Eric Skalac/MNS
The Catoctin Trail will receive new trail markers as part of the National Recreation Trail Designation.
FREDERICK, Md. — Though the Appalachian Trail that runs from Maine to George gets more attention and visitors, new federal recognition of Maryland’s 26-mile Catoctin Trail only a few miles away has rangers and volunteers looking forward to some fresh attention on the sometimes overlooked trail.
Last Thursday, the Department of Interior bestowed the National Recreation Trail designation to Catoctin Trail in Frederick County, along with 40 other trails from 18 states. The trails, announced annually, are chosen for social, historic and recreation value.
“The trails establish a strong link in our urban and rural communities alike to a conservation legacy for future generations to build upon,” Deputy Interior Secretary David Hayes said in a press release announcing this year’s designations.
The Catoctin Trail winds through two state parks, one national park, the Frederick watershed and several private holdings. It is popular with residents of the nearby towns of Thurmont, Smithsburg and Frederick, but the lakes, waterfall and lush, mountainous terrain also attract a substantial amount of hikers from nearby Washington and Baltimore.
The new designation comes with a certificate and a set of new trail markers. More importantly, it means more publicity for Catoctin Trail.
“Bottom line, it means marketing,” said National Parks Planner Diane Banta. That marketing means the potential to draw more visitors to hike the trail, but it can also help legitimize a trail like Catoctin.
It also can mean more money by helping parks attract maintenance grants and other funding.
Catoctin Mountain National Park Superintendent Mel Poole saw the federal designation for the trail as a victory. “It’s sort of a way of saying there’s something special about this particular place,” he said. Plus, there is a small amount of maintenance funding park officials will be able to apply for, competing against more than 1,100 other National Recreation trails.
With this National Recreation Trail designation, Poole hopes the Catoctin Trail can take some pressure off the Appalachian Trail by luring away hikers, which would reduce damage from high usage on the nationally beloved trail.