Catoctin Mountain Park: Cunningham Falls/Blue Ridge Summit Loop (Blog Hike #304)

Trail: Cunningham Falls/Hog Rock/ Blue Ridge Summit Loop

Hike Location: Catoctin Mountain Park

Geographic Location: west of Thurmont, MD (39.63380, -77.44965)

Length: 5 miles

Difficulty: 7/10 (Moderate)

Dates Hiked: May 2010, July 2013

Overview: A loop hike featuring a major waterfall and major vistas.

Park Information: http://www.nps.gov/cato/index.htm
Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=722596
Photo Highlight:

Directions to the trailhead: From Thurmont, take SR 77 west 2.2 miles to the park entrance on the right.  Turn right on the park road to enter the park.  Immediately you will reach the Visitor Center on the right.  Park in the large blacktop parking lot beside the Visitor Center.  If this lot is full, you could also park in the large gravel parking lot on the left as you enter the park.

The hike: As I drove in SR 77 on a warm sunny mid-May afternoon, the tall, mature trees and lumpy rock outcrops lining the road told me I would be in for a treat.  They told the truth.  The hiking I undertook that afternoon would be the best of the year so far, and I wished it hadn’t taken me so long to come to this park in rural Maryland.

An interesting and detailed history of the land entitled CACTOCTIN MOUNTAIN PARK, A Historic Resource Study by Dr. Edmund F. Wehrle can be downloaded free of charge from the park’s website.  Like most major parks in the region, Catoctin Mountain Park has its roots in the Great Depression.  Land acquisition for a “recreational demonstration area” on this site began in 1935 as part of a New Deal program to buy and rehabilitate submarginal farmland.  Work on Catoctin Recreational Demonstration Area was interrupted by World War II, during which the land was used for military purposes and as a presidential retreat.

After the war, a dispute arose between the state of Maryland and the National Park Service over ownership of the recreation area.  Ultimately, a compromise was reached in which the state took over the southern part of the area and the Park Service retained control of the northern part.  The southern part was renamed Cunningham Falls State Park, while the northern part was renamed Catoctin Mountain Park.  These are the two parks you see in this area today.

With the tallest waterfall in Maryland, several great overlooks, and well-maintained trails, the loop described here has everything you could hope for in a mountain hike.  Even better, at only 5 miles in length and 690 feet of elevation change, this loop does not overwhelm you with length or difficulty either.  In early October, the large number of oak, maple, and beech trees would make this hike great for leaf peeping.  Adding the 0.3 mile spur trail to the whiskey still (not described here) would even let you add a little local history if desired.

Trailhead

            From the Visitor Center, cross the park road and walk through the gravel parking lot, looking for the Falls Nature Trail which leaves the right side of the lot near its rear.  A red wooden sign that says “Cunningham Falls Round Trip 2.8 Mi.” marks the beginning of the trail.  The trail crosses a small stream on a wooden footbridge and immediately begins climbing.  The first 100 feet are steep, but the grade moderates considerably after that.

For the next 0.9 miles the trail climbs moderately through a maze of rock outcrops.  Tall, old maple and beech trees merit your attention as you climb.  The thick canopy from these trees and the bedrock so close to the surface prevent the growth of any significant understory.  An occasional car can be heard on SR 77, which parallels this trail downhill and to the left.

Climbing on the Falls Nature Trail

            1 mile into the hike, you reach the highest point of the Falls Nature Trail and begin a moderate descent.  At 1.2 miles, you reach a major signed trail intersection.  We will eventually take the trail leading uphill and to the right to continue the loop, but for now turn left and begin the 0.2 mile spur trail to Cunningham Falls, the highest waterfall in Maryland.

Very quickly the spur trail reaches SR 77, where you must turn left and walk 100 feet along the shoulder of the road to reach the handicap parking area for the falls.  There is a blind turn just beyond this location, so be careful when walking along the road.  Once safely at the parking area, begin the wheelchair accessible boardwalk leading to the falls.  Note that you left Catoctin Mountain Park and entered Cunningham Falls State Park when you crossed SR 77.

After only 0.2 miles of walking the boardwalk along the stream, you arrive at a viewing platform for Cunningham Falls.  Water cascades 78 feet from rock to rock, finally ending in a small plunge pool surrounded by boulders.  I hiked this trail when water tables were at their normal levels for the spring, and the volume of water was moderate but not overwhelming.  I suspect this waterfall becomes a trickle during a drought, so it is best to plan your visit during the wetter months for best waterfall viewing.  Some benches at the platform make for nice places to rest and view the waterfall in the cool, shady forest.

Cunningham Falls

            The boardwalk dead-ends at the waterfall, so you will have to retrace your steps back across SR 77 to the signed trail intersection mentioned above.  Continue straight at the intersection to head for Hog Rock, the next point of interest on our loop.  The next 0.25 miles are the hardest of the hike, as the trail takes on the hillside directly with no curves or switchbacks to ease the grade.  After one particularly steep section with rock outcrops jutting out on either side, the hard climbing is over.           

Rocky trail near Hog Rock

            The next 0.75 miles are a gradual uphill climb as the trail weaves around, under, and over more rock outcrops.  At 2.5 miles, you reach Hog Rock, which is marked by a wooden sign pointing the opposite way from which you are coming.  From here, a spectacular vista opens up to the east and south.  Immediately below you is the valley containing the Visitor Center, and just beyond that is the wooded arm of Catoctin Mountain that contains Wolf Rock and Chimney Rock, two other points of interest in the park.  Beyond this ridge, the Maryland Piedmont stretches as far as the eye can see.  Take some time to enjoy this view, a handsome reward for your climb.           

View from Hog Rock

            At Hog Rock, our hike joins the Hog Rock Nature Trail, a short 0.7 mile loop that connects Hog Rock to a parking area along the park road.  You could use either arm of the nature trail’s loop, but the right arm is shorter.  At 2.8 miles, the two arms come together again, and at 3 miles you reach the blacktop Hog Rock Parking Area on the park road.  Cross the road, walk through the parking area, and pick up the trail leaving from the midpoint of the parking area to continue the loop.

3.3 miles into the hike, you arrive at Blue Ridge Summit Overlook.  Unlike Hog Rock, this point looks out to the north and west.  Thus, the view from here is mainly forested hills with a few quaint, idyllic farms dotting the area.  A few rocks make comfortable places to sit and enjoy a trail snack while admiring the view.           

View from Blue Ridge Summit Overlook

            Past the overlook, the trail descends steeply as it leaves the ridgeline and heads back for the valley.  The park’s trail guide describes the trail up as “steep inclines” and this trail as “moderate downhill,” but this section is as steep as anything you climbed up earlier.  Also, there are some loose rocks underfoot here that could slide you, so step carefully.

Rocks beside trail on ridgeline

            At 3.9 miles, the descent ends.  A short, moderate climb brings you to an intersection with the trail to Thurmont Vista.  Turning left here would lead you 0.4 miles uphill to the vista, while turning right would lead you 0.1 miles to the park road and the trailhead for the Charcoal Trail.  Continue straight to remain on our loop.

For the next 0.6 miles the rocky trail maintains a relatively constant elevation with the park road downhill to the right and the ridgeline uphill to the left.  At 4.6 miles, you will cross the steep trail to Wolf Rock, which is uphill to the left.  The final 0.4 miles is a long, moderate descent that culminates in some stone steps just above the blacktop Visitor Center parking lot.  Reaching this parking lot marks the end of the hike.