Catoctin Mountain Park Hike

It's easy to see why Catoctin Mountain Park is one of the most popular hiking areas in Maryland. With great overlooks, including Chimney Rock, Thurmont Vista, the Blue Ridge Summit Overlook, and Hog Rock, plus a side trip to Cunningham Falls, you'll have more Kodak moments than you can shake a stick at!

If you want to avoid the crowds, at least in the morning, try to get to the parking area by no later than 8 a.m. on weekends and there's a good chance you'll have Chimney Rock to yourself. The trails in Catoctin Mountain Park are not blazed, but are very well signed, and if you take a map along you shouldn't have any trouble following this circuit.

Mile 0.0 – From the parking area at the Visitors Center on Foxville Rd. MD77 start the hike a the far end of the eastern parking area. There are two trails that start at this point. Take the trail on the right that goes towards the Catoctin Mountain Park Headquarters and Chimney Rock. Follow the trail as it parallels Foxville Rd for 0.9 miles.
Mile 0.9 - At the intersection for the Catoctin Mountain Park Headquarters turn left uphill towards Chimney Rock, then in 0.1 miles pass the intersection for the Crows Nest Campground loop.
Mile 1.4 - Arrive a the ridgeline and other end of the Crows Nest Campground loop. Turn left towards Chimney Rock and pass around the eastern side if the ridge before reaching the Chimney Rock intersection. Turn left for the short walk to Chimney Rock.
Mile 2.0 - From Chimney Rock head back to the main trail and follow the signage for Wolf Rock.
Mile 2.4 - Wolf Rock is a quartzite ledge that was deposited 550 million years ago, with the quartzite forming 250 million yeas ago. Since then the softer sediments above the quartzite have eroded leaving this spectacular feature. If you climb the Wolf Rock ridge and follow it to its northern end there are nice views of the Thurmont Valley below. From Wolf Rock continue along the trail and pass another intersection that leads to Park Central Rd. From this intersection it's 0.7 miles to the Thurmont Overlook.
Mile 3.4 - Leaving Thurmont Overlook the trail will head downhill for 0.4 miles to a 4-way intersection.
Mile 3.8 - Turn right following the signage to Hog Rock. The trail winds around the northern section of the mountain, then climbs before arriving at the Blue Ridge Summit Overlook.
Mile 4.6 - From the Blue Ridge Summit Overlook continue on the trail to the Hog Rock parking area on Park Central Rd in another 0.3 miles.
Mile 5.3 - From the Hog Rock parking area cross Park Central Rd towards Hog Rock. Pass one end of the Hog Rock Nature Loop, then shortly arrive at Hog Rock.
Mile 6.3 - From Hog Rock stay on the trail to the left that leads downhill towards Cunningham Falls (the trail just to the right is the terminus of the other end of the Hog Rock Nature loop). The trail becomes more steep and rocky then reaches the intersection of the Falls Nature Trail, and Foxville Rd MD77.
Mile 6.5 - Stay straight, crossing Foxville Rd, then following the wooden walkway for 0.3 miles to Cunningham Falls.
Mile 6.6 - Retrace your steps re-crossing Foxville Rd to the intersection of the Falls Nature Trail you just passed. Now turn right on the Falls Nature Trail and hike the remaining 1.2 miles back to the Visitor Center and parking area.