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Map of the Catoctin Forest
The following aerial photo shows the boundaries of the Catoctin Forest.
The boundaries of the Catoctin Forest in Maryland.
This map that parallels the aerial photo above that shows the boundaries of the Catoctin Forest and identifies the various regions of the forest.
To see this map in all its detail download the PDF file at the bottom of this page. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view the file.
Protected areas within the Catoctin Forest
The map below shows protected areas within Frederick County. Note that the majority of the governmental protected land in the county is within the Catoctin Forest.
Map of protected land in Frederick County (courtesy of Bryan Seipp, Director of Restoration/Forester of the Potomac Conservancy)
Catoctin Forest Fast Facts
AREA
The Catoctin Forest covers over 100 square miles. Frederick County is 665 sq mi. in size. Over 32 Sq. Mi. (20,000 Acres) of the Catoctin Forest is public land (local, county, state and federal parks and watersheds).
ELEVATION RANGE
300-1900 feet above sea level
GEOLOGY
The Catoctin Forest sits at the boundary of the Piedmont and Appalachian physiographic provinces and the Appalachian province forms the eastern front of the Blue Ridge Mountains and is characterized by steep slopes and rocky terrain.
The oldest rock in the Catoctin Forest from the Precambrian Period of 600 million years ago is a greenish-gray metamorphosed lava called greenstone which forms Cunningham Falls and Hog Rock. Highly weather resistant quartzite rock forms such promontories as Chimney Rock and Wolf Rock.
VEGETATION
Frederick County is 25% forested (166 sq mi. = 106,000 ac.) and much of that forest is on the steep slopes of Catoctin Mountain. The deciduous forest is composed of chestnut oak, hickory and tulip poplar on the drier slopes with white oak and red maple occurring at lower and wetter elevations. Evergreen species include Canadian hemlock and table mountain pine.
Current threats: Gypsy moth, hemlock woolly adlegid, emerald ash borer, invasive species
WATCHABLE WILDLIFE
Black bear, White tailed Deer, Wild Turkey, Brook trout, and over 200 species of birds
Concerns: Overpopulation of deer, Habitat fragmentation
STREAMS/WATER
Over 700 of 1,434 miles in 11 of 25 watersheds in Frederick County.
Concerns: Chemical and thermal pollution, Loss of shade, Sedimentation/erosion, headwaters protection
CULTURAL SITES
18 sites ranging from French and Indian War to World War II
7 Historic Districts
TRAILS
Over 100 miles of hiking trails
Concerns: Erosion, user impacts
VISITATION
Over 1 million recreation visitors utilize this area annually.
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