Maryland/Dahlgren Camground

[Gene]

Hi, all. I'm planning on staying at the Dahlgren Campground in Md. soon, and I think I've seen a couple of references in different posts about Dahlgren's "parking lot." Are people referencing the parking lot at the Old South Mountain Inn? Or does the campground have its own individual parking lot? And while I'm at it, is there anything else about Dahlgren you can tell me? Just how many sites does it have?

Any info/advice would be much appreciated. Thanks.

Gene

[Lone Wolf]

Hi, all. I'm planning on staying at the Dahlgren Campground in Md. soon, and I think I've seen a couple of references in different posts about Dahlgren's "parking lot." Are people referencing the parking lot at the Old South Mountain Inn? Or does the campground have its own individual parking lot? And while I'm at it, is there anything else about Dahlgren you can tell me? Just how many sites does it have?

Any info/advice would be much appreciated. Thanks.

Gene

There is no parking at Dahlgren. It's .2 from the road. There are no sites per se. It's an open field. Pitch your tent where you want. There's a bathroom with a shower

[Pacific Tortuga]

I think the South Mountain has a "fine dining" grub house, not sure of the name. They allow people to park in their lot and it's a short walk to the camping area.

I'm sure Wolf the big spender that he is dines there all the time.

I also would like to say welcome here on WB's, hope your hike rocks.

[Lone Wolf]

I think the South Mountain has a "fine dining" grup house, not sure of the name. They allow people to park in their lot and it's a short walk to the camping area.

I'm sure Wolf the big spender that he is dines there all the time.

never ate there. just beer drinking

[wilconow]

http://www.oldsouthmountaininn.com/

[Jim Adams]

hike a little further and go to The Dog Patch Saloon on U.S. Rt. 40. Good lunch specials and monday is 1/2 price draft day!

geek

[mrc237]

On my 00' hike arrived there at the same time as a wedding party. I asked the hostess where I might change, that I was the Best Man. She didn't get it. Fine food and beverage shared with other hikers and CW reenactors. Blues and Grays eating together. Also liked the 'patch! Glad to hear it has reopened.

[sly dog]

The sites at the campground are about 10 ft square and are covered in crushed rock. If you have a free standing tent you are ok but dont try driving a steak in there. I sent up my tent across from them under the trees on nice soft ground. I think there are 6 of those rocky spots but they have picnic tables on them so it is nice for dinner but put the tent in the grass next to the trail.

[Gene]

So, then, is the Inn the place to park to hike in the .2 to the campground, or is there a better place to park? Do the folks at the Inn mind the overnight use of their parking lot?

[Lone Wolf]

So, then, is the Inn the place to park to hike in the .2 to the campground, or is there a better place to park? Do the folks at the Inn mind the overnight use of their parking lot?

call them and ask 301-432-6155

[Gene]

Very good. Thanks.

[veteran]

Dahlgren Camground

[Gene]

Thanks to all who gave me info on Dahlgren. I stayed there on Friday night without incident. I called the Inn ahead of time to make sure it was indeed okay to park overnight, and double-checked when I actually arrived there on Friday morning, and the reaction I got from the woman who appeared in charge of running the Inn seemed to indicate that it's pretty common. So again, thanks.

The only downer was that I couldn't convince the manager to let me pay one of her workers to drop me off at Crampton Gap so that I could simply do the 7 mile hike from Crampton back to Dahlgren (although I didn't try too hard to persuade her, because I didn't want to go from being a routine hiker to a pest). So, I ended up having to do 14 to complete that seven mile section of the trail. I did, however, arrange for a shuttle the next morning from the I-70 parking lot to Pen Mar so that I could complete the 17 miles in between. Not the best of days to try to do 17, given how horribly hot it was. But I did it, and have now completed Maryland's section. I have only recently become a section hiker (you can see I've made less than 10 posts), so this is actually a big deal for me to say that I've completed a whole state--I've also done W.Va., so I've completed the two easiest ones (I've finished about 100 miles of Va.'s section). The one thing I did learn from this weekend's hike is that I have to be better at appreciating the time on the trail. The mileage I set for myself on Saturday made the hike all about just finishing, so I didn't spend enough time soaking in the environment. I think I remember someone mentioning to me that Guy Waterman had some unkind things to say about this approach with regard to peak bagging in the Whites. I can understand more after this hike what might have upset him about it. Well, lesson learned. I'll apply it as I spend more time on the trail.

Thanks again for the advice, all.

[Gray Blazer]

Blues and Grays eating together.

Alright....related trivia question....Who was Dahlgren and what military object was named for him? Winner gets to thru-hike next year and skip Maryland.

[Midway Sam]

Alright....related trivia question....Who was Dahlgren and what military object was named for him? Winner gets to thru-hike next year and skip Maryland.

From Wikipedia:

John Dahlgren was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He joined the United States Navy in 1826 as a midshipman and was promoted to the coastal survey in 1834. By 1847, he was an ordnance officer, and at the Washington Navy Yard began to improve and systematize the procurement and supply system for weapons.
Under his command, the Navy established its own foundry, and its first product was the Boat Howitzer, which was designed to be used on both ship and in landings. But, it is his cast iron cannon, which came to bear his name (the Dahlgren gun), which was his most famous contribution.

[veteran]

Alright....related trivia question....Who was Dahlgren and what military object was named for him? Winner gets to thru-hike next year and skip Maryland.

A little Maryland History: http://www.cmhl.org/chapel.html

[elray]

Had a fine Sunday brunch there (South Mountain Inn) on a section hike two years ago. The hostess allowed us to to bring our packs in and stash them in the doorway closet. Enjoy!!

[Gray Blazer]

A little Maryland History: http://www.cmhl.org/chapel.html

Thankyou for straightening me out. Was she related to John Dahlgren?

[Jack Tarlin]

There's also a Dahlgren, Virginia, which is pretty funny when you remember that John Dahlgren was in charge of ordnance for the Union Navy, among other thigs.

Oh, and the Navy Hockey team plays its home games in Dahlgren Hall, come to think of it.

[veteran]

Thankyou for straightening me out. Was she related to John Dahlgren?

Yes she was: http://www.cmhl.org/dahlgren.html