Catoctin Mountain Park Visitor Center — Attraction in Thurmont

Welcome to Catoctin Mountain Park visitor center. If you have never visited Catoctin Mountain Park you should definitely make a stop at the visitor center before you proceed to the other attractions within the park. This location is full of information in the cases on the walls on the outside of the building related to the park, when it is open and once again what it has to offer. Once you go inside it is no different there is information about the history of the park and even some interactive things for the kids to do. It is also maned by park employees who are forever ready and willing to answer any questions you might have about the park, the trails and animals or plants and trees you might see while your hiking. I took my kids there when they were younger and the park employees even swore my kids in as deputy rangers and gave them little plastic badges to wear around. There are bathrooms at this location as well and even a place to charge your electric vehicle if...

I came in after I hiked the Chimney Rock trail with some friends to warmup and use the bathroom! The park ranger and other employees there were very nice and welcoming! They told me I could stay as long as I wanted to so I could warmup (I just hiked 4 miles up a mountain in the snow). I also ended up buying me and my friends a few hiking coins and pins as souvenirs for our nice hike! I never really go into visitor centers but this one was nice! The bathrooms were super clean and when I checked out at the register they were using an iPad and had apple pay, which I did not except for this location. Definitely stop in if you are...

Very interesting mountain history museum exhibit. The small bookshop has great items for nature lovers of all ages. The discovery room has exploratory activities that use all senses. The displays are really well thought out and encourage observations, learning, and discussion. It's not a huge room, but it offers an incredible amount of activity. I'm a naturalist at another Maryland park and I was so impressed. Park staff was so friendly and helpful. Bathroom facilities on and off trail were super clean. Trails were a fantastic challenge and views were an amazing...