drive type a primarily country and small-town route following u.s. 15 Highlighted by a rich collection of historic locations fi lled with modern-day amenities, this journey is a wonderful pilgrimage to sacrosanct Civil War sites, pristine natural sanctuaries and land considered by many to be sacred. journey through hallowed ground planned battle strategies in the home of the school’s founder, Elizabeth Ann Seton. A national shrine to Mother Seton, the fi rst American-born saint, includes a visitor center and basilica. Nearby is the National Shrine Grotto of Lourdes, a “holy mountain sanctuary” visited by thousands of modern-day pilgrims each year. Southward into Thurmont, the circa-1856 Roddy Road Covered Bridge reaches across one of the area’s fi nest trout streams. Also here is Catoctin Mountain Park, home of Camp David. This presidential retreat is closed to the public, but several nearby paths trace the history of the industrial use of the mountain, from wood cutting to charcoal making. Sample apples, peaches and other fruits from local orchards, and stop by the 30-acre Catoctin Wildlife Preserve and Zoo, where you can visit with 57 miles from emmitsburg to point of rocks (Maryland Portion) m aryland’s “hallowed ground” falls in the middle of a scenic and historically signifi cant 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. lemurs, monkeys, panthers and more than 400 other animals nine months out of the year. Another great place to visit is Cunningham Falls State Park, featuring a 78-foot waterfall that beautifully cascades into a rocky gorge. Smithsburg to Sharpsburg INCLUDING MD 77, MD 17 & MD 34 Emmitsburg to Thurmont INCLUDING US 15, MD 77, MD 806 & US 340 Branching west o of the main byway, looming just beyond the town of Smithsburg is South Mountain, the site of brutal, close-contact fi ghting prior to the Battle of Antietam. Bring along your hiking boots, because you’ll also be coming up on one of the premier hiking opportunities in the United States: The Appalachian National Scenic Trail, which stretches from Maine to Georgia. Maryland’s 40-mile portion passes along Just south of the Pennsylvania border is the neighborhood 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 o cers 16 | maryland scenic byways
MD Scenic Byways Digital Guide: Page 16
