Catoctin Mountain Park: The Adventurous Horse Trail! A Moderate 7.2 Mile Hike
- September 1, 2012 · 9:00 AM
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Catoctin Mountain: The Wild and Adventurous and Little Known Horse Trail with Optional Post Hike Lunch!
"The Horse Trail is in a wonderfully secluded section of trails at Catoctin Mountain Park not to be misunderstood with trails that are built for horses. This is a hike on a trail named "Horse Trail", but we humans hike it. But, like most trails, it is probably open to horses as well, but unlikly to see any horses this time of year so come check out this hidden gem of Catoctin Mountain Park that was discovered in our group thanks to Sandy when leading her series of completing every trail in the park...thanks Sandy!
The west side of the park is the wilder side. Adventurous hikers are more likely to see wildlife, wetlands, and an up-close view of nature. Remnants of former farms dot the land. The park's picnic areas, campgrounds, and back-country shelters connect with the trails.
The Catoctin Trail and the Horse Trail dominate the west side where we are hiking today. There are two sections to this trail, the Horse Trail North Loops which is 3.7 miles, and the Horse Trail South Loop which is 3.2 miles. The remaining mileage is the trails we take to reach the Horse Trail bringing the total mileage right at about 7.2 miles.
Trail Information
Activity Type: Hiking
Nearby City: Thurmont
Length: 7.2 Total miles
Trail Type: Loop
Hike Time: About 3 hours at a 2.5mph pace
Skill Level: Moderate:
Local Contacts: Catoctin Mountain Park
Weather Information
We hike rain, snow, or shine. Click here to see an up to the minute forecast for where we will be hiking.
Carpool Information
There are 3 carpools for this hike!
DC Area Carpool (Centerville Park and Ride)
To carpool or caravan from the metro DC area, meetup at the Centerville Park and Ride. Click here for information and directions to the Centerville location.
Laurel Area (Savage Station)
Click here for directions to Savage Station. To carpool or caravan from the Baltimore metro area, meet at Savage Station.
32 Park and Ride
There is an additional carpool location for this hike that is convenient to a vast majority of our memvers. Click here for directions to the 32 park and ride location.
If you can drive or want to carpool from additional locations such as the DC area, please post your location in the comment section below. For those who need a ride, reach out to the drivers. Make friends, and support the environment - by just offering a ride!
Directions to the Trailhead
Click here for directions to where we meetup for this hike.
Hike is at 9:00 a.m.
Carpool time from Savage Park and Ride 7:45 a.m.
Carpool time from Centerville Park and Ride is 7:30 a.m.
Carpool meetup time from 32 Park and Ride is 8:00 a.m.
Optional Post Hike Lunch Information and Menu
We will have an optional hike lunch at Cozy Restaurant as they welcome hikers and have a fabulous buffet for a great price. I will ask for a show of hands of who wants to join us there for a bite mid-way thru the hike and contact them with how many will be attending the lunch so you can decide on the trail.
Gear Information
Click here for suggestions for what to wear and what not to wear for our hikes.
Please remember we are a social hiking group that values fellowship and camaraderie and practice good hike etiquette . We take breaks as necessary and have at least one guide in the front in addition to a "sweeper" in the back which means that no hiker is left behind. If you get upset because someone has to rest at the top of a hill etc. then you need to find another group and there are a lot of great ones out there! We are very supportive, encouraging, and focus on safety while getting or staying fit on the trail and practicing Leave No Trace outdoor ethics.
Fido is Welcome on This Hike!
Let's have good times and see you on the trail!
Dave: [masked]
Justin: [masked]
Don't forget to come visit us on Facebook
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Priyanga
Anyone else in the Rockville/Grosvenor/Bethesda area looking to carpool?
Can drive, prefer ride (w/$ for gas).
August 28
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Charles A. Smith
Where at the Rockville Metro station will you be meeting? Would it be possible for me to also catch a ride?
August 31
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Jennifer
Charles- be at the Eockville metro kiss & ride on the 355 side at 7:00 if you want to come with me.
August 31
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Dave
Someone asked me about the altitute and steepness of the trail. I have not hiked in this part of the park before. But, looking at the map, it appears there is about a 250-300 foot difference between highest and lowest parts of the trails we will be on. There is a good bit of up and down as we go along the trail. As for steepness, it doesn't appear to bad (of course that is all relative). The worst part of it seems to go down 200 feet and back up again over the course of a mile or so.
August 28
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Karen Kirkwood
I live in Burke, does anyone want to carpool or I can meet you at the Centreville carpool spot.
August 28
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29 attended
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Justin Carlisle
Certified Hike Leader and Wilderness Medical First Responder, Co-Organizer
Event Host
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Glenn
Certified Hike Leader
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Lei
Certifed Hike Leader and Certified in Wilderness First Aid
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Samia Fam +1
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Walid
Pre-Approved for Very Strenuous Hikes!
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Priyanga
Certified Hike Leader
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Becky R.
Pre-Approved for Very Strenuous Hikes!
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A former member
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A former member
Your organizer's refund policy for Catoctin Mountain Park: The Adventurous Horse Trail! A Moderate 7.2 Mile Hike
Refunds offered if:
- the Meetup is cancelled
- the Meetup is rescheduled
- you can cancel at least 2 day(s) before the Meetup
Additional notes: Refund if I am contacted or your RSVP changed to NO prior to 48 hours before hike time.
Payments you make go to the organizer, not to Meetup. You must make refund requests to the organizer.
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