Catoctin Mountain Loop

The best-known motorcycle loop in Maryland: from Libertytown the route heads north on MD-550 through Woodsboro, Creagerstown and Thurmont to Sabillasville, crosses the ridge on Raven Rock Road to Smithsburg, and comes back east on MD-77 through Catoctin Mountain Park and Cunningham Falls State Park, then out through Thurmont, Detour and Union Bridge to Libertytown. It's 64 miles. MD-550 runs into Pennsylvania past Sabillasville, so turn onto Raven Rock Road. Park Central Road, inside the park, closes for security on short notice; the route doesn't use it.

The route starts in Libertytown and heads north on MD-550 through farm country, past Woodsboro and Creagerstown, to Thurmont and on up to Sabillasville. North of Sabillasville MD-550 keeps going into Pennsylvania, so the route turns onto Raven Rock Road (MD-491) and crosses the ridge to Smithsburg. From there MD-77 climbs back east through Foxville and into the mountain parks, with the best curves of the day.

MD-77 runs through Cunningham Falls State Park, whose 78-foot falls are described as the largest cascading waterfall in Maryland and are a short walk from a small lot on the road, and past the visitor center of Catoctin Mountain Park, a National Park Service area since 1936 that also holds the presidential retreat at Camp David, closed to the public. Park Central Road, inside the park, closes for security with about a day's notice, several times in 2026; the route stays on MD-77 and doesn't need it. After Thurmont, the route heads east through Rocky Ridge, Detour and Union Bridge and back down MD-75 to Libertytown. Fuel up in Thurmont, and in October expect foliage traffic in town.