Swallow Falls State Park

Swallow Falls State Park

Swallow Falls State Park
4.5
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State park that has three waterfalls and many hiking trails.
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  • Phyllis C
    3 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Discovering Serenity
    Swallow Falls State Park in Maryland offers a serene retreat with stunning waterfalls, lush forests, and picturesque trails. Perfect for nature lovers and hikers seeking tranquility amidst natural beauty. Highly recommended for a day trip or weekend getaway.
    Visited November 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written March 14, 2024
  • jwall311
    Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania143 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    One of My Favorite Waterfalls
    My family visited Swallow Falls for the first time recently and found it to be an extremely beautiful place. Parking was limited at the trailhead but once we started our hike, the journey to the falls was cool. There weren’t many signs to let you know you were headed in the right direction though. We just kept walking and eventually came to a few lookout spots. The trail was varied enough to keep it interesting and mostly shaded which was nice on the very hot day we visited. We were surprised to see that people could actually swim near and towards the falls itself. We just admired the view of the enormous, cascading waterfall from the rocks below. I would definitely recommend visiting Swallow Falls.
    Visited July 2024
    Traveled with family
    Written July 9, 2024
  • Pas771277
    Keyser, West Virginia101 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Beautiful waterfalls
    What a beautiful park! To escape the heat, we decided to visit this beautiful park . It was about ten degrees cooler at Swallow Falls and the mile hike with views of four different waterfalls was gorgeous! We recommend the hike for everyone including those with small children. Some people waded in the water near the falls, but most just basked in the beauty of the area. This is a Must-See park.😁
    Visited July 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written July 10, 2024
  • Max02016
    Baltimore, Maryland15 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A Treasure
    This is a fantastic park whose splendors are easily accessible to casual hikers. The biggest of the falls are located a short distance from the parking lot. However, hikers who take the "canyon loop," a trail of about a mile and a half, will see three more falls on their journey. There are opportunities for kids and grown-ups to swim in the water here. Near the entrance, there is a pavilion and small store. This is a treasure that we should all respect and maintain for future generations to admire!
    Visited July 2024
    Traveled with family
    Written July 22, 2024
  • Travelbug
    Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania461 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Very busy on a Saturday afternoon.
    Even after reading reviews that told me not to go on a Saturday afternoon, I did. lol The parking lot was crazy busy, it's not a very big lot. There is a 1.25 mile loop trail that will take you past all the falls. The trail was your typical trail with rocks and branches to be on the look out for to not trip. Overall the trail was pretty easy. The falls are beautiful! Wish I would have brought my kid here when he was young to play in the water. There was a ton of people swimming and playing, refreshing to see kids not glued to their tablets. lol If you are looking to get a great picture of the park and area with no people in your pics, choose a weekday.
    Visited July 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written July 24, 2024
  • Netlava
    Bel Air, Maryland88 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Beautiful views, some rough spots
    Four beautiful falls to see along with other scenic views. Trail was rough at parts. Fine for kids but older people may have some issues. We went toward Tolliver Falls to start, but if you are doing the full loop with older people, heading toward Muddy Creek Falls first may put some of the rougher parts either downhill or close enough to an exit path that you can change your mind.
    Visited July 2024
    Traveled with family
    Written August 4, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

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Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

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ChrisH
Frederick, MD550 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2023
Two adults visited here in mid-June 2023 for about three hours. We thoroughly enjoyed the time we spent. The Visitor Center/camp store has basic park information, but no exhibits. We walked along the stream-side path and viewed all four waterfalls. We missed the rhododendron blooming by a couple of weeks but did see some mountain laurel in bloom. It must be spectacular when the rhododendron blooms. The stream-side path can be rough with mud and stones at times but there is a level cliff side path with shortcuts to the waterfalls. It was such a cool day there were few people in the water. It must be crowded later in the summer when it’s very hot. A beautiful small park. Note there is a small CCC museum up the hill from the visitor center. Took us about 10 minutes to browse the history displays. A separate rest room building is available next to the visitor center and the park has a campground. No dogs are allowed on the trails in the summer, just off season.
Written June 29, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Cody K
Bellefontaine, OH60 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2023 • Family
We stopped by here on our way between a couple other state parks. This is definitely a small state part but well worth the time to stop and hike around to see the falls. It does cost $5/adult to enter this park, however your pass is also good for another state park if you use it on the same day, I don't remember what the other park was though.
The park is well maintained and clean, the bathrooms are also well kept. We arrived here around lunch time so we drove a little past the main parking lot to a smaller lot and found some picnic tables to eat at. They also had a playground for the kids so that kept them occupied for a bit.
We then started off on the hike, we took the outside loop counterclockwise. Overall, it was about a 1.25 mile hike. We took our time and spent about one hour on the hike. For the short distance this hike allows you to see 4 different water falls, each very different than the last. There is some elevation change at the beginning and obviously the end of the loop but for the most part the trail doesn't have any very steep hills to climb. There is also a handy cap paved trail that leads to the larger of the 4 waterfalls.
Between eating and hiking we spent about 2 hours here and it was well worth the time.
Written July 5, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

jdredfoxx
Pittsburgh, PA18 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2022 • Friends
Spent a beautiful fall day hiking in this park as well as in a few surrounding areas of Deep Creek. Heads up- make sure you dress appropriately with either hiking boots, sneakers etc. The areas surrounding the waterfalls are usually wet and muddy. You can also navigate the creek and surrounding beds of the waterfalls. There is an entrance fee to get in and it is a short hiking distance that has well marked and developed paths.
Written November 3, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

MichaelS848484
Pittsburgh, PA577 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2020
The park is a fantastic way to spend the day. My big regret is that we didn't bring swimsuits & food; we had to leave because everyone was hungry. However, you could easily spend a whole day here.

There is an entrance fee, but it is on the honor system; there was non one manning the entrance. You just put the money is the collection box. The issue with that is that you can't get change if you need it. This park is worth the entrance fee, though.

There is a big parking area with nice restrooms here. There is also a great picture spot with a sign over the entrance to the trail head. The walk to Muddy Creek Falls isn't bad at all, and the view is fantastic from the overlook. There are also stairs down to the bottom, and the stairs are in great shape. Caution needs to be used when walking along the water up/down the creek since the rocks are a bit unstable & can be slippery. Kids will move about with ease, but adults may find this a bit challenging.

The trail between the falls is in good shape & not too difficult to walk. There are numerous places where you can get down to the water and explore/play. The area in front of the falls is also great for swimming. I wish we had brought our suits. The kids there looked to be having a blast in the water. I would recommend letting the kids swim here & bringing snacks/drinks so that you could spend even more time in the park.

We got some fantastic pictures & a decent workout (lots of walking, especially with the hills), while having a very enjoyable day. I highly recommend a visit to Swallow Falls State Park!
Written August 2, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

kathryn w
Raleigh, NC5 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2020
Big bang for your "buck" with dramatic overlooks of the falls just a 10 minute trail walk from parking. Note that there are a bunch of steps to navigate. It was packed with groups of people and a line of cars to get in, and if you're out of state it's $5. Totally worth it on all fronts.
Written November 2, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Stephanie M
189 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2023 • Couples
This is a must do if you're in the Deep Creek area. It was pretty crowded especially for a chilly weekend in November. Had to stop several times to let other groups pass because many of the trails are very narrow. I would recommend going on a weekday if possible.
Written November 18, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

LABDRB
1,364 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2023 • Friends
Today’s adventure took us to Swallow Falls State Park. It is home to Muddy Creek Falls, which is the highest free-falling waterfall in the state of Maryland, with a drop of 53 feet and breathtaking. The name Swallow Falls comes from the Native American legend that says swallows used to nest in the cliffs surrounding the waterfalls. I’ve never seen so many waterfalls during one hike. The park had its beginnings in 1906 with the donation by John and Robert Garrett of Baltimore. The park is notable for its stand of old hemlock trees, some more than 300 years old. the area include Edison, Ford and Firestone, who camped at Muddy Creek Falls in the summers of 1918 and 1921. Stunning! TY MD
Written June 18, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

jerrys01
Bel Air, MD652 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2020
My wife and I hiked the Canyon Trail, and were able to enjoy seeing the Muddy Creek Falls. While the trail itself is pretty easy (level and marked), there are a lot of steps to get to the falls themselves. If you have a bum knee like me, keep that in mind.

The Falls are not as impressive as in Bushkill, PA, but Swallow Falls State Park has a very reasonable entry fee.
Written September 1, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

jr0907
Hollywood, MD76 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2020
We went on a Friday because it was prime leave changing season in the area. We had read the weekends are very crowded in the fall. We were so glad we did chose a Friday because it was not crowded. You could pull right in a spot in the main parking lot. From the entrance 10 minutes or less to the left and you are at Muddy Fall. Another 10 minutes to the right and you see the Swallow Falls or you can do a longer loop around to both. People were polite and trying to social distance. Well worth a visit.
Written October 11, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Tammy S
Pittsburgh, PA285 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2021 • Family
The walk to the falls was an easy one. The scenery was gorgeous. You do have to pay $3 for residents and $5 for non residents to get into the park, but worth it. There were 4 falls within walking distance from each other. Muddy Creek fall is right there too and it is wheel chair accessible.
Written June 2, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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Swallow Falls State Park - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2025)

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