Mountain Spies Tour, the Secrets of the Catoctin Mountains
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September 2026
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Adults
Age 13 and over
Children
Age 12 and under
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Free cancellation up to 24 hours before. Same price on Viator, Outty earns a commission.
Traveler rating
4.9/5
Based on 15 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is Mountain Spies Tour, the Secrets of the Catoctin Mountains worth booking?
Mountain Spies Tour, the Secrets of the Catoctin Mountains is a 3-hour experience in Gettysburg, United States, from $75 per person. It scores 62 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Solid Choice”, based on a 4.9/5 rating across 15 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 62 / 100
- Rating
- 4.9/5 (15)
- Duration
- 3 hours
- From
- $75 per person
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 a
What you get
About this experience
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
What's included
Included
- Private transportation
What you'll see and do
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.
45 minutes here
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.
45 minutes here
High Rock Overlook
Pen Mar Park sits along the crest of South Mountain on the Pennsylvania–Maryland border and offers sweeping views across the Cumberland Valley. Developed in the late 19th century as a railroad resort destination, it became a popular scenic overlook and gathering place for visitors traveling the mountain line. In the Mountain Spies narrative, Pen Mar represents the high ground of the Catoctin–South Mountain corridor—terrain that later supported military training, intelligence activities, and strategic infrastructure throughout World War II and the Cold War.
10 minutes here
Blue Ridge Summit
Blue Ridge Summit is a historic mountain community located along the crest of South Mountain near the Pennsylvania–Maryland border. In the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, the area developed as a resort destination where visitors escaped the summer heat of the cities below to enjoy the cooler mountain climate and sweeping valley views. Within the Mountain Spies story, Blue Ridge Summit sits at the geographic center of the Catoctin–South Mountain corridor. Its location along the ridgeline placed it near key sites that later shaped American intelligence history, including Fort Ritchie, OSS training areas in the Catoctin Mountains, and the Cold War command infrastructure at Raven Rock Mountain Complex. Today the area reflects how this quiet mountain landscape became part of a broader national security corridor stretching between Gettysburg and Washington, D.C.
Pass by without stopping
Where it starts and ends
Meeting point
Gettysburg
The location of the tour meeting place will be disclosed after booking. The tour guide will greet you in a bowler style had and appropriate Mountain Spies uniform.
Hotel pickup
No pickup: everyone meets at the start point.
Ends at
The location of the tour meeting place will be disclosed after booking. The tour guide will greet you in a bowler style had and appropriate Mountain Spies uniform.
Before you book
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Languages
- en
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun
- Group size
- Up to 12 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- Mountain Spies
Know before you go
- 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.
Photos
What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 15 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
Knowledge and storytelling
10 mentionsReviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.
The guide
4 mentionsTravelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
Value for money
3 mentionsTravelers feel they got more than they paid for.
Organization
2 mentionsPickup, timing, and logistics are described as running smoothly.
Traveler reviews
15 verified traveler reviews for Mountain Spies Tour, the Secrets of the Catoctin Mountains. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Excellent Tour
We thoroughly enjoyed the Mountain Spies tour. We have lived in the area for over 25 years but did not know how important the mountains were in the history of American intelligence. Chris Hill’s enthusiasm for uncovering, verifying and sharing the events that took place in this region is captivating. The tour was a well-organized journey through an important time in our country’s history. We learned so much and highly recommend this tour.
via Tripadvisor
Well worth your time!
Chris's extensive research and ability to synthesize a lot of information into meaningful stories is just incredible. The 3 of us learned a lot about the importance of this area and its contribution to our US intelligence history. We each learned something (or a lot of info) we did not know before the tour. We especially appreciated Chris's passion and thorough knowledge of the subject matter. Thank you Chris for making sure this history is not lost, but instead celebrated and shared. This tour is well worth every penny.
via Tripadvisor
Spies
Very informative. Easy to listen to. The two Chris’s show a real passion and knowledge for the subjects they covered. Those subjects ranged from military,government and local history to spy-craft, tactics, topography,and more ! The six of us who participated, ranged in age from 16 to mid-70’s. All of us found it to be fascinating ! The Chris’s accommodated several of our group with slight mobility issues in a seamless fashion. All had a great time!
via Tripadvisor
A Unique Experience
Our group of nine had a wonderful experience on the Mountain Spies tour. We traveled in a comfortable van on a beautiful June day, and our guide, Chris Hill, provided exceptional service. His encyclopedic knowledge was perfectly augmented by video clips and poignant first-person accounts during the travel time between sites. Additionally, his hands-on demonstration of modern image interpretation was fascinating. During our short walks, Chris shared his impressive ability to read the Catoctin landscape, divining clues to past activities and relating tales of historical events. He clearly explained the evolution of these operations from their improvised WWII origins to the sophisticated systems in place today. This tour is an excellent choice for anyone interested in the history of US intelligence, while those less inclined will still enjoy the scenic countryside and the visit to the Fort Ritchie museum.
via Tripadvisor
Mesmerizing and fascinating experience
We 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.
via Tripadvisor
Good to know
- Duration
- 3 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun
- Hotel pickup
- No pickup, meet at start point
- Booked in 30 days
- 5
- Verdict
- Solid Choice
Why this scores 62
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Mountain Spies Tour, the Secrets of the Catoctin Mountains: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Gettysburg.
How much does Mountain Spies Tour, the Secrets of the Catoctin Mountains cost?
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Prices start at $75 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Gettysburg usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does Mountain Spies Tour, the Secrets of the Catoctin Mountains take?
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Plan for about 3 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Gettysburg is not rushed.
Is Mountain Spies Tour, the Secrets of the Catoctin Mountains worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 62 out of 100, which we label "Solid Choice". That score blends traveler sentiment (4.9/5 across 15 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable last minute in Gettysburg, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule Mountain Spies Tour, the Secrets of the Catoctin Mountains?
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Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.
Is Mountain Spies Tour, the Secrets of the Catoctin Mountains suitable for kids and families?
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Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 3-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book Mountain Spies Tour, the Secrets of the Catoctin Mountains?
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Around 5 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Gettysburg can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Gettysburg and add a light layer if any part of the 3-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Mountain Spies Tour, the Secrets of the Catoctin Mountains start and how do I get there?
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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Gettysburg within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in Gettysburg?
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Gettysburg is a guide town: licensed battlefield guides in your own car, bus and horseback battlefield tours, ghost lantern walks and museum entries covering the three-day battle. On Outty we rank every Gettysburg experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include 2-Hour Gettysburg Battlefield Guided History Bus Tour with a National Park Guide, Spirits of Jennie Wade Ghost Night Tour in Gettysburg, Echoes of War All Ages Ghost Tour. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit Gettysburg?
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April to June and September to October. Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in Gettysburg?
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Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
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Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
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