Your Virtual Guide to Adventure Outdoors!
Your Virtual Guide to Adventure Outdoors!
Maryland
Hiking Maps & Trails
Assateague Island National Seashore
Assateague Island National Seashore
Three agencies administer Assateague, a windswept barrier island that offers many opportunities for seashore recreation and nature study. Ocean swimming, camping, bayside canoeing, crabbing, clamming, hunting, surf-fishing and off-road vehicle use are all popular. The famous wild horses roam throughout and share beach to bay habitats with a host of other mammals and nearly 300 species of birds. Assateague Island became part of the National Park System in 1965. Thirty-seven miles long, the island covers over 18,000 acres in the states of Maryland and Virginia. Detailed information on a variety of seashore subjects are available at the Assateague Island NS Virtual Visitor Center.
VISITATION:
Highest mid-June to Labor Day; lowest in December to March.
LOCATION:
Worcester Co., MD; Accomack Co., VA;
ADDRESS:
Assateague Island NS 7206
National Seashore Lane Berlin, MD. 21811
TELEPHONE:
(410) 641-1441
OPERATING HOURS, SEASONS:
Daily, year-round; island open 24 hours in Maryland; 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. during daylight savings time in Virginia, with shorter hours during winter. Visitor centers open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. except closed Thanksgiving and Christmas days.
CLIMATE, RECOMMENDED CLOTHING:
Summers generally hot and humid, and insect repellent recommended. Rarely snows in winter but often a damp cold. Sturdy hiking shoes recommended for long walks in soft sand and hard sole shoes for wading in bay waters.
DIRECTIONS:
Assateague's north entrance is at the end of Route 611, eight miles south of Ocean City, Md.. The south entrance is at the eastern terminus of Route 175, two miles from Chincoteague, VA..
TRANSPORTATION:
By private auto only via Route 611 in Maryland or Route 175 in Virginia.
FEES, COSTS, RATES:
$4 per weekly vehicle pass, collected separately at each entrance, or $2 per week for cyclists and walk-ins. Golden Age, Golden Access and Golden Eagle Passes honored. Commercial Tour Fees available on request. $12 per night to camp in national seashore, $20 per night in Assateague State Park.
FACILITIES AND OPPORTUNITIES
Visitor Center/Exhibits
Barrier Island Visitor Center (MD), Toms Cove Visitor Center (VA), and Chincoteague Refuge Visitor Center (VA). Wayside exhibits located throughout the park.
Trails, Roadways:
In Maryland, four miles of paved roads include an adjacent bike path. 'Life of Assateague' self-guided trails interpret three different barrier island habitats. In Virginia, five miles of paved roads include a bike path. Two short nature trails explore natural habitats and a third leads to the base of the Assateague Lighthouse.
Programs, Activities:
Regularly scheduled park service or refuge activities are available seasonally. Education programs for schools are given throughout the school year. Information is available on request.
Lodging and Camping Facilities:
Camping is the only overnight opportunity on the island, and all state and national campgrounds are located in the Maryland portion. National seashore backpack or canoe-in backcountry camping is also located in Maryland. Call the national seashore at 410-641-3030 and the state park at 410-641-2120. A variety of commercial campgrounds and lodging is located in Chincoteague, VA. (804) 336-6161 or Ocean City, MD. (410) 213-0552.
Food, Supplies:
Local restaurants and groceries are located in nearby communities. Other Concessions, NPS-Managed Visitor Facilities and Opportunities:
Seasonally, Assateague State Park has a small snack bar and camp store. Canoes, bikes, and clam rakes are rented in the Maryland portion of the national seashore. Bookshops, operated by Eastern National Park and Monument Association and the Chincoteague Refuge Natural History association, are located in visitor centers.
Accessibility:
All visitor centers, most nature trails, bathhouses, and wayside exhibits are completely accessible. The national seashore has established two accessible campsites which may be reserved. Beach wheelchairs with balloon tires are available.
RECOMMENDED ACTIVITIES/PARK USE:
First time visitors should go to visitor centers to see exhibits and obtain literature about the many recreational activities and natural features in the seashore. A wide variety of guided programs (seasonally) can be enjoyed to enhance the visit.
RESERVATIONS/PERMITS:
National seashore campers may reserve up to eight weeks in advance by calling DESTINET at 1-800-365-2267. Assateague State Park reservations are available only on a weekly basis; call the state park at 410-641-2120. Backcountry campers must obtain a permit upon arrival. Hunters must register and should obtain a seashore hunting plan each September. Off-road vehicle users must carry certain equipment and purchase a $60 annual special use permit.
SPECIAL EVENTS/PROGRAMS:
April - last Saturday; National Park Service 'open house'. July - last Wednesday and Thursday; pony swim and auction. November - Thanksgiving Week; Chincoteague Refuge 'open house'. Call the park at 410-641-1441 for specific times and events.
VISITOR IMPACTS:
Call the park at 410-641-1441 for possible closures during threats by coastal storms.
ADJACENT VISITOR ATTRACTIONS:
A wide variety of museums, nature trails and historic villages may be found on the mainland within 45 minutes of the seashore. Contact the visitor centers upon arrival.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Write Assateague Island National Seashore,
7206 National Seashore Lane, Berlin, MD. 21811
or
call (410) 641-1441.
In the 1930's, after years of making charcoal to fuel an iron furnace, mountain farming, and harvesting of trees for timber, land was purchased to be transformed into a productive recreation area; helping to put people back to work during the great depression. Beginning in 1935, the Catoctin Recreational Demonstration Area was under construction by both the Works Progress Administration and the Civilian Conservation Corps. Originally planned to provide recreational camps for federal employees, one of the camps eventually became the home of the Presidential retreat, Camp David. The Presidential retreat is not open or accessible to the public, but the eastern hardwood forest of Catoctin Mountain Park has many other attractions for visitors: camping, picnicking, fishing, 25 miles of hiking trails, scenic mountain vistas, all await your exploration.
VISITATION:
Peak visitation is October, when fall colors are at their best.
Winter months are low visitation.
LOCATION:
Thurmont, MD
ADDRESS:
Superintendent
Catoctin Mountain Park
6602 Foxville Road
Thurmont, MD 21788-1598
TELEPHONE:
(301) 663-9330 or (301) 663-9388, Visitor Center
OPERATING HOURS, SEASONS:
Park is open year-round during daylight hours.
Visitor center hours: Monday through Thursday, 10:00 a.m to 4:30 p.m.; Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; closed winter federal holidays and occasional winter days.
Owens Creek Campground open April 15 through the 3rd Sunday in November.
Camp Misty Mount, a family cabin rental facility, is open from April 15th through the end of October.
Poplar Grove Youth Group Tent Camping Area is closed from March 1 through April 15th.
CLIMATE, RECOMMENDED CLOTHING:
Temperatures range from below freezing in the winter months, to the upper 90 degrees in the summer months. Relatively high humidity prevails.
DIRECTIONS:
Traveling north on Interstate Route 270, take Route 15 north, past Frederick, Maryland. Exit on State Route 77 west. Exit sign will say Catoctin Mountain Park. Traveling west on Route 70, exit onto Route 15 north. Exit on State Route 77 west. Exit sign will say Catoctin Mountain Park.
TRANSPORTATION:
To Park: There is no public transportation to Catoctin Mountain Park. Nearest airport is Dulles International Airport, Herndon, Virginia. In Park: There is no public transportation in the Park.
FEES, COSTS, RATES:
There is no entrance fee to Catoctin Mountain Park. Owens Creek Campground fee is $10.00 per night per site, for five people. Poplar Grove Youth Group Tent Camping Area is $15.00 per night per site, for 25 people. Camp Misty Mount, cabins begin at $35.00 per night.
FACILITIES AND OPPORTUNITIES:
Visitor Center/Exhibits:
Has visitor center/exhibits area and a cooperating association book sales outlet, over 25 miles of hiking trails throughout the park, and scenic overlooks just one-half mile walk from parking areas.
Programs/Activities:
Interpretive programs are offered year-round. Send for calendar of events. Educational programs available to groups by advance reservation on weekdays. Send for informational brochure. This park is featured in a lesson plan created by Teaching with Historic Places, a program of the National Park Service that helps teachers and students understand how parks and other historic places embody America's historical experiences and cultural expressions.
Lodging and camping facilities:
One family campground, Owens Creek Campground, sites available on a first come, first served basis. One youth group campground, advance reservations only. Individual cabin rental facility, Camp Misty Mount, advance reservations only.
Food/supplies:
Food and limited supplies are available locally in the town of Thurmont, Maryland. Seasonal concession facility in Cunningham Falls State Park, adjacent to Catoctin Mountain Park.
Other Concessions/NPS-Managed Visitor Facilities and Opportunities:
Cunningham Falls State Park is directly adjacent to Catoctin Mountain Park. Camping, fishing, hiking, and lake with swimming beach, are all available.
Accessibility:
Park Visitor Center is accessible. The one-half mile Spicebush Nature Trail is paved for accessibility, and the sawmill exhibit has an accessible ramp. Camp Greentop, a large group rental facility, is fully accessible.
RECOMMENDED ACTIVITIES/PARK USE:
Hiking trails, wildlife watching, cross country skiing, if snow permits, wildflower photography, picnicking, camping, and fishing.
RESERVATIONS/PERMITS:
Reservations required for Poplar Grove Youth Group Tent Camping Area and Camp Misty Mount cabin rental facility. Permits required for use of Adirondack Shelter and rock climbing. Some interpretive programs require reservations. All educational programs (school groups, etc.) require reservations.
BASIC VISIT RECOMMENDATIONS:
Hikes vary from 30 minutes to seven hours. The average hike is two to three hours. Plan to spend 30 minutes in the park visitor center.
VISITOR IMPACTS:
Park Central Road, the main road through the park, is closed in the winter months. Part of Manahan Road is also closed in the winter months. These closures reduce traffic accidents, reduce park maintenance, reduce the use of salt to melt icy roads, and provide areas for cross-country skiing opportunities.
ADJACENT VISITOR ATTRACTIONS:
Cunningham Falls State Park, entrances on Route 15 and on Route 77 west, and Catoctin Mountain Zoo, located on Route 15.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
For park brochure, calendar of events, camping information, education programs brochure,etc., write to Superintendent, Catoctin Mountain Park, 6602 Foxville Road, Thurmont, MD 21788, or call (210) 229-5710.
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