Is there an entrance fee at Catoctin Mountain Park?

NPS lists the park as fee-free, so no entrance fee is listed. Fees can change, so confirm on the official page.

When is the best time to visit Catoctin Mountain Park?

NPS notes that fall color is at its peak in mid-October. October was also the busiest month in 2025 with 59,096 recreation visits.

Are dogs allowed at Catoctin Mountain Park?

Where pets are allowed, the national NPS pet rule requires a leash no longer than six feet or a crate. NPS lists pets as permitted on 17 of 22 things to do.

Can you camp at Catoctin Mountain Park?

NPS and Recreation.gov list 7 campgrounds, including Owens Creek Campground with 51 sites.

All parks › Catoctin Mountain Park

Catoctin Mountain Park: fees, hours, camping and when to visit

Updated October 29, 2026. Based on National Park Service data. Published by Humblebee.

Entrance fee: None^[1]
Busiest month (2025): October^[2]
Recreation visits, 2025: 460,857^[3]
Campgrounds: 7^[4]

Catoctin Mountain Park is a unit of the National Park System in Maryland^[5]. NPS lists it as a fee-free park, so there is no entrance fee^[1].

Entrance fees and passes

The National Park Service lists no entrance fee for Catoctin Mountain Park^[1]. Some tours, campgrounds or permits inside a park can still have their own fees.

When to visit and hours

Trails and parking areas are listed by NPS as open all year from dawn to dusk, though they may close for security or safety reasons^[6]. The visitor center, camps and campgrounds keep their own hours^[6]. In 2025 the busiest month was October with 59,096 recreation visits, and the quietest was January with 23,145^[2]. NPS notes that fall color is at its peak in mid-October^[7]. Summer averages between 61 and 81 degrees Fahrenheit, and winter averages between 24 and 41 degrees^[7]. NPS also lists winter snowfall of 5 to 12 inches per month^[7].

Recreation visits counted by the National Park Service in each month of 2025. The busiest month, October, is highlighted^[2].

Show visits by month

Month, 2025	Recreation visits
January	23,145
February	24,502
March	34,521
April	42,720
May	36,411
June	39,661
July	41,399
August	56,770
September	38,790
October	59,096
November	37,063
December	26,779

Show visits by year

Year	Recreation visits
2021^[3]	520,339
2022^[3]	450,322
2023^[3]	432,492
2024^[3]	380,681
2025^[3]	460,857

Camping

NPS and Recreation.gov list 7 campgrounds here^[4]. Owens Creek Campground has 51 sites and Camp Misty Mount has 29 sites^[4]. Nightly fees for individual sites range from $10 to $375 in the NPS listing^[4]. Check the booking details for each campground before you plan.

Owens Creek Campground, 51 sites^[4]
Camp Misty Mount, 29 sites
Poplar Grove Youth Group Campground, 3 sites
Adirondack Shelters, 2 sites
Camp Greentop, 1 sites
Camp Greentop Dining Hall and Rec Hall, 1 sites
Camp Round Meadow, 1 sites

Pets and dogs

The national NPS pet rule says that where pets are allowed, they must be crated, caged or on a leash no longer than six feet^[8]. Pets are not allowed in public buildings or on designated swimming beaches, with service animals excepted^[8]. NPS marks pets as permitted on 17 of its 22 listed things to do here, and each park can close more areas to pets^[9]^[8].

Before you go

NPS lists no entrance fee here, but confirm on the official park page before you go^[1].
Trails and parking may close for safety or security reasons, so check the park website for updates^[6].
The visitor center and campgrounds have their own hours^[6].
NPS says 2 of its listed things to do need a reservation^[9].

Questions people ask

Is there an entrance fee at Catoctin Mountain Park?: NPS lists the park as fee-free, so no entrance fee is listed^[1]. Fees can change, so confirm on the official page.
When is the best time to visit Catoctin Mountain Park?: NPS notes that fall color is at its peak in mid-October^[7]. October was also the busiest month in 2025 with 59,096 recreation visits^[2].
Are dogs allowed at Catoctin Mountain Park?: Where pets are allowed, the national NPS pet rule requires a leash no longer than six feet or a crate^[8]. NPS lists pets as permitted on 17 of 22 things to do^[9].
Can you camp at Catoctin Mountain Park?: NPS and Recreation.gov list 7 campgrounds, including Owens Creek Campground with 51 sites^[4].

Facts and sources

NPS lists Catoctin Mountain Park as a fee-free park: there is no entrance fee. National Park Service
NPS recreation visits by month, 2025 (chart on this page). NPS Visitor Use Statistics
NPS recreation visits per year: 2021: 520,339, 2022: 450,322, 2023: 432,492, 2024: 380,681, 2025: 460,857. NPS Visitor Use Statistics
Campgrounds in Catoctin Mountain Park (list on this page). National Park Service
Catoctin Mountain Park is a unit of the U.S. National Park System (designation: Park) in Maryland. National Park Service
Operating hours, Catoctin Mountain Park: Hiking trails and parking areas are open year round, dawn to dusk, but may close as a result of security or safety concerns. Consult the park's website for updates: http://www.nps.gov/cato/index.htm. The visitor... National Park Service
NPS weather and seasons overview for Catoctin Mountain Park. National Park Service
National Park Service rule 36 CFR 2.15: where pets are allowed they must be crated, caged or on a leash no longer than six feet at all times, and pets are not allowed in public buildings, on public transportation or on designated swimming beaches (service... eCFR, 36 CFR 2.15
NPS lists 22 things to do at Catoctin Mountain Park: 8-Mile Loop Trail, Cabin Camping, Fishing at Lewis Pond, Fly Fishing, Rock Climbing, Deerfield Nature Trail, Brown's Farm Trail, Picnic Areas, Park Museum, Catoctin Junior Ranger Program .... Pets... National Park Service

Fees and hours are what NPS lists in its data at the snapshot date. They change: tell readers to confirm on the official park page before a trip. Visits are NPS recreation visits (counted entries, not unique people). Use them only for this park's own months and years, never to rank parks. Campground list and site counts come from NPS and Recreation.gov records. Count fields can differ slightly between the two. The pet rule is the national baseline (36 CFR 2.15). The park may close more areas to pets. Do not claim specific trails allow dogs unless a fact says so.