You can also create your own loop by hiking the cliff trail to the falls and the lower trail back. The other area that makes up the state park is called the Manor Area. Park staff take care of injured, and non-releasable birds of prey here. Cunningham falls is also known as McAfee falls after a family of early settlers from the area. Beautiful trail, definitely not easy. My memories of the falls from my last time there (about 30 years ago) was much more water. Crosses U.S. 15 via elevated footpath (46 steps up the stairway). The trail is primarily used for hiking, walking, nature trips, and bird watching and is accessible year-round. Several deeper pools can be found throughout the length of the falls. The trail begins at the back of the gravel parking lot on the right hand side and crosses Md. Cunningham Falls State Park is located in Frederick County, Maryland. Catoctin Trail--blue blaze (27 miles) This strenuous trail leads from Gambrill State Park through Frederick City Watershed, Cunningham Falls and Catoctin Mountain Park. The Scales and Tales Aviary is located in the Manor Area. Trail is very well delineated and maintained and definitely a moderate level. Not too exciting. The trail is primarily used for hiking, walking, nature trips, and bird watching and is accessible year-round. $5.00 At the overlook, you’ll see a sign for the Hog Rock Nature Trail and a trail to get to Cunningham Falls. The Falls Nature Trail begins across the street from the park visitor’s center. Description:The Falls Nature Trail is accessed from the gravel parking lot directly across from the visitor center. The lower trail is wide, mostly flat, and the easiest way to get to the falls. The state park has 9 hiking trails totaling over 30 miles of trail, as well as a lake. Cars cannot be left at the Gambrill SP Trail System Parking Area overnight. While partly obscured by a huge hemlock, Cunningham Falls appears ahead. Access … There is a small parking lot right at the trailhead that is pretty much always full. The Manor Area is located about three miles south of Thurmont off route 15. Cunningham Falls Hike, June 2, 2010 . Cunningham Falls State Park is located in the picturesque Catoctin Mountains. This 8.6 mile loop trail in Catoctin Mountain Park is good for both hikers and trail runners. Then follow the yellow-blazed Cunningham Falls/Hog Rock/Blue Ridge Summit Loop trail northeast uphill 1 mile over steep terrain to Hog Rock Vista. This is a loop that incorporates a few other shorter trails and is more heavily trafficked near the parking lots that have shorter trails marked from those lots. For clarification- this is what the park calls the yellow blaze trail. ; one is easy, while the other takes you up a few hills and is more scenic. This 8.6 mile loop trail in Catoctin Mountain Park is good for both hikers and trail runners. Hours. Hunting creek tumbles 78 feet down an incredible rock face to form Cunningham Falls. The waterfall can be accessed via the 1.1-mile Cunningham Falls Lower Trail. The hikes end at a small boardwalk overlook where you can view the falls. Nine miles of trail are in Cunningham Falls. This strenuous hike leads to the unique Wolf Rock and Chimney Rock formations. Photo by Marc Andre. https://www.alltrails.com/parks/us/maryland/cunningham-falls-state-park There are a few things you should know before you go. Most notably in Gambrill State Park, south or north from the Manor Area to White Rocks or Bob's Hill and Cat Rock both in Cunningham Falls State Park, and combining with the Horse Trail and Deerfield Nature Trail in western Catoctin Mountain Park is nice as well. The water volume of the falls changes throughout the year based on the rainfall the area has received. This lake is also pretty good for fishing. Cunningham Falls Nature Trail is in the Trails category for Frederick County in the state of Maryland. Great enjoyable hike, not nearly as rocky as nearby trails in Gambrills, Definitely moderate. Directions from Thurmont, MD: Travel MD State Route 77 west approximately 3.5 miles turning right onto Park Central Road. Cunningham Falls State Park Trail Map Cunningham Falls State Park Home Page. They both leave from the parking lot near the entrance to the park. Cunningham Falls Nature Trail is a 5.5 mile heavily trafficked loop trail located near Thurmont, Maryland that features a lake and is rated as moderate. AllTrails/Steve Carlisle The trail gains about 2,500 feet in elevation, so be prepared for some sore calves the next day. It’s a great place to take in some nature and cool off during the summer months. The highlight are the falls that are a short walk from the lake. The exposed bedrock here is steep, but many people walk up it and picnic on the more level sections. Getting to the right section of the park can be a little tricky the first time you do it. From a casual stroll along the Chesapeake Bay waterfront, to the state’s tallest cascading waterfall, there’s something for every person and every comfort level! This loop is around 1.25 miles. Though Maryland’s tallest, the falls does not drop in one free-fall but rather a series of cascades 10-20 feet high, separated by small pools. 77 1.1 miles from the Trails in Cunningham Falls State Park. This loop is the larger loop in the park, comprised of Cunningham Falls, Hog Rock, Blue Ridge Summit, Thurmont Vista, Wolf Rock, and Chimney Rock. This beautiful waterfall is nestled in the Catoctin Mountains of Frederick County. Cunningham falls is the highest cascading waterfall in the state of Maryland. It is divided into two separate but unique areas. This unique natural wonder is located in Cunningham Falls State Park in Thurmont. Parking is difficult. The falls had tons of people. Camping permitted only in designated campgrounds. It's the largest cascading waterfall in the state, making this the park's most popular trail. The address of the visitor’s center is below: 14707 Park Central Road Thurmont, MD 21788. Yesterday, I rode out to Cunningham Falls State Park, and Catoctin Mountain Park in Thurmont Maryland. They both leave from the parking lot near the entrance to the park. Cunningham falls and Hunting Creek Lake are located in the William Houck section of the park. Numerous maps and guides for the East Side trails are available. Anyone who is interested in visiting Cunningham Falls Nature Trail can print the free topographic map and street map using the link above. Catoctin Trail -- 27 miles (blue blaze) -- This strenuous trail leads from Gambrill State Park through Frederick City Watershed, Cunningham Falls State Park and Catoctin Mountain Park. You can catch bass up to the 5-6 lb mark and panfish all year. Camping permitted only in designated campgrounds. Cunningham Falls is one of the best waterfalls (at least that I know of) in Maryland, and there are lots of great hikes in the area with overlooks of the surrounding area. First time to the park. Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), View RealestNature’s profile on Instagram, Dameron Marsh Natural Preserve – Kayak Fishing the Coastal Chesapeake, The New River Bike Trail, 57 Miles in Southwest Virginia, Jockey’s Ridge, Exploring the Largest Sand Dune on the East Coast, Best Northern Snakehead Fishing Lures 2019, Cliff Jumping at South Point (Ka Lae), Hawaii. Cunningham Falls Nature Trail takes you directly to the titular waterfall. A hiking trail and a short walking path both lead to the falls where visitors enjoy picturesque views year round. Offering easy to strenuous hikes, the East Side trails can lead you to stunning overlooks and vistas, access to Cunningham Falls, along with historical and interpretive exhibits. Nice, moderate trail. Cunningham Falls Nature Trail is a 5.5 mile heavily trafficked loop trail located near Thurmont, Maryland that features a lake and is rated as moderate. History buffs will want to check out the Charcoal Trail, also on the East Side. FEATURES: Chimney Rock Wolf Rock 8 Mile Loop Trail Thurmont Vista Blue Ridge Summit Vista Hog Rock A couple of weekends ago we decided to take the kids on a hike to Cunningham Falls. Easy Hike to the Falls If you are looking for nice scenery and a fairly easy walk, this is the place. Park across from the visitor center; trail begins on the far side of the parking lot across from the visitor center. Really enjoyable hike - some incline but not too bad. It’s stocked with trout during the spring and fall months. Ups, downs, rocks and some flat. Option 1: Catoctin Furnace History Trail - Easy- 0.25 mile (Recommended by Ranger Creter) A self-guided trail which leads to Catoctin Furnace Historical Village. It has a couple nice beach areas. Hike west 1.4 miles to Maryland’s largest cascading waterfall, 78-foot Cunningham Falls. This waterfall is located a short drive from Washington DC and Baltimore and is very popular as a result. There are two different trails that you can take to get to the falls, the cliff trail and the lower trail. Make sure you come early on a summer weekend day. The round trip walk from the parking lot is about one mile. There is a sign that says you can’t leave the trail when you arrive at the falls observation deck. 8am – Sunset (April to October) 10am – Sunset (November to March) Entrance Fee. You can also rent canoes if you’d like to get out on the water. Details Cunningham Falls State Park, located west of Thurmont in the beautiful Catoctin Mountains, is named for a 78-foot cascading waterfall. to get to the falls, one can take a couple different trails. Other hiking trails of various difficulty levels weave through the park. If you liked Cunningham Falls, two other great waterfalls to check out in the area are Cedar Run Falls and St. Mary’s Falls. The Cunningham Falls area of Catoctin Mountain Park is located north of Foxville Road (MD 77) near Cunningham Falls, just north of the junction of Falls Nature Trail and Hog Rock Nature Trail. The best hike near Mechanicsburg is Thurmont Vista Loop via Falls Nature Trail, a 7.6 mile loop in Cunningham Falls State Park. There are a few good bouldering spots along this trial. Almost everyone ignores this sign so I’m not sure what to make of it. Nice inclines and easy to follow yellow blazed trail. Load some of your harvest into your daypack and begin on Cunningham Falls Nature Trail. Other trail This can be done as a 2 day backpack with camping around mile 16.6 at the Manor Area Campground of Cunningham Falls State Park, reservations suggested. Falls were very pretty and I could imagine it being stunning in the spring and fall. Cunningham Falls Nature Trail, Thurmont The payoff for this 2.8-mile loop in Catoctin Mountain Park near Thurmont is a view of the 78-foot-high cascading falls. Once you arrive, have a seat on the rocks and enjoy the view. Bit super interesting but a good walk through the woods with a detour across a major road to see the waterfall. Hiking, swimming, hunting, fishing, picnicking, boating, playgrounds, 13 camper cabins, and 180 campsites in two areas available seasonally. Calling it the cliff trail is a bit of an exaggeration, but the terrain is more varied than the lower trail. The lower trail out and back is 1.1 miles. Length 5.5 miElevation gain 1000 ftRoute type Loop Rocky, not a very wide path, lots up up and down. You can also create your own loop by hiking the cliff trail to the falls and the lower trail back. Maryland Office of Tourism Development, Redwood Tower, 9th Floor, 217 E. Redwood Street , Baltimore, MD, 21202, Phone: 410-767-3400, Fax: 410-333-6643. Address. Cunningham Falls State Park First Day Hikes. The 43 acre lake has a great swimming beach. These are great places to cool off with your friends. I started from Visitor Center but you can easily start from Hog Rock parking lot and there is a bathroom there (visitor center restrooms are closed and only port-a-potty available). The Nature Trail is an easy 0.2-mile loop that adds a bit more length to your Hog Rock trail. Beautiful day which meant tons of people. First, it gets very crowded at Cunningham Falls during hot summer weekends. Falls Nature Trail, Cunningham Falls State Park, March 2019 Cunningham Falls in northern Maryland tumbles 78 feet down a set of cascades, making it the tallest waterfall in the state and a popular getaway destination for residents of the DC/Baltimore area. Good hike tho. If that was a breeze for you, take the Wolf Rock Loop Trail. Explore hiking trails around Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. Other park trails lead to the popular destinations of Wolf Rock and Chimney Rock. Cunningham Falls Nature Trail is displayed on the Blue Ridge Summit USGS quad topo map. Great. This park in Frederick, Maryland, is an open area with no monitoring or … Frederick Municipal Forest. You should definitely check out Hunting Creek Lake after you’ve finished hiking the falls. Easy to get to from the DC area and a nice change of scenery. Cunningham Falls and Lower Trail. You can check out the official Maryland DLNR website for Cunningham Falls HERE. This is because there are several different sections of Cunningham Falls State Park that are not very well connected. Located in Sabillasville in Cunningham Falls State Park, this 10.7-mile hike will take you through lush forests and past babbling brooks. Cunningham Falls State Park Surrounded by the beautiful Catoctin Mountains, Cunningham Falls State Park is home to Maryland’s highest cascading waterfall. Notify the park in advance if leaving vehicle in park overnight. Your best bet is to just park at the top of the lake parking lot and walk the extra bit to get to the trailhead. Steep and rocky trails. It's the largest cascading waterfall in the state. This trail is about 1.4 miles each way. Rt. They hold ranger programs with the birds so you can get an up close look. This loop is the larger loop in the park, comprised of Cunningham Falls, Hog Rock, Blue Ridge Summit, Thurmont Vista, Wolf Rock, and Chimney Rock. Hiking to Cunningham Falls There are two different trails that you can take to get to the falls, the cliff trail and the lower trail. The William Houck Area, located three miles west of Thurmont on Route 77, has the lake area, falls and camping area. Cunningham Falls State Park 14039 Catoctin Hollow Road Thurmont, MD 21788. National Take A Hike Day is celebrated on November 17th and is the perfect time to explore the diverse terrain Maryland has to offer for hiking and nature enthusiasts alike. On the Cunningham Falls Nature Trail, the payoff for this 2.8-mile loop is a view of the 78-foot-high cascading falls. Additionally, there are some tucked away cookout areas along the shore of the lake. Nine miles of trail are in Cunningham Falls. The trailhead is right on the left side of William Houck Campground road so you can’t miss it. 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