Cunningham Falls — Local services in Thurmont

Cunningham Falls State Park, nestled in Maryland's beautiful Catoctin Mountains, offers a fantastic getaway for nature lovers and outdoor adventurers alike. The park is split into two distinct areas, the lively William Houck Area and the more serene Manor Area, each providing a unique experience. At the William Houck Area, visitors can marvel at the impressive 78-foot Cunningham Falls, Maryland's largest waterfall, easily accessed by an enjoyable half-mile trail or a more challenging rocky path. This section also boasts Hunting Creek Lake, perfect for swimming at its sandy beaches during summer, fishing, or electric boating. For those seeking a quieter time, the Manor Area offers peaceful camping and a chance to explore history at the Catoctin Iron Furnace and the Scales and Tales Aviary. Both areas feature well-maintained campsites with amenities like picnic tables, fire rings, and clean bathhouses, making Cunningham Falls State Park an ideal spot for hiking, camping, and enjoying the great outdoors, though it's always wise to book campsites ahead of time, especially during...

Easy to get to, with handicapped parking and a short boardwalk accessing the falls from the North, and a slightly longer but still easy hike from the main parking lot in Cunningham Falls State Park to the south. There is no trail that connects across the falls/creek. PLEASE stay on the boardwalk as requested by the park rangers. This is a very delicate environment and kids and families clambering all over the rocks damages the unique habitat. The falls themselves are not usually very impressive unless it has rained recently, but it's still a pretty place to get outside and enjoy...

We drove down from PA on a Sunday late afternoon in April. There was a road closed and construction going on so we ended up parking at the visitor center and hiking over to the falls - about 1.4 miles up and down, I’d say easy to moderate depending on your experience. There weren’t too many people on the trail or at the falls when we got there but I imagine it can get crowded on a nice spring/summer day. We decided to just walk back to the visitors center on the road and that was only about 1 mile...