Catoctin Mountain Park, the national park that surrounds Camp David, announced closures due to increased security measures on Sept. 18, running from approximately 5 p.m. through approximately 8 p.m. Sunday.
The NPS release did not identify the nature of the security measures or specify any event at the presidential retreat.
Security closures of this type at Catoctin Mountain Park historically coincide with a presidential visit or high-level diplomatic summit at Camp David. The three-day weekend closure pattern is consistent with the typical Camp David schedule for summit activity.
Camp David, located within the park in Maryland’s Catoctin Mountains, has served as the presidential retreat since the Franklin Roosevelt administration. It has hosted some of the most significant diplomatic events in U.S. history, including the 1978 Camp David Accords between Egypt and Israel and the 2000 Camp David Summit on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
For visitors who had planned to use the park’s trails and recreation areas during the weekend, the closure means no access from Friday evening through Sunday evening. Catoctin Mountain Park typically draws hikers, campers, and outdoor recreationists to its more than 5,800 acres in Frederick County, Maryland.
The White House did not immediately confirm or deny a presidential visit or diplomatic event at Camp David during the closure window.
Any foreign leader meeting at Camp David over the weekend would constitute a significant diplomatic news event. The retreat is traditionally used for meetings the president wants conducted away from the press scrutiny of Washington.
Park visitors are advised to check NPS alerts for updates on the reopening timeline.