Mountain Spies Tour, the Secrets of the Catoctin Mountains
Overview
Available languages
3 hours
Mobile ticket
Explore the covert history of the Catoctin Mountains on this guided 3-hour tour, which connects significant sites like Gettysburg, Fort Ritchie, Camp David, and Raven Rock. Discover how this serene mountain area served as a key player in American intelligence during World War II and the Cold War. Encounter locations tied to OSS training, the Ritchie Boys, and the secret interrogation center at PO Box 1142, while uncovering how President Eisenhower utilized Camp David for national leadership. This driving experience offers a rich narrative of the geographical and historical factors that shaped modern American intelligence.
- Guided 3-hour driving tour through the Catoctin Mountains
- Explore historical sites like Fort Ritchie and Raven Rock
- Learn about the role of geography in American intelligence
- Two departures daily for flexible scheduling
Additional Info
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
The tour does involve walking on unstable terrain.
What To Expect
Catoctin Mountain Park
Catoctin Mountain Park provides the landscape where the Mountain Spies story begins. During World War II, the rugged terrain and isolation of the Catoctin Mountains made the area ideal for secret training and experimentation. In 1942, the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), the precursor to the CIA, established a covert paramilitary training site at nearby Camp Greentop known as Camp B-2. Here, small teams trained in sabotage, guerrilla warfare, clandestine communications, and resistance coordination before deploying to occupied Europe. The same protected mountain landscape also hosted the presidential retreat originally called Shangri-La, later renamed Camp David by Dwight D. Eisenhower. The proximity of OSS training, military intelligence activity at Fort Ritchie, and presidential leadership in the Catoctins illustrates how this quiet Appalachian corridor became an important setting for the development of American intelligence and national security during and after World War II.
Fort Ritchie
Fort Ritchie, located in the Catoctin–South Mountain corridor, served as the U.S. Army’s Military Intelligence Training Center during World War II. Here, thousands of intelligence specialists known as the Ritchie Boys were trained in interrogation, psychological warfare, and battlefield intelligence. Many were European refugees whose language and cultural knowledge proved invaluable during the Allied advance across Europe. Fort Ritchie operated within a broader regional intelligence system that included POW screening at Pine Grove Furnace POW Camp and strategic interrogation operations at PO Box 1142 at Fort Hunt. During the Cold War, the region’s strategic role expanded with the construction of the underground command center at Raven Rock Mountain Complex, which serves as the Alternate National Military Command Center supporting continuity-of-government and national command communications.
Options
Mountain Spies Tour, the Secrets of the Catoctin Mountains
What‘s Included
Private transportation
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Reviews
13 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Mesmerizing and fascinating experience
dmanwill,Jun 24, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We thoroughly enjoyed this wonderful day with Chris our guide. It was fascinating, informative, engaging and inspiring. The depth of knowledge about an area so close to our home was mesmerizing the entire time. I highly recommend this tour/adventure/experience regardless of how much or how little you know of the area. Truly a remarkable experience.
Mountain Spies Tour Review
GTepera,Jun 21, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00The tour was excellent. Chris was so knowledgeable and provided us with great detail about the history of the Richie Boys and how they were trained along with the other spies. He took us past several sites such as Camp David and the museum at Fort Richie. I would highly recommend the tour to anyone wanting to know more about this history.
Catoctin mt experience
459carlar,Jun 20, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00The amount of knowledge the 2 guides have is amazing. I am not a history buff, but I was interested the entire time. I had no idea of the amount of history taking place so close to home.
Fascinating Novel Experience
Headedwestboy,Jun 18, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00A thoroughly engaging, informative “tour” of places and processes that built the security apparatus for the US. Both leaders (Chris and Chris) were experienced professionals who created a unique “learning on location” tour.
A wonderful way to spend 3 hours
boandkimf,Jun 4, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This is a wonderful tour. So interesting. So many things that you never knew about Camp David, Government Intelligence, Fort Ritchie, Site R, etc. The two tour guides were so knowledgeable. So worth the money and time for this tour.
Fascinating WWII and Cold War Intelligence Insights
899ellenm,May 29, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00If you are at all interested in the history of spies, intelligence, covert operations, and other WWII and Cold War topics, plus enjoy seeing unusual, out of the way places tucked into the Catoctin Mountains near Camp David and Raven Rock, this is an excellent tour. Chris and Chris absolutely know their stuff and they are passionate about spreading their knowledge. I would definitely recommend watching the videos they have on their website as background orientation to what you will be seeing and hearing. The 3+ hours went by quickly, with 3 or 4 stops, some easy walking, and a lot of narration in the van while moving (if you can't hear well, sit closer to the front) The areas traveled are quite beautiful, too. All in all a very unique experience, certainly unlike anything else, and in our opinion worth the cost and time.
Behind the hills
lovetheheat2002,May 23, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Tour guide/operator Chris introduced us to the other side of the Catoctin Mountains and the area’s role in the cultivating spies. The tour was both informative and fun.
An informative tale of national importance that took place locally
Trip31193,May 18, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Taking the Mountain Spies tour was a truly memorable experience. To learn that so much history was made right in this area was very surprising! The tour was very informative and was told in a manner that was easy to comprehend. Our guide, Chris, is very knowledgeable and very personable as well, and this made the tour all the more enjoyable. I would highly recommend the Mountain Spies tour if you have an interest in local history or are intrigued by the shadowy world of spycraft!
Secrets and Mysteries of the Catoctin Mountains!
P3506JWericj,May 3, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00The tour guide Chris is very knowledgeable about the area that you tour mostly in the van. You will definitely learn a lot about the secrets of the government, the war efforts, how spies were trained and where. Catoctin mountains and the surrounding areas hold alot of secrets that many don't know about. I'm interested in anything involving history especially WW2 and Civil War and I learned great deal from this tour. You will see different areas but unfortunately the only downfall is that I wish I could've seen more but I understand it's the government. You can see where they land helicopters and the new Ospreys. I definitely recommend this tour if your interested in espionage, spy rings and how they operated and trained, The Fort Ritchey Boys, secret missions during WW2 and The Cold War by the government, ..it was truly truly interesting. Book a tour today!!
Fantastic Tour!
844amyv,Apr 18, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Mountain Spies is a fabulous experience! Both tour guides (Chris Hill and Chris Price) are extremely knowledgeable with respect to the locations of, and history behind, the clandestine locations they show you. In addition, their collective real-life experiences derived from their many years working in the intelligence community supplement an already extremely fascinating tour. We highly recommend Mountain Spies to anyone with an interest in this area! This tour does not disappoint! Check it out!
Related Experiences
Operated by Mountain Spies