial era charcoal hearths. In addition to skirting several lakes the trail also accesses numerous scenic vistas with views of the Monocacy River Valley.
A diverse partnership of all levels of government and non-profits manages a variety of recreational uses along the trail.
