Muddy Creek Falls in October 2010

Last year, my uncle took me to Gunpowder Falls…River, that is. I was excited to think that I would see a waterfall in Maryland, and yet when I got there, it was just a river with a series of very minor rapids. There may be a smaller falls somewhere along that river, but not where I was. So it was time to finally visit a real waterfall in Maryland. Swallow Falls State Park has three waterfalls that at least qualify as waterfalls.

Muddy Creek is the largest and the most interesting of the three falls in the park. It is believed to be one of the largest waterfalls in Maryland, not that it is terribly large. It is still very pretty. It’s also very easy to visit. The waterfall is even handicapped accessible. There is a boardwalk that leads to a relatively good view of the falls, but to get the full experience, head down the stairs/trail to get much closer. If you keep following this trail, you can see the other waterfalls very easily. It’s a very nice park, and it’s an added bonus to be allowed to explore around the falls. (Too often, waterfalls at state parks are blocked from better exploration…often with good reason.)

Directions:

1. There are multiple ways to get to the falls, but the clearest way might be to access the park from US-219 in Maryland.
2. In between McHenry and Oakland (two villages/towns) along US-219, you’ll find the road that leads to the park, Mayhew Inn Road. If headed south, you’d turn right onto this road.
3. The road twists and turns, veers a bit left and is called Oakland Sang Run Road, and then turns right and is called Swallow Falls Road. This road will lead you into the state park.

Accessibility: 10/10 (easy)
Height: 52′
Length of Hike: 0.5 miles round-trip

Where in the World is Muddy Creek Falls?