I joined my friends to explore Cactocin Mountain, back in fall. Cactocin is in Thurmont, MD which is about 39 minutes or so from where I’m located (upper Montgomery County).

My friends were camping so had stayed the night. Their site was pretty typical for camping, I would say. There was a water spicket and bathroom not too far from out from our location. Cactocin mountain offers a variety of lodging features from cabin rentals, dorms (even dorms that houses as many as 120 guests in 4 heated dorms, 30 people each with amenities such as flush toilets, hot showers, electric outlets with a dining hall, gymnasium, classrooms, a conference room, gazebo and fire pit), adirondack shelters, dormitory rentals, areas for tent camping and more.

Cactocin Mountain is a national park, free for the public (obviously unless you’re renting) with a variety of hiking trails. Everyone we met was kind and friendly as well, which is always a plus.

I didn’t stay the night, but I did join the groups for s’mores, snacks, fire shenanigans, breakfast and hiking.

Cactoctin Mountain has 25 trails to explore with different levels of difficulty and distance. Each trail was beautiful and we were able to actually climb up the side of the waterfall. It looked scarier and more slippery than it was, or at least my opinion!

You really had to hike on the edge; the middle was more slippery; I will admit that.

Like any nature trail, the flowers, plants and trees were magnificent, and especially so since we went in the fall.

Unsurprisingly, the top was amazing. I recall when I was an adolescent, we went on a lot of hiking trails, I mean…. a LOT. I was living in Utah at the time where it seemed like every other day, we were going on another trail. (Okay, obviously not, but it was a lot!) I also did a lot of hiking when living in Maine- and I don’t really know if I ENJOY the breathless walking, the hills, the crevices, the rocks, all the things… but what I DO enjoy is the nature, and boy- do I enjoy seeing the view from the top!

I was grateful that is was pleasant weather when we went and it was overall a positive trip. I was sad to have to leave, but alas, nothing good lasts forever… and thankfully nothing bad does either.

Do I recommend Cactocin Mountain Park in Thurmont, MD?

I do! I think it was a great place to relax and rewind. It had so many options to make a perfect family get away and I definitely recommend going in the fall so you get to see all the different colors (and it’s less hot or cold).

Website: https://www.nps.gov/cato/index.htm

Address: 14707 Park Central Road
Thurmont, MD 21788

Cheers friends and travelers!

~ Backroad Butterflies ~