Swallow Falls State Park is a day-use destination in Garrett County, Maryland, where families can enjoy hiking, picnicking, and waterfall views. There is no campground or lodging inside the park itself, but the old-growth forest and 53-foot Muddy Creek Falls make it a worthwhile stop for a day trip.
The thickly wooded park sits in Garrett County, Oakland, Maryland, on the west bank of the Youghiogheny River.
How To Get To Swallow Falls State Park?
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Photo by Melissa M on Yelp[/caption]
If you’re traveling from Frederick:
Simply take I-70 west to I-68 at Hancock.
Then continue straight for about 65 miles until you get to Exit 14.
Follow the Garrett Highway for 19 miles.
Turn right onto Mayhew Inn Road.
Drive 4.5 miles until you reach Oakland Sang Run Road.
Turn left at the stop street.
Continue for 0.3 miles and turn right at the very first turn.
Keep right when you turn onto Swallow Falls Road and continue straight for 1.2 miles until you get to Maple Glade Road.
You’ll see a sign for Swallow Falls State Park on your right which shows where the entrance of the park is.
Traveling from another direction? Enter this address on your GPS: 2470 Maple Glade Road, Oakland MD 21550. It should take you directly to the Swallow Falls State Park.
What Can You Expect To See?
If you go hiking in May you’ll be treated to the distinct sounds of a male Blackburnian Warbler, a tiny colorful bird native to the region.
If you have a love for butterflies, the Appalachian tiger swallowtail might impress. It’s a yellow butterfly with black markings, known as a hybrid butterfly and quite rare in the animal kingdom.
But the reason this park is so popular is Muddy Creek Falls. It’s 53 feet and one of the highest natural waterfalls in Oakland, Maryland. The water has a straight drop into a gorge created by Youghiogheny River Lake, also known as the Yawk.
It’s easy to find the waterfall as signs guide you to the area. Follow the trail and don’t forget to take pictures of the old-growth forest. About 37 acres of trees have never been disturbed or logged since the 17th century. You’ll be walking amongst hemlocks and pines that are hundreds of years old.
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Photo by Kimon K on Yelp[/caption]
Activities The Whole Family Can Enjoy
There are nearby camping options in the area around Swallow Falls State Park, giving you plenty of room to find a spot for your family's day-use activities.
Swallow Falls State Park has a large picnic area. Adults can enjoy a shady spot under the pavilion while children spend time on the dedicated playground.
After your picnic, take a hike through the old-growth forest. The hiking trail is regarded as one of the most scenic routes in Maryland. The 1.5 Canyon Loop Trail takes you to Muddy Creek Falls, through to Swallow Trails and to Swallow Falls, all while walking along the Youghiogheny River.
The hike is no more than an hour long. Afterward, if you want an extreme activity, try Youghiogheny river rafting. This section is known as the Top Young and it’s short & sweet. It’s a 3.5-mile section that takes about three hours to complete.
Rafting through this section starts off with a massive drop called Swallow Falls, a 30-foot waterfall. Then it’s downhill through the Youghiogheny River until the end of your journey. This is a seasonal activity that runs from April through to October.
Fun Facts About Swallow Falls State Park
Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, and Harvey Firestone camped for two weeks in Swallow Falls State Park. An invitation was sent to the trio from Fred W. Besley, Maryland’s first State Forester. They stayed near Muddy Creek Falls for a short time.
Besley believed their visit would create positive press and capture public attention to support forest conservation. The visit from Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, and Harvey Firestone made this park a landmark as a historical event. Besley succeeded in protecting the park as it’s still an old-growth forest today.
Another fun fact is that the hemlock trees are over 300 years old. They're protected because these trees are the last of their kind in the state.
The name for Youghiogheny River Lake comes from a Native American word that means “river that flows the wrong way”.
The name for the park itself comes from the cliff swallows that used to nest in the upper part of Swallow Falls.
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Photo by Carol A on Yelp[/caption]
Final Thoughts
No matter how many times you visit Swallow Falls State Park you will always experience something new. This ancient piece of land will never fail to amaze you, especially in the summertime. Be sure to take your camera. There is a viewing spot right by Muddy Creek Falls that allows you to take in the full scenic landscape of Swallow Falls State Park.
It’s a historical park suitable for the whole family. People traveling to America for a nature trip should put Swallow Falls State Park at the top of their list of places to see.
Related travel guides: Visiting Palouse Falls: Everything You Need To Know Before Going To Palouse Falls.
