buildings. Nearby, you will find the visit with lemurs, mon- While the hardwood forests encircling sites, the state’s highest waterfall, and National Shrine Grotto of Lourdes, keys, panthers and more Catoctin Mountain are a natural won- abundant trails for hiking and biking. which is situated high on the moun- than 400 other animals. der, serving as a sanctuary for wildlife tainside, where nature displays itself Emmitsburg to Point of Rocks – 95 miles from and plants, surrounding towns offer a in all its wild and picturesque glory. Back on US 15 and enter- US 15, MD 806, US 340, US 15 Emmitsburg to deep exploration of the area’s rich ing Frederick, this byway Point of Rocks industrial heritage. The mountain’s Just south of the Pennsylvania border Continue south to see the circa-1856 overlaps with two others – old paths and roads trace a variety of is Emmitsburg. To orient you to the Roddy Road Covered Bridge, which the Antietam Campaign traditional Appalachian entrepreneur- heritage and culture throughout this stretches for 40 feet over one of the (pages 39-46) and Historic ial endeavors, including farms, byway, a great place to start your area’s finest trout streams. Here, you National Road (pages 7- sawmills and the making of moon- adventure is at the Mason and Dixon can branch off from US 15 onto MD 18). The town has seem- shine. Discovery Center. During the Civil 77 and enjoy an Upper Loop tour ingly played a part in every War, troops passed through this area that traverses both a national park major chapter of American Catoctin Mountain – the easternmost while going to and from the Battle of and a state park. The Upper Loop is history for the last 260 spur of the Blue Ridge Province – rises Gettysburg. Union troops camped on connected via MD 17 to a Lower years. Guided walking to its greatest elevation of 1,885 feet the grounds of the former St. Loop that touches the Appalachian tours and candlelight above sea level in Thurmont’s Joseph’s College, and officers planned National Scenic Trail. See descriptions ghost tours take visitors and then is battle strategies in the former home for both the Upper Loop and Lower past breathtaking architec- split by a gap at Point of Rocks on of the school’s founder, Elizabeth Ann Loop below. ture and several sites the Potomac River. In between, travel- Seton. A National Shrine honors linked to celebrated ers on this state and national scenic Mother Seton, who was the first Nearby is the 50-acre Catoctin “locals” such as “Star- byway can follow two “loops” for American-born saint, has a visitor Wildlife Preserve and Zoo, where, for Spangled Banner” writer easy access to a variety of historic center, basilica and restored period nine months out of the year, you can Francis Scott Key and

48 49 Key’s father-in-law, Supreme Court tributary, Cunningham Falls. The On the south side of MD 77 is 550 through Blue Ridge Mountain Chief Justice Roger Brooke Taney. creek is a favorite among anglers Cunningham Falls State Park, the cen- forest and farmland toward Dozens of specialty shops, art gal- seeking trout. Catoctin Mountain terpiece of which is a 78-foot water- Sabillasville. The highway here was leries, antiques stores and restaurants Park, which lies to the north of the fall that cascades into a rocky gorge. originally called Old Gap Road and also occupy Downtown Frederick. highway, is federal property acquired Hike from a picnic area off Catoctin connected the Catoctin Furnace with in 1936 as an experiment in develop- Hollow Road, and also enjoy a swim forges in Pennsylvania. This byway concludes at Point of ing forest on marginal land. The in the 43-acre Hunting Creek Lake. At Rocks, which achieved national Camp David presidential retreat locat- the southern end of the park is the Lower Loop from Smithsburg – recognition in 1830 when the B&O ed here is closed to the public, but Catoctin Furnace, which was in oper- MD 17, Highland School Rd, Railroad and C&O Canal fought over several nearby paths trace the history ation from 1776 until 1905, and once Gambrill Park Rd, US 40, MD 17 the right of way between Catoctin of the industrial use of the mountain. was manned by African craftsmen. Travel over South Mountain into Mountain and the Potomac River. The Near the park’s visitor center, a short Trails lead to a furnace stack and the Wolfsville, and then continue south railroad finally tunneled through the interpretive trail takes you to the Blue iron master’s manor house. on MD 17, skirting the pastoral valley mountain in 1867, but you can pick Blazes Still, where moonshine makers carved by Middle Creek. Bear left on up the C&O Canal scenic byway turned out 25,000 gallons of corn Pass through the town of Smithsburg, Highland School Road, which crosses (pages 27-38) here at its midway whiskey before the still was raided which, when founded in 1806 at the the summit of Catoctin Mountain, point. and shut down in 1929. At the other base of South Mountain, served as a and then turn right to enter Gambrill end of the park is a sawmill replica banking and trading center for the State Park. Pause on the 1,600-foot Upper Loop from Thurmont – built on the site of a real sawmill that area’s fruit growers. Follow MD 491 summit of High Knob to view MD 77, 491 & 550 operated into the late 1890s. Other beyond Cascade and into Pen Mar. Middletown and the Monocacy Valley Head west on MD 77 to cross trails explore the wood-cutting indus- The Western Railway devel- stretched out below, and also enjoy Catoctin Mountain and ascend beside try and the life of colliers who prac- oped this area as a mountain resort hiking and mountain biking through- cool, clear Big Hunting Creek and its ticed charcoal making. and amusement park. Next, take MD out the area.

50 51 Don’t put away your hiking boots just retreat during World War II and named Catoctin Mountain Park Frederick, 21702 yet, because you’ll soon be coming “Shangri-La.” Dwight Eisenhower MD Rt 77, 6602 Foxville Rd 301-271-7574 up on one of the premier hiking renamed the presidential retreat Camp Thurmont, 21788 www.dnr.state.md.us/publiclands/wes opportunities in the United States. David after his grandson. 301-668-9388 tern/gambrill.html The Appalachian National Scenic Trail www.nps.gov/cato stretches more than 2,000 miles from Blue Blazes Whiskey Still Greenbrier State Park Maine to Georgia, and Maryland’s 40- Catoctin Mountain Park Catoctin Wildlife Preserve 21843 National Pike mile portion passes near Greenbrier 6602 Foxville Rd and Zoo Boonsboro, 21713 State Park. Follow US 40 to Thurmont, 21788 13019 Catoctin Furnace Rd 301-791-4767 Greenbrier, which also features a 42- 301-663-9388 Thurmont, 21788 www.dnr.state.us/publiclands/west- acre freshwater lake, as well as www.nps.gov/cato 301-271-3180 ern/greenbrier.html “mountain stones” that provide a www.cupzoo.com glimpse into the earth’s geologic his- Catoctin Furnace National Shrine of St. Elizabeth tory. From Greenbrier, take Route 17 Cunningham Falls State Park Cunningham Falls State Park Ann Seton to complete the lower loop and join Catoctin Furnace Rd, Rt 806 14039 Catoctin Hollow Rd 333 S Seton Ave MD 77. Thurmont, 21788 Thurmont, 21788 Emmitsburg, 21727 301-271-7574 301-271-7574 301-447-6606 OLD LINE LORE: Camp Hi www.dnr.state.md.us/publiclans/west- www.dnr.state.md.us/publiclands/wes www.setonshrine.org Catoctin, in what was then known as the ern/cunninghamfalls.html tern/cunninghamfalls.html Catoctin Recreational Demonstration Area, was adapted by President Franklin D. Roosevelt as his personal mountain US Rt 40, 3 miles west of Federick, Gambrill Park Rd

52 53 Roddy Road Covered Bridge North of Thurmont, off US 15 Thurmont, 21788 301-228-2888, 1-800-999-3613 www.visitfrederick.org

Roger Brooke Taney & Francis Scott Key Museum 121 S Bentz St Frederick, 21701 301-228-2828, 1-800-999-3613

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