Scenic Byways

Journey Through Hallowed Ground

This journey is a wonderful pilgrimage to sacrosanct Civil War sites, pristine natural sanctuaries and land considered by many to be sacred.

Maryland’s “hallowed ground” falls in the middle of a scenic and historically significant route that stretches from Gettysburg, Pa., to Monticello, Va. At the heart of the journey is the ecologically diverse Catoctin Mountain area, where U.S. presidents spend their vacation and travelers are given easy access to a variety of heritage sites, the state’s highest cascading waterfall and abundant nature trails.

BYWAY AT A GLANCE

Point of Rocks to Emmitsburg

Number of Miles: 57 Miles
Drive Time: 2 - 4 Hours
Best Done in 2 - 3 Days
Best for: History Lovers, Outdoor Enthusiasts, Families

Amenities

Gas Stations

Food & Drinks

Camping

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ATM

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Capital Region

Western Maryland

Open for Exploration

POINT OF ROCKS TO FREDERICK

Including US 15, US 340, MD 355, & US 15

POINT OF ROCKS achieved national recognition in 1830 when the B&O Railroad and C&O Canal fought over the right-of-way between Catoctin Mountain and the Potomac River. The railroad finally tunneled through the mountain in 1867. The byway intersects with the C&O Canal Scenic Byway here at its midpoint. The C & O NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK is the perfect spot for an autumn leaf-peeping stroll or a spring bloom hike along the canal.

Following the Catoctin Mountain Highway north, take a sidetrack on Urbana Pike to MONOCACY NATIONAL BATTLEFIELD, famous for Robert E. Lee’s “Lost Orders” and the role they played in the Battle of Antietam, as well as for the 1864 “Battle that Saved Washington.” Visit Best Farm to learn about its origins as a 748-acre plantation known as L'Hermitage, owned by the Vincendieres, one of the largest and reputedly cruelest slaveowners in Western Maryland at the time.

Continuing your journey, the clustered spires rising above the city of Frederick appear. Guided walking tours (and candlelight ghost tours) take visitors past 18th- and 19th-century architecture, as well as several sites linked to celebrated “locals” such as Star-Spangled Banner author Francis Scott Key. THE AFRICAN AMERICAN RESOURCES CULTURAL AND HERITAGE SOCIETY (AARCH) and the FREDERICK VISITOR’S CENTER offer walking tours exploring the history of Black Americans in the city.

Specialty shops, art galleries, antiques stores and restaurants are abundant in Frederick, along with parks, and a minor-league baseball stadium. There are several local wineries and vineyards both in the city itself and in the surrounding countryside. Carroll Creek Park meanders through downtown, with delightful shops, restaurants and public art along its banks. Civil War history is a topic of interest at local museums such as the NATIONAL MUSEUM OF CIVIL WAR MEDICINE.

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The C & O Canal Towpath offers 184.5 miles of pathway for hikers, bikers and equestrians. Visitors can spend up to three nights in one of seven restored lockhouses.

At Monocacy National Battlefield, the visitor center, self-guided auto tour and walking trails interpret the July 9, 1864 battle that saved Washington, D.C. from Jubal Early's advancing Confederates.

Carroll Creek in Frederick is lined with shops, restaurants and art, and is the location for seasonal festivals like Sailing Through the Winter Solstice and the Frederick Spring Festival.

The AARCH Society offers walking tours of Frederick that explore the history and contributions of the city’s Black residents.

FREDERICK TO THURMONT

Including US 15

Northward toward Thurmont, take a side track to see HISTORIC UTICA COVERED BRIDGE. Back on the byway, continue north to the historic village of CATOCTIN FURNACE to learn about the free and enslaved ironworkers who made shells for the Battle of Yorktown. Rare forensic facial reconstructions of two enslaved ironworkers, a collection of historic clothing and other artifacts are on display at The Museum of the Ironworker. Detailed interpretive panels along the African American Cemetery Trail explain the process of making iron and reveal the history of the village’s workers, including the recent discovery of a cemetery where dozens of enslaved workers are still buried. The village’s beautifully restored FORGEMAN’S HOUSE offers a unique historic stay with modern conveniences, including a charging station in the village. Visit in May to experience blacksmithing, a live iron pour and more at the MARYLAND IRON FESTIVAL and plan a June getaway to take in the annual MARYLAND LAVENDER FESTIVAL at nearby SPRINGFIELD MANOR.

A few miles north of the village, is the 30-acre CATOCTIN WILDLIFE PRESERVE AND ZOO, where you can visit with lemurs, monkeys, panthers and more than 400 other animals nine months out of the year. You can sample apples, peaches and other fruits nearby at THE CATOCTIN MOUNTAIN ORCHARD. Continuing north you will find the circa-1856 RODDY ROAD COVERED BRIDGE, which reaches across one of the area’s finest trout streams.

Leave No Trace

Many of the hiking and biking trails along this byway run through historical landscapes. Remember to leave rocks, plants, artifacts from battlefields and items such as slag, the shiny rocks that are left behind as waste from ironmaking at places like Catoctin Furnace, where you find them for others to see and enjoy. Click here for more "Leave No Trace" practices.

THURMONT TO EMMITSBURG (AND RETURN)

Including US 15, MD 77

Back on the byway, continue north toward the town of Emmitsburg. During the Civil War, troops passed through this area before and after the Battle of Gettysburg. Union troops camped on the grounds of the former St. Joseph’s College, and officers planned battle strategies in the home of the school’s founder, Elizabeth Ann Seton. A NATIONAL SHRINE TO MOTHER SETON, the first American-born saint, includes a visitor center and basilica. A monument to the ENSLAVED PEOPLE who labored for the original Sisters of Charity here offers a somber moment of reflection.

As you make your way back toward Thurmont, you’ll pass the NATIONAL SHRINE GROTTO OF LOURDES, a “holy mountain sanctuary” visited by thousands of modern-day pilgrims each year.

Roddy Road Covered Bridge, one of three remaining covered bridges in the area, is a great place to relax with a picnic, go fishing or explore the natural beauty at this park.

Hikers in Catoctin Mountain Park are rewarded with spectacular views on rocky outcrops

Cabins at Catoctin Mountain Park offer an off-the-beaten-path getaway to enjoy the park’s trails, visitors center and natural beauty.

The National Shrine of St. Elizabeth Anne Seton, dedicated to the first U.S. born saint, attracts thousands of visitors from all over the world each year. Visitors can tour the museum, see the house where Seton lived, explore the awe-inspiring basilica and visit the cemetery where she is buried.

THURMONT TO SMITHSBURG

Including US 15, MD 77

As you travel toward Smithsburg on Route 77, stop for a hike in CUNNINGHAM FALLS STATE PARK to see the park’s 78-foot waterfall that cascades into a rocky gorge. The whole family will enjoy the annual Maple Syrup Festival that happens in March. Also here is CATOCTIN MOUNTAIN PARK where charming Works Progress Administration (WPA) CABINS provide a peaceful and off-the-beaten path place to stay while exploring the park's amazing trails, some of which trace the history of the industrial use of the mountain, from wood cutting to charcoal making. The park is home to CAMP DAVID, a presidential retreat that is closed to the public.

Continue West on Route 77 where you’ll cross SOUTH MOUNTAIN and the APPALACHIAN NATIONAL SCENIC TRAIL, one of the premier hiking opportunities in the United States. The trail stretches from Maine to Georgia. Maryland’s 40-mile portion travels along the spine of South Mountain, weaving together several state parks and a Civil War battlefield that witnessed brutal, close-contact fighting.

Take a Sweet Detour

Several of Western Maryland’s creameries like ROCKY POINT CREAMERY and SOUTH MOUNTAIN CREAMERY are on or near the byway, serving locally sourced frozen confections that are well worth the trip. To find a complete list of ice cream spots in Western Maryland and beyond, check out the MARYLAND’S BEST ICE CREAM TRAIL.

SMITHSBURG TO FREDERICK

Including MD 77, MD 17 (Wolfsville Rd), Highland School Rd, Gambrill Park Rd, US 40, US 15

GAMBRILL STATE PARK’s 16 miles of trails, many with fantastic views, are a great way to stretch your legs on the trip back to Frederick. HISTORIC UTICA COVERED BRIDGE is a perfect side track as you continue your byway journey back toward Frederick. Once back in Frederick, ROSE HILL MANOR has hands-on children’s activities and an annual Spring Fling and Egg Roll, and SCHIFFERSTADT, one of the oldest houses in Frederick County, offers tours from April-October.