Maybe a short diversion from the AT, there are so many incredible places to wander, ponder, and just get lost for an afternoon. While I might not be a serious hiker by any stretch of the imagination, I have seen and done enough over the past few years to know that the AT is far from being anything special except for the ability to say that you hiked it. One of these places so close to the AT and so dear to my heart is Catoctin Mountain Park. The Catoctins, home of the President's retreat, Camp David, is a small national park located off Rt77, a few miles west of Rt15 Thurmont. Nestled in this park are trails for the casual weekend walker and more difficult, longer trails for the more advanced.
Maps are free at the visitors center.
These maps are good enough to get you where ever you want to go within the confines of Catoctin Mountain Park and its neighbor, Cunningham Falls State Park. The Catoctins can be enjoyed year round. The main road that disects the park tends to close in the winter but the visitor center parking lot is open from sunrise to sunset all year round. The parking lot makes a good central point to start a hike to various sections of the park. According to your skill level, you can partake on the nature trail from the parking lot to the falls.