Swallow Falls State Park Ultimate Guide
Swallow Falls State Park is located in Oakland, Maryland in the western part of Maryland. It is known for having the tallest waterfall in Maryland Muddy Creek Falls. But this park is also full of hiking, camping, fishing and wildlife viewing. Learn more below about how to get there, where to stay and top things to do in this Swallow Falls State Park Ultimate Guide!
getting there
If you are flying to the area, the closest major airports are Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT) or Washington Dulles International airport (IAD) The drive from PIT is 131 miles or 2 hours 15 minutes. The drive from IAD airport is 169 miles and about 3 hour drive. Baltimore is about 190 miles or a 3 hour 8 minutes drive. Charleston, West Virginia is about 200 miles away or 3 hour 15 minute drive.
getting Around
The best way to get to the park is by car and once you are there you will get around by foot. This area is fairly remote in western Maryland and this hidden gem is easy to park at and enjoy year round adventures.
where to stay in and around Swallow Falls State Park
The Swallow Falls State Park has camping available. There are three camper cabins with electric heat, mini fridge, microwave and beds from April-December. There are also 65 campsites with a central bath house. Of the 65 sites, 3 are full hook-up and 3 have water and electric. Reservations can by made by calling 1-888-432-CAMP or by visiting parkreservations.maryland.gov.
There are many great places to stay outside of the state park depending on what you are looking for. Oakland, Maryland is the closest little town and has hotel, motels, and other camping options. Also you may consider staying around Deep Creek Lake or like we did in Grantsville at the Casselman Inn. Check out this Western Maryland Weekend Getaway to check out other great things to do while visiting this area!
when to visit Swallow Falls State Park
This park is absolutely beautiful year-round and wonderful to visit. The park is open from 8 AM to sunset.
The most popular times to visit are between Memorial Day and Labor Day.
Fees
The fees for this park vary depending on what time of year and if you are a Maryland resident or not.
From the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend the fee is per person. Maryland residents pay $3/person and out-of-state residents pay $5/person.
From the Tuesday after Labor Day to the Friday before Memorial Day on the weekends of May, September and October the fee is still per person as above. During the weekdays and the weekends November-April, the charge is per vehicle. Maryland residents pay $3/vehicle and out-of-state residents pay $5/vehicle.
Camping has fees depending on what site you choose. General campsite is $21.50, with electric and water $27.50, full $32.50. The cabins charge $50.50.
things to do in Swallow Falls State Park
Muddy Creek Falls
The reason that brought you here was to see Maryland’s tallest waterfall. This 53 foot waterfall is very beautiful. You can reach it via a the Canyon Trail.
hiking
The park offers two main hiking trails. The Canyon Trail is foot traffic only and is 1.25 miles through forest and passes by several waterfalls including Muddy Creek Falls. During summer hiking shoes are recommended and during winter crampons are recommended. The other trail is the 5.5 Mile Trail which connects Herrington Manor State Park through the Garrett State forest and as you guessed it is 5.5 miles. You can hike or mountain bike this trail.
Wildlife Viewing
The park offers a host of wildlife. You can spot white-tailed deer, chipmunks, foxes and black bears. It is a great place for birding with over 155 bird species spotted in the park and is a spring Blackburnian warbler migration and breeding spot.
Swimming
Lots of people jump into the water beneath the falls. We didn’t during our trip but looked very refreshing!
Fishing
The Youghiogheny River is a 4 mile long catch and release area for trout fishing. The area runs between Deep Creek Lake Power Plant and the Sang Run Bridge.
Camping
This is a great place to camp and set up for exploring the surrounding areas.
Ultimate Guide Swallow Falls State Park
I hope this inspires you to check out this must visit gem while visiting western Maryland. For ideas on more things to do check out my Western Maryland Getaway Weekend for more inspiration!
