Poplar Grove Youth Group Campground

About this campsite

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

Location

POPLAR GROVE YOUTH GROUP CAMPGROUND•MD

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Weather Forecast

via Open-Meteo

SAT☁️

18° / 13°

💧 10%

SUN🌦️

13° / 12°

💧 42%

TODAY🌫️

17° / 7°

💧 1%

TUE☀️

16° / 3°

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WED☀️

22° / 4°

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Nearby Campsites

within 50km

1.3 km away

Camp Greentop Historic District

Campground: Camp Greentop Historic District.

1.5 km away

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

Adirondack Shelters

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.

2.4 km away

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,

2.4 km away

CAMP MISTY MOUNT

Overview This historic cabin camp was completed in 1937 by the Works Progress Administration. The camp is surrounded by hardwood forests on the slopes of Catoctin Mountain Park. Learn more in our video Misty Mount: A Hidden Gem (or the audio described version ) Individual rustic, historic cabins can be rented for overnight family enjoyment. Recreation Misty Mount offers a number of nearby recreation opportunities. The trailhead to Catoctin Mountain Park's trail system at Wolf Rock is a short walk from the camp. Catoctin has over 25 miles (40 km) of trails with stunning overlooks. Wildlife watching, bouldering, rock climbing and fly fishing are popular activities along with hiking and camping. Kids and adults enjoy the camp's swimming pool, open from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Facilities These rustic American chestnut cabins can accommodate three to eight people. They have interior and exterior lighting, metal cots with vinyl mattresses, waste and recycle bins and broom. The (3) lodges and cabin 16 have a table and bench seating. The exterior of each cabin site has a picnic table, and fire ring/grill. Firewood is available in woodsheds located in the lower loop and near the host cabin. Centrally located comfort stations include hot showers, flush toilets and sinks. Lower loop has the women's facilities, middle loop has the men's facility, and the upper loop has both men's and women's facilities. Three dishwashing stations are located throughout the camp. Water from the dishwashing stations is potable. The swimming pool is available from Memorial Day to Labor Day. The dining hall with a commercial kitchen is available for group rentals only. In order to reserve it, groups must reserve at least 7 cabins. The dining hall/ kitchen facility does not have its own designated restrooms or parking. Reservations for the dining hall must be made by contacting the Camp Manager at [email protected]. Camp Misty Mount is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Additional questions about the facility should be directed to the Camp Manager via email at [email protected] or by calling 301-271-3140. Natural Features Camp Misty Mount is surrounded by Eastern deciduous hardwood forests on the slopes of Catoctin Mountain Park. The region is part of the Blue Ridge Province and offers access to scenic mountain views and clear streams. Contact Info For facility specific information, please call (301) 663-9388. Nearby Attractions Interconnected hiking trails can be reached from Misty Mount on the Wolf Rock Trail, or by driving within a mile of the camp. Try the Hog Rock Trail or the Thurmont Vista Trail for phenomenal views of the valleys below. Visitors can hike to Cunningham Falls, the tallest waterfall in Maryland, from the Visitor Center.