Other National Park System Sites - Maryland

Catoctin Mountain Park

2/15/1997 Drove down 15 to Catoctin Mountain Park to Visitor Center. ... Drove out of park to nearby tiny town of Thurmont for cheese and salami, water, etc. Back to park, nice picnic lunch in car. Walked to Blue Blazes Still trail to site of one of many Prohibition stills - great walk on a snow-covered trail in the woods along a brook, sun out, cold breeze - real nice.

The park sign

Me, the still and signage

The still

Maureen breaking trail

Fort Washington Park

7/25/1997 On the road, with lunch in the car, to Fort Washington Park (NPS). This park includes a very large fort protecting the river with huge cannon.

The park sign

A view into the fort

One big cannon

Greenbelt Park

7/1973 Camped at Greenbelt Park, Greenbelt, MD. Had bicycles along (B and K), rode around park.

The park sign

Our trailer campsite

Piscataway Park

7/25/1997 From there to Piscataway Park (NPS) on the Potomac. Walked around the National Colonial Farm, representative of a farm in colonial times, complete with gardens including tobacco. Many legacy plants (same strains as in colonial times).

The park sign

A view across to Mount Vernon

The Colonial Farm

Me on the farm

9/25/2021 ... and back on the road south into Piscataway Park. A while back I had researched where to find my goal, and it turned out to be very enjoyable. The area is the Accokeek Creek section of Piscataway Park. I parked and walked a little to reach a very long and winding boardwalk over the swamp, which was loaded with beautiful yellow flowers and cattails. I could also see across the river to Mount Vernon. At the end was my notional “I am here” point, some interpretive signage for the First People marking the Accokeek Site NHL. Remarkable for its variety and concentration of human occupation sites, Accokeek included a palisaded village that was occupied from ca. A.D. 1300 to 1630.

The park sign ...

... and park info

The swamp area ...

... with me

Great boardwalk

Across the river ...

... to Mount Vernon

Accokeek Creek Site info

More of the swamp area

A lot of pretty views

A last look at the boardwalk