Located about 60 miles from both Baltimore, Maryland and Washington, D.C., Catoctin Mountain Park is home to more than 1,000 native plant and animal species. Most of the park's historic structures, including rustic cabins and camping areas, are still used by visitors and staff.

Visitors to Catoctin Mountain Park find streams replete with native trout; forests of maple, hickory, ash, oak, and cherry trees; and air alive with the sounds of birds, chipmunks, and other wildlife. The park’s beauty is a triumph of nature’s ability to heal: the area was devastated by logging and agriculture during the 18th and 19th centuries. Today the park boasts an impressive second-growth forest.

In 1942, Catoctin became home to President Franklin Roosevelt’s private retreat, Shangri-la, now called Camp David. The camp continues to serve as a presidential retreat.

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