US-15 continues south from Gettysburg across the Maryland border, and there’s little to stop for until Thurmont (pop. 5,588), “Gateway to the Mountains,” where the route heads west on Hwy-77 into the green expanse of Catoctin Mountain Park. Fully recovered after centuries of logging activity, the park protects some 10,000 acres of hardwood forest, a handful of 1,500-foot peaks, and the presidential retreat at Camp David, hidden away in the woods and strictly off-limits to visitors; for security reasons it doesn’t even appear on park maps. The park visitors center (daily; 301/663-9388) along Hwy-77 two miles west of US-15 provides information on camping and maps of the many hiking trails, including a short trail from the visitors center to the preserved remains of the Blue Blazes whiskey still, where rangers demonstrate moonshine-making on summer weekends.
Spreading along the south side of Hwy-77, Maryland-run Cunningham Falls State Park offers more natural scenery and a very pleasant swimming area in Hunting Creek Lake. There’s a snack bar and boats for rent.
