Catoctin Mountain Park - Blue Blazes and Falls Loop

Map of TRACK Trail through Catoctin's Blue Blazes and Falls trails

There are two options near the park visitor center.  The Blue Blazes Whiskey Still Trail is an easy .6 mile hike.  It follows Blue Blazes Run and turns around at the replica whiskey still.  Along the way children can peer into the water and look for aquatic species. 

The Falls Nature Trail is a moderate, rocky trail that is 2.8 miles in length.  The trail covers varied terrain with both uphill and downhill sections.  Be careful as you cross over Route 77 into the state park.   Next to the handicapped parking lot you will find a wooden boardwalk.  Walk along that boardwalk until you see Cunningham Falls.  Hiking time is usually 1.5 to 2 hours.

Track an adventure here
Collectible Sticker for Catoctin

Location Details

Recreational Features: Interpretive Programs, Birding
Amenities: Restrooms, Visitor Center, Gift Shop
ADA Compliant:
Seasonality:
Wooden bridge over stream
Historic whiskey still
Gravel path beside stream
Path leading to bridge over stream
Cunningham Falls
Trail beside large mossy boulder
Rocky path through the woods
Family hiking through the woods
TRACK Trail sign beside the trail
Trail beside trail signs

Adventures for Catoctin Mountain Park - Blue Blazes and Falls Loop

Hiking

Nature's Hide & Seek

Difficulty:
Easy
Trail length:
0.60
The Nature's Hide & Seek brochure is designed so that kids of all ages can walk along the trail and discover common things that are often overlooked in nature. Some of them are hard to find, others are easy. Best of all, the adventure never ends because every time you walk the trail you will discover new things hiding in nature.
Hiking

Bug Out

Difficulty:
Easy
Trail length:
0.60
The "Bug Out" brochure is an investigation into the creepy crawlies of the forest. This adventure will help you learn how to identify the difference between insects, spiders and other arthropods.
Hiking

Nature's Relationships

Difficulty:
Easy
Trail length:
0.60
In the Nature's Relationships brochure you will discover how everything in nature is connected... even us. As you walk along the trail, the brochure will tell you a story about a few of the relationships that can be found. Many more relationships exist, so keep your eyes and heart open and you will discover many of nature's relationships - even yours.
Need for Trees brochure
Hiking

Catoctin Need for Trees

Difficulty:
Easy
Trail length:
0.60
By following the picture and textual clues found in "The Need for Trees" brochure, kids will discover six of the more common trees found along the trail. During their adventure, kids will learn about the need that people and other animals have for trees and about the roles trees play in the forest.
Hiking

Nature's Hide and Seek - Bilingual

Difficulty:
Easy
Trail length:
0.60
El Juego Del Escondite En La Naturaleza/Nature's Hide & Seek brochure is designed so that kids of all ages can walk along the trail and discover common things that are often overlooked in nature. Written in both Spanish and English, discover new things hiding in nature with the help of this bilingual brochure.
Hiking

Animal Athletes - Bilingual

Difficulty:
Easy
Trail length:
0.60
The Animales Atletas/Animal Athletes adventure challenges kids to exercise with the animals. This bilingual brochure gives kids eight different animal exercises they can do along the trail, written in both English and Spanish. From hummingbird hand-swings to lizard pushups, kids are sure to have fun getting in shape with the animals during their outdoor adventures.

Directions

6602 Foxville Rd
Thurmont, MD 21788
Latitude: 39.633851000000
Longitude: -77.448212000000

Partners

The TRACK Trail program is sponsored by the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation, the Blue Ridge Parkway, and the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation.

The Catoctin Mountain Park TRACK Trail was made possible by a partnership between the National Park Service and the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation's Kids in Parks program.