Frederick Municipal Forest
Despite butting up against Gambrill State Park, the Frederick Municipal Forest, a.k.a. The Frederick Watershed, is a bit more remote, a bit more wild and a lot less user friendly for the first time visitor. There’s currently only one blazed trail, the linear Catoctin Trail, so if you follow this, don’t expect to loop back to where you started. Efforts are under way to establish a well marked loop and as soon as it is completed, a map will be up here. In the meantime, it’s best to find a friendly guide to help you the first time out there. Check our sponsor list for local bike shops who can fill you in. If you venture out on your own, note that a number of the roads in the area are gravel and unmarked, so navigation can be tricky. A road map and a topo can at least help you get your bearings.
Bears, rattlesnakes and hunters (in season) will be found in the woods, so keep that in mind. Pack everything you need including plenty of water since there is nowhere to resupply. Spare tubes and a pump are standard equipment as the rocks in the area love to eat tires and tubes for lunch. This area is for the more adventurous, but dig around a little and you’ll be well rewarded with some great trails. Definitely not recommended for beginners.
Two gravel parking areas are the most popular starting points:
Hamburg Road, just east of Gabmrill Park Rd and the Sand Flats area, on the north end of Gambrill Park Road near the intersection of Tower Road, before the road turns to gravel. Locals like to start at the Mountaindale Reservoir and start their rides with a nice long climb.
