Owens Creek Campground

National Park Service campground, 51 sites

Overview

Owens Creek Campground offers families and individuals enjoyable primitive tent camping. Located just five miles (8 km) from Thurmont, Maryland, in the rolling hills of Catoctin Mountain Park.

Recreation

As a primitive camping area, Owens Creek encourages visitors to use healthy doses of imagination while surrounded by the natural landscape. Nature hikes and campfire circles are popular activities.

Catoctin Mountain Park boasts 25 miles (40 km) of trails. The Deerfield Nature Trail connects directly to the campground and is a 1.5 mile (2.4 km) loop with a connection to the park's western system of trails. Browns Farm Trail is nearby in the Owens Creek Picnic Area and offers budding archeologists with a peek into the history of the area. This trail is also a youth friendly 'Track Trail'. For more information, visit the Catoctin Mountain Park - Browns Farm Loop Track Trail information on the Kids in Parks website.

Facilities

This campground offers 48 single campsites with a limit of five people, or immediate family, per site. There are no-hookups. Maximum trailer length is 22 feet (6.4 m) and maximum RV length is 30 feet (9 m). There are three pull through sites: #12, #39 and #43. Flush toilets, showers and drinking water are available and centrally located in the campground. All sites are equipped with a tent pad, picnic tables, and fire ring. All tents must fit on the tent pads. Firewood is available.

Natural Features

The campground is surrounded by a rolling landscape, perfect for hikes of any level from easy to extremely strenuous. Owens Creek flows past the campground providing a peaceful setting beside a bubbling brook. Whether blanketed in snow in winter months, brilliant with color in the fall or blooming with wildflowers in the spring, Owens Creek offers beautiful scenery all year.

Nearby Attractions

Catoctin Mountain Park is located near many historical and cultural sites:

• Appalachian National Scenic Trail (8 miles/13 km)

• Monocacy National Battlefield (18 miles/29 km)

• Antietam National Battlefield (26 miles/45 km)

• Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail (26 miles)

• Eisenhower National Historic Site and Gettysburg National Military Park (20 miles/32 km)

• Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park (28 miles/45 km)

• Harpers Ferry National Historical Park (37 miles/60 km)

Other Attractions include Catoctin Wildlife Preserve and Zoo and Cunningham Falls State Park.

For more information visit the Tourism Council of Frederick County.