Twisting Through Maryland

Maryland doesn't necessarily conger up images of twisty roads, but the Appalachian mountains do manage to swing up through the north western part of the state. The Appalachians and Maryland's own Catoctin Mountains offer some beautiful scenery as well as some interesting riding. The route below starts at the entrance to the Catoctin Mountain Park, located about 3 miles west of the intersection of US 15 along Maryland 77 near Thurmont Maryland. The route continues through historic Sharpsburg and passes the Antietam Battlefield, the site of the bloodiest battle of the Civil War. After Sharpsburg, the route heads into West Virginia an d takes a few backroads into Berkeley Springs. Depending on what time it is, there are lots of places to eat in Berkeley Springs. If its still early you can continue riding into Paw-Paw West Virginia and have lunch at one of the neighborhood places there . From there you'll follow West Virginia 9 back into Maryland only to cross back across the Potomac into West Virginia. If you find the area on a map, you'll see that Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia interlock in kind of a strange way. For the next few hours you'll find yourself crossing back and forth between the three states. Don't try to keep track what state you're in, you'll just be confused. After another backroad or two the route crosses the Shenandoah River near Harper's Ferry, the site o f a bustling Civil War era river town that is now restored as a National Park. Then after a few more twists around the Maryland countryside, you'll find yourself back at the Catoctin Mountain Park.

One way to do the weekend would be to leave on a Friday afternoon and take the big roads (i.e. the interstate) down to Thurmont. Automap calls it 221 miles. You should be able make it down there in four hours or so. The route that follows can be easily ridden in one day, but it doesn't allow lots of time for exploring the various historic areas. You could come back to Antietam and Harper's Ferry on the next day because they are less than half an hour away from the park (via the direct route). They oth er option would be to spend some time at Antietam on Saturday and stay overnight at one of the hotels or resorts near Berkeley Springs. Either way, you should have enough time for a leisurely trip back home on Sunday afternoon. One more thing. If you d ecide to take smaller roads down there or back, DO NOT try and cross the Susquehanna River on US 30 (between York and Lancaster). Its the most miserable section of road, full of traffic lights and slow moving traffic. If you want quick, stay on the Turn pike. For a more scenic route take PA 372 it crosses about 20 miles south of US 30.

Details How to get there: The direct route 

Take I-78 West, near Harrisburg it will run into I-81
Follow I-81 to I-83 South
At I-83 will run into I-283
Follow I-283 to the Pennsylvania Turnpike
Go West on the Turnpike 2 exits
Exit onto US 15 South
Go about 50 miles to Maryland 77
Go west about 3 miles.
Where to stay: There are actually two parks at Catoctin Mountain, one operated by the National Park Service and Cunningham Falls State Park operated by the State of Maryland. Both have complete campground facilities and some cabins are available. The campground facili ties at Cunningham falls seemed a bit newer, but the cabins at the National Park seemed to have more character. You can reach the National Park at 301-663-9342 and Cunningham Falls State Park at 301-271-7574. There is also the Cozy Inn, in Thurmont as w ell as a Super-8 motel if you don't want to sleep too close to nature. 


	Catoctin Mountain Weekend
			
	Mileage 
	Total  Leg

	0.0	0.0	RIGHT		From the Catoctin Mountain Park - MD 77 West
	4.2	4.2	LEFT		Brown Road
	6.0	1.8	BEAR RIGHT	Garfield Rd. - STOP
	7.5	1.5	SHARP LEFT	MD 17 - STOP

	11.1	3.6	RIGHT		STOP - Pleasant Walk Rd. - Wolfsville
	15.1	4.0	RIGHT		STOP - US 40 West
	15.9	0.8	LEFT		Boonsboro Mt. Way - Just after I-70 Bridge

	19.7	3.8	STRAIGHT	LIGHT - Join MD 34
	30.5	10.8	RIGHT   	WV 45 West
	39.2	8.7	STRAIGHT	Moler Ave. - Cross WV 9

	40.2	1.0	STRAIGHT	STOP - Tavern Rd. - County 10/1
	40.9	0.7	RIGHT		STOP - County 13
	43.9	3.0	BEAR LEFT	County 13 Cont.

	47.1	3.2	BEAR RIGHT	Y 
	47.9	0.8	BEAR RIGHT	Y - YIELD
	48.3	0.4	LEFT		At Corner of Tomahawk Valley Store

	50.8	2.5	RIGHT		STOP - T
	52.0	1.2	RIGHT		STOP - T
	56.1	4.1	LEFT		STOP - T WV 9 West - Gas

	71.9	15.8	RIGHT		WV 9 Cont. - LIGHT - Berkeley Springs
	72.3	0.4	LEFT		WV 9 Cont. - 2nd Light
	94.4	22.1	BEAR RIGHT	WV 9 Cont.

	97.1	2.7	LUNCH		Grab a sandwich at the Deli and eat at the
						C&O Canal Park (Paw Paw Tunnel park) just across
						the river on the RIGHT.  Or stop at the Almost
						Home Restaurant and eat in.  


	Catoctin Mountain Weekend
Page 2
			
	Mileage 
	Total  Leg

	0.0	0.0	RIGHT		Out of Park onto MD 51 West
	10.6	10.6	LEFT		To: OLDTOWN - Bear RIGHT down the hill
	11.0	0.4	LEFT		To: Green Spring WV

	12.2	1.2	RIGHT		Follow signs TO 28
	12.3	0.1	LEFT		After Tracks
	19.4	7.1	LEFT		Hard Left - NOT onto 28 

	26.4	7.0	STRAIGHT	STOP
	34.4	8.0	STRAIGHT	STOP - Join Capon Grade Rd. 
	46.6	12.2	LEFT		US 50 East

	52.2	5.6	LEFT		VA 703
	53.6	1.4	BEAR LEFT	VA 703 Cont.
	57.0	3.4	RIGHT		VA 701

	58.8	1.8	BEAR RIGHT	YIELD - VA 701 Cont.
	59.3	0.5	RIGHT		US 522 East
	63.0	3.7	LEFT		VA 600

	69.3	6.3	STRAIGHT	Join VA 690  at Siler - To: Shocklysville
	71.1	1.8	STRAIGHT	Join VA 681
	71.2	0.1	LEFT		TO: WV 45 - VA 681 Cont.

	79.2	8.0	RIGHT		WV 51 East
	84.6	5.4	RIGHT		LIGHT - T - WV 51 Cont. - GAS
	84.8	0.2	LEFT		LIGHT - WV 51 Cont.



	Catoctin Mountain Weekend
Page 3
			
	Mileage 
	Total  Leg

	96.4	11.6	BEAR LEFT	STOP - WV 51 Cont.
	96.9	0.5	RIGHT		3rd LIGHT - WV 9 E
	107.9	11.0	LEFT		VA 671 - Harper's Ferry Rd.

	115.8	7.9	RIGHT		US 340 - GAS
	117.1	1.3	EXIT RIGHT	MD 67
	122.8	5.7	RIGHT		Gapland Rd.

	123.9	1.1	BEAR LEFT	Y - Arnoldston Rd.
	124.5	0.6	STRAIGHT	STOP - Arnoldston Rd. Cont.
	126.1	1.6	LEFT		Picnic Woods Rd. - STOP - T

	130.0	3.9	RIGHT		STOP - T - Marker Rd.
	130.5	0.5	RIGHT		STOP - T - Alt. US 40
	130.6	0.1	LEFT		Just after Bridge - Old Hagerstown Rd.

	133.5	2.9	BEAR LEFT	STOP - MD 17
	135.0	1.5	RIGHT		Follow MD 17
	135.5	0.5	STRAIGHT	STOP - Cross US 40

	137.2	1.7	BEAR LEFT	Harp Hill Rd. - 17 goes right in a turn
	140.6	3.4	STRAIGHT	STOP 
	140.7	0.1	RIGHT		STOP - Stottlemeyer Rd.

	146.3	5.6	RIGHT		MD 77 East
	149.1	2.8	LEFT		Into Catoctin Mountain Park