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| Long's Mill Road |
The Ride
Once you leave downtown Thurmont you should
experience light traffic on most of the roads. I find Big Hunting Creek quite attractive and the ride is designed to follow the creek as it flows downward from the Catoctin mountain. The ride also offers the advantage of substantial shade.Getting there from D.C.
Heading north from DC, take 270N to Route 15 and continue north to Thurmont. Take the first Thurmont exit - Route 806 and take a left onto Tippin Drive at the end of the off-ramp. Park in the shopping center off of Tippin Drive, just west of Route 15.While you are there...
If you are looking for a meal, I highly recommend Rocky's New York Pizza for its pizza, subs, and salad bar. There are a number of eateries within the town. I also like Simply Asia, which is close by your starting point on the other side of Route 15. There are a number of other eateries nearby as well.
The“Isabella” stack is the focal point of the Catoctin Furnace remains. The 1858 casting shed has been reconstructed next to it. Running Northwardly from the complex is a short tramway constructed in the mid-19th century to connect the furnace with ore banks a bit over a mile away just west of US 15. Just south of the furnace on Maryland Route 806 are stone and log houses originally occupied by company workers, but now private residences.
History buffs may wish take a walking tour of the Catoctin Furnace and the living history village, which is located on Route 806 immediately South of town. The earliest European settlers to enter the Monocacy River Valley at the foot of Catoctin Mountain arrived in the 1730s. From 1776 to 1903, iron companies mined the rich ore banks near Catoctin Mountain, smelted it in furnaces, and cast both raw pig iron and iron implements of every description. Toward the end of the Revolutionary War, it produced ammunition for the Continental Army, including shells fired during the siege of Yorktown. Over time, the furnace site grew into a sprawling village community with specialized workers and everything needed to support them and the furnace. A charcoal house, casting house, foundry, forge, stables, wagon sheds, saw mill, store, and church were all necessary to the iron operation, not to mention housing for miners, colliers, furnace fillers, founders, forge men, foremen, blacksmiths and other skilled workers. In 1857, “Isabella,” a sophisticated new furnace powered by steam-operated machinery and a 33-foot-high furnace stack, was added to the complex. “Isabella” was in continuous blast until 1893 and is still standing today.
The“Isabella” stack is the focal point of the Catoctin Furnace remains. The 1858 casting shed has been reconstructed next to it. Running Northwardly from the complex is a short tramway constructed in the mid-19th century to connect the furnace with ore banks a bit over a mile away just west of US 15. Just south of the furnace on Maryland Route 806 are stone and log houses originally occupied by company workers, but now private residences.
During the summer and fall you may wish to stock up at Pryor’s Orchards -open from June thru mid-November- which offers fresh fruits and vegetables in season. You can get there by taking Route 77 West from the center of Thurmont and turning south at the Orchard’s sign.
-Turn by Turn Directions-
Digital Download
The route has been posted to Ride with GPS. To download turn by turn coordinates select “More Export Options” from the button options to the right of Send to Phone.
Cue Sheet
