The park was not crowded and there was no admission charge. Each are beautiful, but if you want more of a challenge head up Cliff Trail to do a little rock climbing (optional) and scrambling through rougher terrain to get to this cascading waterfall. This place as great potential after few rainy days. The falls loop is super busy with lots of kiddos and doggos. At 78 feet, Cunningham Falls, the centerpiece of the state park bearing its name, is Maryland’s tallest waterfall and one of the state’s most visited. Houck Area - Pets are allowed in Bear Branch and Addison Run camp loops. Cunningham Falls is lovely year-round though. Intermediate. Cunningham Falls State Park is located in the picturesque Catoctin Mountains. Beautiful, well maintained, and heavily trafficked. Cunningham Falls State Park is in the Catoctin Mountains near Thurmont, Maryland. But off the lower loop there are offshoots for a catoctin trail north and south. We decided to explore several area inside the park. - Winter is the best time to visit this area. You can view the falls from a boardwalk or climb up the rocks on the right side of the falls. To lengthen the adventure, Hunting Creek Lake is close by for swimming, or you can continue your hike by taking Old Misery Trail for great views of the area. A short scenic hike. Head northwest as the trail gradually climbs through the woods passing interpretive trail signs that provide interesting pieces of information about the area. The trail is well maintained and pretty wide at some spots. Check the website for more information. The park was not crowded and there was no admission charge. Went here twice this summer to cool off. You can view the falls from a boardwalk or climb up the rocks on the right side of the falls. Great for kids. (One trail to the Falls and the other back to the car) The age and skill level of your children will probably help you decide which trail to take. The Boardwalk Trail provides access for wheelchairs. Outdoor activity is everywhere at Cunningham Falls State Park. This loop is a combination of all of the three major loops in the Catoctin Mountain Park, totaling 8 miles and including Cunningham Falls, Hog Rock, Blue Ridge Summit, Thurmont Vista, Wolf Rock, and Chimney Rock. Add Your Trails. Not good for bad knees. The Lower Trail to Cunningham Falls follows a ravine up from the Hunting Creek Lake of Cunningham Falls State Park. The Cunningham Loop Trail #316 is made up of an upper trail, and a longer lower trail. ... and we set off on the "lower trail" to the falls, which was the easier of the two routes. Part of the Catoctin Mountains, the falls were shaped by past geological processes, which was certainly a site to see. Hotels near Cunningham Falls State Park; Hotels near Catoctin Wildlife Preserve; Hotels near Catoctin Mountain Park; Hotels near Catoctin Mountain Orchard; Hotels near Catoctin Furnace; Hotels near Loy's Station Covered Bridge; Hotels near Pryor's Orchard; Hotels near Roddy Road Covered Bridge; Near Airports. Cunningham Falls. The last 0.2 of a mile are on a boardwalk and lead to a small viewing platform. Look for the red-blazed Lower Falls Trail from the main parking area to the west of Hunting Creek Lake. Above the large beach lot is a smaller parking lot at the trail head for Cunningham Falls. This trail ends at the base of a beautiful 78-foot waterfall. Trail distance: 1.5 miles. The lower Falls trail is just under 3 miles round trip and not overly eventful on it's way to the falls. The lake was frozen but it was neat to see how the frozen water meets the sand. There are six interpretive nature signs along the way that make the hike more interesting. The easy out-and-back half-mile Lower Trail from the lake leads to the falls. If you don’t feel like walking the trail back, the road is a nice alternative. This park is approximately 8 square miles in area and contains over 25 miles of trails, some breath-taking views, and, yes, a little bit of history. Outdoor activity is everywhere at Cunningham Falls State Park. Each are beautiful, but if you want more of a challenge head up Cliff Trail to do a little rock climbing (optional) and scrambling through rougher terrain to get to this cascading waterfall. Plus it is also next to Catoctin Mountain National Park which I had to skip as it was getting late but Catoctin has a hike to a Furnace and both parks would be a great day trip. Lower Falls Trail. The Cliff trail is very rocky and it is very easy to turn an ankle, so take your time and be sure of your footing. Cunningham Falls, Maryland’s tallest, is the focal park of the state park bearing its name, but there are plenty of other worth destinations in this 6,000-acre wilderness a short striking distance from Frederick, Maryland.Cat Rock offers nice, albeit not fantastic, views of the surrounding Catoctin Mountains, but the real gem is the “rock” itself: a towering jumble of … Hotels near (IAD) Dulles Intl Airport The Lower Falls Trail is a short easy hike through a wooded area of the park. Above the large beach lot is a smaller parking lot at the trail head for Cunningham Falls. Hike the Catoctin Mountain Extended Loop Trail, Hike Chimney Rock at Catoctin Mountain Park. Thurmont, MD Easy/Intermediate. The park is clean and the lower trail to the falls was a nice hike. Known bouldering areas are along the Lower Trail and Cliff Trail from the Houck area to the park's eponymous falls, but outcroppings and boulders beckon from deeper in the woods. Return to the lake by this trail or Lower Trail. This trail terminates at the Falls. If native wildlife is on your wish list, Cunningham Falls delivers with a healthy population of black bears, as well as reptiles, birds and other Catoctin Mountain species. There's also two trails to get to Cunningham Falls, one is easy (the Lower trail), the other (Cliff Trail) is more strenuous- so you can take it easy on the way to or from the falls. If you’d like an easy walk to the falls, be sure to enter the trail head for the Lower Trail. Directions from Thurmont, MD: Travel MD State Route 77 west approximately 4 miles turning left onto Catoctin Hollow Road. This past weekend I explored the backwoods of Thurmont, MD, at Catoctin State Park. Return to the lake by this trail or Lower Trail. Near Thurmont, Maryland. Both of these trails begin near Hunting Creek Lake. You'll likely see many types of birds and small wildlife along the trail, as there are undisturbed native plants and trees. There’s two trail heads in the parking area, and the other trail head is the Cliff Trail. Search campgrounds, glamping, and hotels near Smithsburg. Intersects with the catoctin trail, which runs for like 10 miles but connects you to other trails, we parked near the lake. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. William Houck Area Trails. Thurmont, MD 5 0.6 mi 1.0 km #2 Lower Falls Trail. Hike the Cunningham Falls Lower Trail. The Lower Trail (1/2 mile) and the Cliff Trail (3/4 mile). He served as that state s fourteenth Secretary of State, serving Championships 2018: Dominick Cunningham wins gold as Max … The rocks would have been annoying to descend. Lower Trail (0.5 miles) leads directly to the falls, whereas Cliff Trail (0.75 miles) has slightly more difficult terrain and takes you to a viewing platform. (One trail to the Falls and the other back to the car) The age and skill level of your children will probably help you decide which trail to take. Cunningham Falls State Park is a public recreation area located west of Thurmont, Maryland, in the United States. Crowded hike even on a Tuesday afternoon. The trail to the falls is very straightforward, but there are red trail blazes along the way just in case. The park is clean and the lower trail to the falls was a nice hike. Cunningham Falls Lower Trail and Cliff Trail Loop, https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/maryland/cunningham-falls-boardwalk-trail-accessible. Leisure opportunities like swimming, hiking, fishing and canoeing are available. Start of Lower Falls Trail. https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/maryland/cunningham-falls-upper-trail You reach the Falls on a boardwalk. The trail to the falls is very straightforward, but there are red trail blazes along the way just in case. 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. Took a trip here on a spring-like day in February. We parked in a small parking lot and decided to hike to the falls. Cunningham Falls tumbles over the bedrock Hiking to Cunningham Falls. While scenic, I would recommend them if you are in the area or a waterfall lover. Take to the woods and hike to a serene waterfall in Cunningham Falls State Park--this short loop is great for all ages. This 78-foot waterfall, among the largest in the state, is easily accessible by two short trails. To reach Cunningham Falls, there are two choices; Lower Trail, which is a relatively easy 1-mile hike out-and-back hike, or Cliff Trail, a rockier, more technical path with a … The tr... Chimney Rock is the quintessential breathtaking view that makes a hike worthwhile. It is divided into two separate but unique areas. The route follows an abandoned road, which is being reclaimed by the forest, and contours around the slopes of Mt. Cunningham Falls and Lower Trail. 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