Home › Trails › Catoctin National Recreation Trail vs Trans-Catalina Trail

Catoctin National Recreation Trail vs Trans-Catalina Trail

A side-by-side look at distance, elevation, difficulty and the best time to hike each — so you can pick the right route.

Units
Catoctin National Recreation Trail Trans-Catalina Trail
Distance 27 mi43 km 41 mi66 km
Elevation gain 3,655 ft1,114 m 6,250 ft1,905 m
Typical duration 2 days 3 days
Difficulty — —
Route type Point-to-point Point-to-point
Network Regional Local
Country United States United States
Best time to hike Best from October to October Best months: April, May, June, July, August, October
map Route & GPX map Route & GPX

Catoctin National Recreation Trail vs Trans-Catalina Trail: which should you hike?

At 41 mi66 km, Trans-Catalina Trail is the longer route — roughly 14.0 mi23 km more than Catoctin National Recreation Trail (27 mi43 km). If you want the bigger challenge or a longer trip, that's the one; for a shorter or first multi-day hike, Catoctin National Recreation Trail is the gentler pick. Check the elevation and best-season rows above, then open each route for the full guide and a free GPX download.