Camping, trails, maps & photo credits — Catoctin Mountain Park
President Franklin D. Roosevelt created programs to give people a chance to rebuild their lives from the Great Depression. The Works Progress Administration and the Civilian Conservation Corps gave this land a second opportunity and through re-growth, a new role as a recreation area.
Camping & reservations
The booking button opens the official provider or park-specific camping instructions published by the NPS. Select the named campground and verify its dates, access and site rules.
Owens Creek Campground ↗
Advanced reservations required. Owens Creek Campground offers family camping in a wooded setting. There are 50 sites, 3 have ADA features. Maximum trailer length is 22 feet. One vehicle is permitted per site. There are no hook-ups. Use of alcohol is prohibited. Pets allowed and must leashed and tended to at all time. Tent pads have been updated and expanded to a minimum size of 12' x 12'. See reservations page for more details on each site.
Reservations: All sites are by reservation only and can be made up to 6 months in advance. Reservations can be made at www.recreation.gov or by calling 877-444-6777.
Reservations / current camping instructions ↗
RV / truck camping: Three of the sites provide for pull through access. Others can accommodate trailers, but they will need to be backed into the site. Trailer maximum: 22 feet. Confirm the exact site and current approach.
Approach: Paved Roads - All vehicles OK.
Fires: Fires must be contained in fire rings. Firewood is available or campers may collect dead and downed wood. Firewood may not be brought into the campground.
Site rules: Stay limit is 7 days, 14 days in a calendar year. Check-in time is 3:00 p.m., checkout time is 12:00 p.m. Site limit is 5 persons or immediate family. All tents must be placed on the designated tent pad. Pets are permitted on a leash that does not exceed 6', and pets must be attended at all times. Alcohol is prohibited. Generator use is prohibited in the campground between the hours of 10:00 PM and 6:00 AM, except when a waiver has been granted for the powering of medical equipment. Persons who require the use of a generator between these hours should contact a ranger for a waiver. The…
Adirondack Shelters ↗
Reservations Required. No Walk Ins. Available year-round, the Adirondack Shelters located near the northern most point of the park, provide a destination for true nature immersion and an alternative to drive-up camping. There are two shelters that offer the bare minimum with regard to outdoor accommodation. A moderate three-mile uphill hike over rocky and gently rolling terrain starting at Camp Round Meadow will lead you to these three-sided shelters.
Reservations: Reservations can be made at www.recreation.gov or by calling 877-444-6777.
Reservations / current camping instructions ↗
RV / truck camping: No Confirm the exact site and current approach.
Approach: No Roads.
Fires: Fires in designated areas only.
Site rules: Minimum age for permittees is 18. Alcohol is prohibited. Bicycles or other vehicles may not be taken to the shelter. Pets are prohibited. Horses are permitted. Fireworks or similar devices are prohibited. All drinking water must be carried in. Dead and down wood may be collected for firewood. Fires are permitted only in fireplace rings provided. Stoves or heaters should not be used in the shelters. Dishes and clothing should not be washed in natural water sources. Dispose of waste water at least 500 feet from the shelter site. All trash, including food scraps, must be carried out. Quiet hours…
Camp Greentop ↗
Located on the National Register of Historic Places, Camp Greentop is a perfect location for organized groups to hold large events, retreats, or conferences. The camp has space for 150 people to sleep on twin beds. There are 12 cabins that sleep 10 each, one lodge that sleeps 12, and three smaller cabins. Recent upgrades include a new swimming pool, renovated Dining and Recreation Halls, and upgraded electrical systems including new outlets and ceiling fans in each of the guest cabins.
Reservations: Reservations can be made online at http://www.recreation.gov/ or by calling 877-444-6777.
Reservations / current camping instructions ↗
RV / truck camping: RV's and Trailers are not permitted in this cabin camp. Confirm the exact site and current approach.
Approach: Paved Roads - All vehicles OK.
Fires: A commercial kitchen with electric ranges and ovens are available in the dining hall. Groups using the kitchen are requested to have a certified food handler on duty to maintain US Public Health Service sanitation requirements. If fire danger is low, the campfire circle or camping stoves may be used for cooking in specific areas.
Site rules: Groups renting the facility are responsible for seeing that the camp is left in a clean and orderly condition, especially the kitchen. A complete check-in and check-out will be provided by rangers. Check-ins are scheduled between 3:00pm and 5:00pm. Check-outs are scheduled between 9:00 am and 12:00 noon. The Group Leader and Kitchen Supervisor shall meet with a Park Ranger at Check-out. The Park Ranger will inspect all areas for cleanliness, orderliness, and damages. The Group Leader and Kitchen Facility Supervisor shall not depart until the inspection and Check-out are completed. Alcohol is…
Camp Misty Mount ↗
Advanced reservations required. Camp Misty Mount is a cabin rental facility for individuals, families, or small groups. This historic cabin camp was completed in 1937 by the Works Progress Administration. The camp is surrounded by hardwood forests on the slopes of Catoctin Mountain Park. Recent upgrades to Camp Misty Mount include a renovated swimming pool and bath house, new cots and mattresses, and upgraded electrical systems including new outlets and ceiling fans in each of the guest cabins.
Reservations: Reservations are required
Reservations / current camping instructions ↗
RV / truck camping: This is a cabin camp area. No trailers or RV's are permitted. Confirm the exact site and current approach.
Approach: Unpaved Roads - All vehicles OK in good weather.
Fires: Fires may be built in designated fire circles. Firewood is available for free for use within the cabin camps or dead and down wood may be collected from the ground. Carry-in of firewood is prohibited.
Site rules: Pets and alcohol are prohibited. Motor vehicles are permitted in cabin areas strictly for loading and unloading only. Campers must park in designated parking area. Vehicle limit is one per cabin and two per lodge. Check-in is at 3:00 p.m. Check out is at 12:00 p.m. Quiet hours are 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.
Truck-camping & permitted overnight use
NPS lists RV access at Owens Creek Campground. Three of the sites provide for pull through access. Others can accommodate trailers, but they will need to be backed into the site.
Backcountry camping and vehicle camping require park-specific authorization; National Park Service land is not generally open to unrestricted roadside camping. Confirm designated sites, permits and food-storage rules with this unit.
Activities, hiking & trails
Hiking, Front-Country Hiking. Official activities and trail-planning information ↗
NPS-listed recreation: Camping, Car or Front Country Camping, Group Camping, Climbing, Compass and GPS, Orienteering, Fishing, Fly Fishing, Food, Picnicking, Hiking, Front-Country Hiking, Horse Trekking, Horseback Riding, Junior Ranger Program, Skiing, Cross-Country Skiing, Snowshoeing, Museum Exhibits, Shopping, Bookstore and Park Store.
Maps & road access
Use the official NPS directions and current alerts. Check vehicle restrictions and campground approach roads before traveling.
To reach the visitor center from the east, follow US Route 15 to MD Route 77 and go west about 3 miles. The visitor center is on the right side of the road. From the west, take I 70 to MD 66 at exit 35. Turn left onto MD 66 north and travel about 5 miles, passing through the roundabout. Turn right onto MD 64 and drive 1 mile. Turn right onto MD 77. Drive on MD 77 about 7.5 miles. The visitor center is on the left. Official directions / site access ↗
Before you travel
Summer (June-Aug) average temperature is between 61 and 81 degrees Fahrenheit. Fall (Sep-Nov) average temperature is between 45 and 64 degrees Fahrenheit. Fall foliage is at its peak in mid-October Winter (Dec-Feb) average temperature is between 24 and 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Winter snowfall is between 5-12" per month. Spring (March-May) average temperature is between 41 and 63 degrees Fahrenheit. Average precipitation is approximately 4 inches per month. (Source: usclimatedata.com)
Source review: 2026-11-01. Conditions, fees, permits and availability can change. National Park Service official information ↗
Photograph sources & licensing
Banner: Chimney Rock Vista
A challenging hike leads to Chimney Rock, the most popular vista in the park.
Credit: NPS Photo/Peggie Gaul. Original source ↗ · Public domain — NPS-created federal work ↗. Resized and cropped to match the profile display framing; original image source linked.
Second large photograph: Visitor Center
First time visitors should begin their park experience at the visitor center.
Credit: NPS Photo/Peggie Gaul. Original source ↗ · Public domain — NPS-created federal work ↗. Resized and cropped to match the profile display framing; original image source linked.
Photographs are real images of the named unit; no AI-generated photographs are used. Federal photo credit register.