Tuesday, Oct 28 hike: Catoctin to West Side Trails, 18M, 3000 feet elevation, 8:30 am

[Sydney Dy]



Catoctin Mountain Park to West Side trails, approx 18M/ 3000 feet

From the visitors center parking lot take the trail to Park Headquarters, 1 mile.

Then cross the road and  ascend up the Cat Rock trail (only really long steep hill) 2.5 miles (skipping Cat Rock spur - follow sign to Bobs Hill here) and then take a right on the Catoctin (blue) trail, leaving the yellow trail (this is Mile 19 on the Catoctin Trail).. From here, follow Catoctin trail pretty much to the north (west) end (mile 27.6). Short optional detour on the way to take a right on the Cliff Trail (yellow) to Cunningham falls, this is well marked (although likely very little water in the falls, we will be ~7 miles in at this point).and then backtrack to reconnect to the Catoctin trail and keep going to the West End, just follow the blue markers/ signs 

Almost at the end of the Catoctin trail (or if we want can walk to the end of the Trail here another 0.3 miles just to say you did it/ there is a bit of a view at the end of the trail),  loop back on the orange / yellow trail to eventually connect back to the Catoctin trail (should also be relatively easy to follow on the map; there are some restrooms in the campground on the yellow trail/ water which was open despite the shutdown)

When we get to the Falls turnoff, we will leave the Catoctin trail and continue instead on the Cliff Trail (yellow) towards the lake, then loop to the left by the lake to North Beach (restrooms here) and take the unmarked social trail to get back to the Visitors Center that we took on my last Catoctin hike - so suggest sticking with someone here who knows that way through if you're not with me - it is on Alltrails

There are no high views on this Catoctin hike but lots of forest color, streams, rocks in the 1st part, and fall colors around the lake

There do not seem to be issues with the shutdown other than that the Visitors Center may not be open; some of this hike is in Cunningham Falls State Park which is not affected

Start outside the Catoctin Mountain Park Visitors Center, 830 am. Portapotty at start/ there are bathrooms on the yellow trail at the Campground, and North Beach that should be open.

Map is attached.. West side trail map at: https://www.nps.gov/cato/planyourvisit/west-hiking-trails.htm

For shortcuts: for a 9ish mile loop, once we get to the Falls, i can show you how to take the Falls Nature trail back (or  if you know way to get back by the lake through North Beach to the Visitors Center), or turn around on the Catoctin trail at any point.  or if anyone wants to just do the West Side Trails part let me know (you can meet us at the Falls to just do this part, i assume our ETA there will be between 11 and 1130, we should have cell service)

We have 1 hiker who may want to do the 9 mile version so if anyone else wants to do that let me know and we can coordinate

Carpool from Carderock lot. Start from the first parking lot at Carderock Recreation Area (38.9723,-77.1996).  Exit the beltway for Clara Barton Parkway West (towards Potomac), in less than a mile exit and follow signs into Carderock Rec Area (for the first parking area turn right and then an immediate left). 

Please let me know if you will meet at carpool (Carderock) or at the trailhead.

My cell 410 440 0881