Maryland · Hiking · Near Ballenger Creek

Gateway Trail

Gateway TrailPhoto: John Brighenti, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
2.7 mi
one way
714 ft
climb
977 ft
high point
Point to point
route
Apr, Jun–Oct
best months

Is Gateway Trail open right now?

No closures listed

The National Park Service lists no closures for Catoctin Mountain Park.

As of · Source: NPS · Catoctin Mountain Park. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Gateway Trail is a 2.7-mile moderate hike in Catoctin Mountain Park in Maryland, managed by the National Park Service. The trail rises about 700 feet from a starting point at roughly 900 feet to a high point near 977 feet, and the route is a point-to-point with a total loss of about 1,150 feet for the return trip. The climb is steepest around mile 1.6, where the grade reaches about 58%, and the whole trip takes about 1.5 hours. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station show May highs around 73°F and September highs around 75°F, while July peaks near 84°F and winter lows drop into the low 20s. Dogs are allowed if they stay on a leash, and the trail is closed to bikes and horses. Camp Misty Mount and Camp Round Meadow, both about 0.9 miles away, offer camping. Chimney Rock, a climbing area, sits about 0.3 miles off.

Around this trail

Add any of these when you start a trip
  • Sleep close

    Camp Misty Mount

    Campground

    Campground · 0.9 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Rocky's Pizza

    Restaurant

    On your way back · 1 mi
  • If it rainsAcroterion, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

    Schifferstadt Architectural Museum

    Museum

    On your way back · 14 mi

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors · Photos: Acroterion, CC BY-SA 4.0 (commons)

More in Ballenger Creek

Local outfitters

Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.

  • Best time to go · Apr, Jun–Oct

    Best time to visit Gateway Trail

    Best months: April and June–October. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

    1. Jan

      39° / 23°

      10 wet

    2. Feb

      42° / 25°

      9 wet

    3. Mar

      52° / 31°

      12 wet

    4. Apr

      65° / 42°

      12 wet

    5. May

      73° / 52°

      14 wet

    6. Jun

      80° / 60°

      12 wet

    7. Jul

      84° / 65°

      12 wet

    8. Aug

      81° / 63°

      12 wet

    9. Sep

      75° / 58°

      11 wet

    10. Oct

      65° / 46°

      11 wet

    11. Nov

      53° / 36°

      11 wet

    12. Dec

      43° / 28°

      10 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Catoctin Mtn Park, MD, 2.6 mi away at 1,610 ft. The station sits about 600 ft higher than this place, so expect it a little warmer here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

Thurmont Vista Loop TrailPhoto: beyond_the_sea01, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

Thurmont Vista Loop Trail

Next door

0.74-mile point-to-point trail in Maryland with 126 ft gain

Old Misery TrailPhoto: Nicolas Raymond from Bethesda, Maryland, USA, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Old Misery Trail

~1 min drive

Old Misery Trail is a 1.19-mile point-to-point trail in Maryland with 418 ft gain.

HIKE

Appalachian National Scenic Trail

~13 min drive

173.17-mile point-to-point trail in Maryland with 20,060 ft of elevation gain

HIKE

Yellow Poplar Trail

~20 min drive

6.25-mile point-to-point Maryland trail through yellow poplar woodlands.

TR-4 Whiskey Still TrailPhoto: beyond_the_sea01, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

TR-4 Whiskey Still Trail

~2 min drive

0.86-mile out-and-back trail in Maryland with 341 ft gain.

TR-5 Blue Ridge Summit TrailPhoto: beyond_the_sea01, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

TR-5 Blue Ridge Summit Trail

~1 min drive

2.09-mile out-and-back trail in Maryland with 819 ft elevation gain.

Charcoal Exhibit TrailPhoto: beyond_the_sea01, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

Charcoal Exhibit Trail

~2 min drive

0.56-mile loop with 168 ft gain in Maryland.

Thurmont Vista OverlookPhoto: beyond_the_sea01, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

Thurmont Vista Overlook

~2 min drive

0.47-mile point-to-point trail in Maryland with 236 ft gain, offering vista overlook views.

TR-6 Charcoal TrailPhoto: beyond_the_sea01, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

TR-6 Charcoal Trail

~2 min drive

0.56-mile loop trail in Maryland with 102 ft gain.

Hog Rock Loop TrailPhoto: John Brighenti, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Hog Rock Loop Trail

~3 min drive

A scenic 3.91-mile point-to-point trail through Maryland woodlands.

Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors