Adirondack Shelters

Adirondack Shelters

About this campsite

Overview

The Adirondack Shelters, located near the northern most point of Catoctin Mountain Park, provides a destination for true nature immersion and an alternative to drive-up camping. A moderate three-mile uphill hike over rocky but generally gently rolling terrain leads to the three-sided shelters similar to those found on the Appalachian Trail. Please plan to pack out everything you bring to the site. At Catoctin Mountain Park, the beauty and solitude of nearly 6,000 acres (2428 ha) of mature Eastern Hardwood Forest beckon visitors in need of an escape.

Recreation

The shelters are for backcountry hikers looking for a remote getaway. Watching birds (aka "birding") is a popular form of wildlife observation. Catoctin offers a 25-mile (40 km) hiking trail system, fishing, picnicking, and frontcountry cabins and campgrounds in addition to the more primitive Adirondack shelters.

Facilities

This is a rustic backcountry area with no vehicle access or potable water. There is one rustic pit toilet available. Campers must carry adequate drinking water and supplies and pack trash out at the conclusion of their stay. The two shelters are several hundred feet apart, making them close enough for groups to use both, but far enough away to offer privacy. The sites are available year-round and can accommodate five campers. Tents or temporary structures are not permitted inside the shelters or surrounding area. Campfire rings are provided.

Natural Features

Located about 60 miles (96.5 km) from Washington, DC and Baltimore, Maryland, Catoctin Mountain Park lies within the mountainous Blue Ridge Province of north-central Maryland. Scenic overlooks extend across the Monocacy Valley.

Contact Info

For facility specific information, please call (301) 663-9388.

Nearby Attractions

Head to Wolf Rock for scenic vistas and thrilling rock climbing and rappelling. Or tour historic Camp Misty Mount, which is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

Location

Adirondack Shelters•MD

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Weather Forecast

via Open-Meteo

FRI☁️

27° / 18°

💧 21%

SAT☁️

19° / 12°

💧 10%

SUN🌦️

14° / 11°

💧 50%

TODAY☁️

20° / 8°

💧 4%

TUE☀️

15° / 4°

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Nearby Campsites

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OWENS CREEK CAMPGROUND

Overview Owens Creek Campground offers families and individuals enjoyable primitive tent camping. Located just five miles (8 km) from Thurmont, Maryland, in the rolling hills of Catoctin Mountain Park. Recreation As a primitive camping area, Owens Creek encourages visitors to use healthy doses of imagination while surrounded by the natural landscape. Nature hikes and campfire circles are popular activities. Catoctin Mountain Park boasts 25 miles (40 km) of trails. The Deerfield Nature Trail connects directly to the campground and is a 1.5 mile (2.4 km) loop with a connection to the park's western system of trails. Browns Farm Trail is nearby in the Owens Creek Picnic Area and offers budding archeologists with a peek into the history of the area. This trail is also a youth friendly 'Track Trail'. For more information, visit the Catoctin Mountain Park - Browns Farm Loop Track Trail information on the Kids in Parks website. Facilities This campground offers 48 single campsites with a limit of five people, or immediate family, per site. There are no-hookups. Maximum trailer length is 22 feet (6.4 m) and maximum RV length is 30 feet (9 m). There are three pull through sites: #12, #39 and #43. Flush toilets, showers and drinking water are available and centrally located in the campground. All sites are equipped with a tent pad, picnic tables, and fire ring. All tents must fit on the tent pads. Firewood is available. Natural Features The campground is surrounded by a rolling landscape, perfect for hikes of any level from easy to extremely strenuous. Owens Creek flows past the campground providing a peaceful setting beside a bubbling brook. Whether blanketed in snow in winter months, brilliant with color in the fall or blooming with wildflowers in the spring, Owens Creek offers beautiful scenery all year. Nearby Attractions Catoctin Mountain Park is located near many historical and cultural sites: Appalachian National Scenic Trail (8 miles/13 km) Monocacy National Battlefield (18 miles/29 km) Antietam National Battlefield (26 miles/45 km) Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail (26 miles) Eisenhower National Historic Site and Gettysburg National Military Park (20 miles/32 km) Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park (28 miles/45 km) Harpers Ferry National Historical Park (37 miles/60 km) Other Attractions include Catoctin Wildlife Preserve and Zoo and Cunningham Falls State Park. For more information visit the Tourism Council of Frederick County .

2.0 km away

POPLAR GROVE YOUTH GROUP CAMPGROUND

Overview Poplar Grove offers youth groups and organizations enjoyable year-round primitive tent camping. Located just steps away from the Catoctin Mountain Park portion of the Catoctin National Recreation Trail in the rolling hills of Thurmont, Maryland. Poplar Grove allows youth groups to experience traditional wilderness camping in a beautiful, natural setting. Recreation As a primitive camping area, Poplar Grove encourages youth to use healthy doses of imagination while surrounded by the natural landscape. Nature hikes and campfire circles are popular activities. Catoctin Mountain Park offers 25 miles (40 km) of trails for additional hiking opportunities. Facilities Poplar Grove allows youth to connect with nature in a rustic campground setting. Three (3) group sites can accommodate up to 25 visitors. There are (2) two vault toilets and pavilion are centrally located. Water is not available. Site campfire circles and grills exist at each of the three camp sites. Firewood is provided onsite, dead wood may be collected for fires. Each group site is limited to (2) two vehicles or (1) vehicle and (1) utility trailer (unhooked) parked in designated spaces. Additional vehicles need to be parked at Camp Round Meadow. Overnight parking is not permitted on Manahan Road. Due to seasonal road closures, the campground is closed in the Winter. For further information please call the Visitors Center between 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at (301) 663- 9388. During your stay (after hours) contact 24 hour dispatch at 1-866-677-6677 or 301-714-2235. Natural Features Poplar Grove offers tree sheltered, flat tent sites. The campground is surrounded by a hardwood decidious forest. Whether blanketed in snow in winter months or blooming with wildflowers in the spring, Poplar Grove offers beautiful scenery all year. Nearby Attractions The Catoctin Mountain Park Visitor Center is located four miles (1.2 km) away and offers interpretive programs. Just three miles (4.8 km) away, visitors can enjoy fishing and canoeing at Cunningham Falls State Park (entrance fee applies). Contact Info

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CAMP ROUND MEADOW

Overview Camp Round Meadow, a four-season camp, includes four dormitories, dining hall, commercial kitchen, gymnasium and conference room. The facility accommodates a maximum of 120 people. Originally used from 1939 to 1941 by the Civilian Conservation Corps, the camp also operated from 1965 to 1969 as the first Job Corps Center in the United States. Recreation A variety of hiking trails and picnic facilities are within walking distance of Camp Round Meadow. Fishing is available by permit within Catoctin Mountain Park and Cunningham Falls State Park, just 3 miles (5 km) from the Catoctin Mountain Park Visitor Center. Cunningham Falls also offers swimming and boating. In the event of snow, areas throughout the park may be used for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. Contact the Catoctin Mountain Park Visitor Center at (301) 663-9388 for additional information, recreation and program opportunities. Facilities Camp Round Meadow will accommodate up to 120 guests. INDOORS: Guests have access to four dormitories, a dining hall, a commercial kitchen, a gymnasium, and conference room. The dining hall, kitchen, gymnasium and conference room have heat and air conditioning. The dormitory buildings are universally accessible and offer electricity and heat. Each dormitory includes 30 twin beds with vinyl covered mattresses, 2 bathrooms and 2 bottle filling/water fountain stations. Each of the four dormitories has (2) two bathrooms with (2) flush toilets, (1) accessible hot shower, and (2) sinks. A cleaning room in each dormitory has brooms, mops, buckets, and toilet brush/plunger. No internet access or Wi-Fi available. Cellular service reception coverage is best on the AT & T or Verizon systems. The 1,746 square foot (162 sq. m) dining hall space includes more than a dozen tables and roughly 100 chairs. The adjacent kitchen is 384 square feet (35.5 sq. m). The commercial kitchen offers various appliances, including a freezer, refrigerator, three ranges, a convection oven, ice machine, microwave, toaster, steam table, garbage disposal and dishwasher. The kitchen contains multiple storage spaces and a small bathroom. Trash service includes a waste and recycling receptacle. Cleaning equipment and trash cans are provided. The gymnasium has an indoor basketball court, Men's and Women's restrooms that include flush toilets, hot showers, and sinks. The conference room is 765 square feet (71 sq. m) with a maximum occupancy of 51. The facility has approximately 20 tables, and roughly 75 chairs, and projector screen are available for use in the conference room. Guests are responsible for cleaning and sanitation of the entire facility. Reservation-holders must provide all paper products and cleaning supplies. The park provides items to assist with cleaning such as mops, buckets, brooms, dust mops, whisk brooms, vacuum cleaners, and dust pans, and a small selection of cleaning chemicals. Groups may choose to contract with a professional for cleaning services. The cleaning of all facilities must be completed by check-out time and the group leader must remain for a walk-through of the entire camp with the Park Ranger. Catoctin Mountain Park is committed to sustainable park operations and strongly encourages park visitors to reduce their consumption of energy and generation of waste. There is single-stream recycling available in Camp Round Meadow. OUTDOORS: Outside, guests may enjoy a campfire ring with wooden bench seating, grass athletic field,