News Release

Catoctin Mountain Park wants your input on a plan to improve the park’s trail system

Date: February 24, 2021
Contact: Peggie Gaul, 240-385-2814
Contact: Rick Slade, 301-663-6751

Thurmont, Md. — The National Park Service (NPS) wants to hear from you as we develop a plan to improve trails at Catoctin Mountain Park. We’re developing a comprehensive trail system plan to provide guidance for enhancing the park’s trail system and the visitor experience, while continuing to protect natural and cultural resources. You’re invited to attend a virtual public meeting on March 10, and to submit your ideas from March 10 through April 10, 2021. 

Catoctin Mountain Park currently has 25 miles of developed trails which provide several scenic viewpoints, universally accessible trails, and six miles of horseback riding trails.  

A comprehensive trail system plan would provide park managers with a long-term management framework to: 

• Manage and maintain existing trails 
• Add new trails and access points.  
• Close or realign existing trails.  

• Create trails that are universally accessible to meet the Architectural Barriers Act Accessibility Standards. 

Attend the public meeting: A live, virtual public meeting will be held on March 10 from 6 to 8 p.m. Join the meeting by clicking here. To connect to audio, use the meeting website link or dial, [phone] and enter conference ID 71676020#. A recording of the meeting and meeting presentation materials will be available at https://parkplanning.nps.gov/cato_trailplan after the meeting. 

How to comment: Public participation is vital to the planning process. There are several ways to get involved. You are invited to review the proposal and provide comments and ideas from March 10 through April 10, 2021. To provide comments online or get additional information on the project, visit the NPS planning website at: https://parkplanning.nps.gov/cato_trailplan. 

If you prefer to mail your comments, make sure they are postmarked by April 10, 2021 to receive consideration. Mail comments to the following address:

Superintendent 
Attn: CATO Comprehensive Trail Plan 
6602 Foxville Road 
Thurmont, MD 21788 

Public comments may also contain marked-up park maps to illustrate ideas. Park maps can be found at: https://www.nps.gov/cato/planyourvisit/maps.htm. Marked-up maps may be submitted via email to: [e-mail] or mailed to the address listed above.  

The comments gathered will also inform the NPS’ development of an environmental assessment which will evaluate potential impacts to park resources, in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA).

-NPS-

 

Catoctin Mountain Park is one of 423 national parks cared for by the National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. Correspondence should be addressed to: Superintendent, Catoctin Mountain Park, 6602 Foxville Road, Thurmont, MD 21788. General information can be obtained through the park website at www.nps.gov or by calling the Visitor Center at [phone].