Still a great campsite and State Park experience at Deep Creek. We were here this time in June, but it's been a long mild spring this year, so it's been cool and wet. There were clouds sitting on the lake for the few days we were here, very misty and Will-O-the-Wisp magical. We ended up traveling to some breweries, Swallow Falls (massive rapids with all the rain), did some local shopping and caught a movie. The camp sites weren't crowded at all and we had no problem making last minute reservations for a Sunday and Monday night. read more

Deep Creek Lake State Park - Campfire - Parks Near Me - Garrett, Maryland

This state park came up, as a recommendation for places close to hike from Wisp Resort. Driving through the rental vacation homes was a scenic experience. The park itself was clean, had places to launch your boat, small beach and well marked trails. There is an entrance fee for state residents, and non state residents, which was unusual to see that type of sign posted. Worth checking out for the serene, tranquil, beauty within the park itself. read more

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Love this campground right near the lake. The no alcohol keeps the riff raff down and someone always comes through to clean the bathrooms (which can get some lines) but there is ample room to enjoy your slice of nature and close enough to walk to the lake if you are athletic. It is a little hilly so not too friendly for traditional bikes but I saw a couple of e-bikes doing just fine. We will definitely be back! read more

It's a wonderful place to come and relax. It is very quaint and everyone is always smiling and having fun. FYI: It's a great place to bring your kids The beach area is nice and it's in a great area within the lake. I have always enjoy myself here whether by myself, with my family and/or with my friends. Btw: Park at the discovery center and walk down the hill to the trail along the lake so you do not have to pay to enter Enjoy! read more

Came here last weekend with a group of friends for my Birthday and had a blast! Deep Creek National Park is a great outdoor-public park space with playgrounds, hiking, beach, clean facilities....and boat rentals nearby. You can also rent kayaks but must stay close to shore since motorized boats are on the lake. I would recommend this site for sure as a great venue and getaway for large groups and families; especially those with kids. There's plenty of activities to keep kids engaged. For the most part, there are 2 small horseshoe shaped beaches with perfect white sand and both have a beautiful views of the lake! The playgrounds will keep the kids occupied while the green spaces are perfect for grilling or grabbing a bite outdoors. As for swimming, the lake water itself is clean, not boggy and the temperature was just right given my visit was in late June, 2021. I am sure the lake temps will remain decent through the fall, but keep in mind it freezes over in the winter and may be too cold for swimming in the spring in the spring. I came here in the winter and the entire lake was frozen, but snowmobiling, skiing, and ice fish is in full effect here. Overall, this was a good beach and a great alternative for those that might not be able to afford lake front rentals while visiting. We had a lake front property for our stay and still came here, mostly for the hiking trails and boat rentals. We rented two boats that provided a great outing and fun on the lake for the group....Just pack a cooler with drinks and snacks and you are good to go! The boats provided a perfect way for us to explore, cruise and see this massive lake of approximately 63 Miles of land mass!....Yeah, I know....a pointless fact. Blame the nerd on me!! lol. If hiking and boating is not your thing, you can't go wrong with just hanging out here, taking a nice swim or soaking up some sun with great views the of the lake area. One note of caution: The lake and beach bottom is rocky. Wear swimming shoes. Also, the weekends can get very crowded. The weekdays are best for relaxing and enjoying the park and beach overall...imho. read more

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The rangers are very friendly. The park overall has many places to rest or use the restrooms. The lake is absolutely amazing it was my favorite part. read more

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A beautiful, green, tall mixed deciduous and hemlock forest . The trail we took, Cherry Creek and Crosscut, had fabulous rock formations similar to ones wd found on the nearby Rock Maze trail. The lake is a bit noisy, but there are extended fingers where feeder streams come in that are quieter, and bettef for kayaking. It's high elevation, so bring layers as it can get cold at night in summer! read more

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This is a wonderful state park! For this date, 7/8-9/23 they are having Art in the Park. Local artists set up tents and show/sell there art. Nice surrounding, in the shade, had food booths and an educational tables for the kids. read more

We are from NC. Met our son and grandsons from Pa for a week at Deep Creek Lake. Boating, fishing, hiking, mountain biking, wake boarding, tubing. We cooked hot dogs and s'mores over fire pit. Awesome place for a fun filled vacation. read more

This is a wonderful park right along Deep Creek Lake, and it offers two swimming beaches and access to the water for boats. The beaches are very nice with comfortable sand that worked well for building sand castles. Between the size of the lake and the wind on it and the boats moving quickly nearby, the beaches get some good waves to play in and enjoy. It's a nice place to enjoy a relaxing beach day! In addition to the water activities, there are other options at the park, including 20 miles of trails, great shaded picnic areas with a lot of picnic tables and benches, several good playgrounds, a basketball court, and more. This is a pretty and relaxing place! read more

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Came here twice during our 5 day stay at the Lake. Once on a hike where we encountered a female black bear (sow) and her two cubs and once to chill at the beach. Both days were great. The Park is well kept and organized. The hiking trails are well marked. The bear encounter was safe, we gave her ample space to pass our trail and continued on our hike. Highly recommended, we will be back. read more

Deep Creek Lake State Park - Black bear mother looking back at us to keep her cubs safe - Parks Near Me - Garrett, Maryland

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Fantastic park and great place to visit. I imagine it's much busier in the summer when the beach can be of use, but we visited during the fall and still made use of their excellent trails. We did the Cherry Creek Loop and it was an excellent way to see the fall foliage. We didn't see too many people since it was a bit chilly but that was alright with us! read more

Deep Creek Lake State Park - Parks Near Me - Garrett, Maryland

Pre-lockdown experience. I should have taken pictures. I suppose you can't visit the Deep Creek Lake area without actually spending time on/by said lake, can you? Well, maybe... but why wouldn't you? You know how I mentioned (just) above that I should have taken pictures? I didn't because I was engaged in physical activity and quite a bit of 'present-ness' during my time in the park. I don't have pictures but I don't regret the time I spent here. I'd give the nod - in terms of beauty - to Swallow Falls but Deep Creek is no slouch. The woods are easily navigable and the trees are impressive but when you're spending time here you're going to want to spend time looking at the water. I don't recall waterfalls or rushing rapids. But I do remember being hypnotized by the expansive, calming, blue lake. I'm an earth sign and find my nature love language in grass and trees but even I can't deny the allure of that gorgeous lake. If you're into that (and here during warmer weather), relax on the 'beach', have the kiddies play on the jungle gyms and/or post up in the grilling area and make a day of it. I was here in late fall. It should have been well past the time for water activities but it wasn't. #climatechange Not wanting to give attention to the screwy weather, my buddies and I made an epic and organic frisbee golf course from the trees, trail heads, hills, and, yes, the lake. We got in a fantastic workout and were able to enjoy every facet of the beautiful location in which we spent the day. P.S. If you have the chance to kayak those waters, do it. Just do it. read more

We needed a staycation so Deep Creek was the choice. We stayed down the street from Wisp Ski Resort. Our whole family went, 15 of us in a rental home. The house was $4k for the week. Note that Walmart, Dollar General are the only real stores close. We travelled a hour to go to Sams club. It snowed and rained while we were there. The kids were sick mid trip so we didn't make it to the resort but we had a wonderful time. Beautiful town beautiful real estate beautiful time read more

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We're from the Baltimore / Washington Area and we've been coming to Deep Creek for years now. Love this park! Need some help learning about the lake? Stop by the Dîśçøvèrÿ CËÑTĘR and ask the wonderful employees what you'd like to know. Nice birds too. The State Park Main Office is also very helpful. A very nice lady with blonde hair was really kind and caring. Thank you for your amazing customer service. The State Park Beach was... well there's really no nicer way of putting it... F*****G NASTY. My wife Irma was trying to work on her tan and the seagulls kept coming over pecking her. She called Animal Control to report the seagull attack however we did not get a call back. Irma can't trust any birds now... She's scared...Irma's Scared... If you visit the beach be sure to watch for the gulls because they're watching you...... Update: Irma's seagull bites are healing up pretty well. She will have a permanent scar on her neck and leg. Irma still can't go outside without bird proof gear and a tennis racket. read more

Deep Creek Lake State Park - Seagull ready to bite. Spotted at Deep Creek Lake State Park. - Parks Near Me - Garrett, Maryland

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Great Lake and State Park in this lovely town. The lake takes up the entire town. Reminds me of a great resort area. There are boats every where and boat sales locatioins. Tons of people walking around and lots of drinking...lol We passed a business called Monkey Business that looked really fun. The state park entrance is out a side road called Glendale Rd I forget the actual route number. The park has a fee of $3 per resident of Maryland and $5 per person non resident of Maryland. There is a Discovery Center Museum but it cost in addition to the park daily use rate. We didn't go to the Discovery Center didn't want to pay the extra. I prefer the FREE TRIPS but I had to blow off the dust on my wallet for the park entrance fees. But the town is lovely that is around the lake and state park. A lot to enjoy here too. Wonderful landscaping and absolutely beautiful. Sort of crowded in May so I can only imagine how crowded in the summer!! read more

DNR here are CREEPY!!!!! If you stay up even a little bit after quiet hours to quietly sit around the fire they will stop their vehicles in the street next to your camp and roll their windows down to watch/listen to you. They will also proceed to walk through your camp while you sleep with flashlights. This is in addition to them constantly driving by in loops throughout the day and coming into camps to check in throughout the day (which we didn't have an issue with). I genuinely felt uncomfortable sleeping here because of the random DNR officers walking between our tents while they thought we were sleeping because they didn't realize we could see them through the partially unzipped window of our tent. We left an entire day earlier than we reserved because we were so freaked out. DO NOT CAMP HERE read more

Deep Creek Lake State Park - The DNR watching us in the street next to our camp. - Parks Near Me - Garrett, Maryland

Beach area of the park was great for relaxing. Beautiful lake views. They have kayak rentals, picnic tables, and a small playground. Entrance fee per person seems high, but worth it. read more

Deep Creek Lake State Park - Parks Near Me - Garrett, Maryland

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The only public beach on the lake. Note: You do need to pay an entrance fee (I've only been there in the 'off' season and they just do honor system). I live in a state where our parks are free to the public - so I always have a hard time paying to use a public space. However, it's a nice place to sit and just take in the lake views. There are 2 playgrounds on either side of the beach - perfect if you travel with little ones. read more

Beautiful lake and the largest man made freshwater lake in Maryland. Perfect for family camping trips especially if you have children. Alcohol is not permitted in the park and quite hours are enforced. Camping areas allow tents and RV's. Cabins are available for rent too ~ but only 3! The park accepts online reservations. If you don't want to stay in the park, or their camping spots are full, there are two other camping places available close by. There are also some B&B's In the area. The lake is surrounded by picnic and sandy areas; so plenty of views while you enjoy your lunch! Swimming, fishing, hiking and boating are all happening here! They have a lot of outdoor games as well. The park is open year 'round and offers skiing and horse drawn sleigh rides in the winter! There are nice restaurants close by so be sure to ask a local for directions to what your stomach is asking for! read more

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We were here in mid March and it was a great place to take a hike. We walked up through the hunting grounds and around the mountain. Cold and rainy but such a magical place. Lots to see. read more

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We went to the beach part which was very nice! People were socially distant and respectful. Great spot for kids or to unwind with a Busch Latte (in a Yeti). read more

Deep Creek Lake State Park - Beach area... - Parks Near Me - Garrett, Maryland

Nice place to take the kids if you're visiting for the summer. Highlights were: (1) the Discovery Center, which has a nice display of fish, turtles, and wildlife on the main level with a clean restroom; and (2) the sandy beach area which has lifeguards and a pretty view across Deep Creek Lake. The park seems to be the only major public stretch of land on the shores of Deep Creek Lake. My 7 yr old son really enjoyed the fishing 101 class offered by the Discovery Center staff. For $4 per person, a naturalist guided a small class of kids (ages 4-8) with the basics of casting with a spincast rod and safety with hooks. Be sure to step back when the kids practice casting their lines. We had a fun time and everybody caught a bluegill fish that morning (the class started at 9:30am). The only reason for 4 stars (instead of 5) is the exhorbitantly high prices charged by a Wisp Resort concession stand near the sandy beach. Our family did not have time to try the hiking trails or other programs offered by the Discovery Center. When we come back next year, perhaps we will attempt the steep climb up Meadow Mountain, which should provide a commanding vista of Deep Creek Lake and miles beyond. read more

41/100 My vacation plans took a 360 when my family suggested I join them. They assured me that I'll have more fun here than going to a crowded Virginia Beach. It seemed like an offer that I couldn't refuse. Place is far far far away. The drive here was very scenic. We chose to go 68W as it's scenic and less traffic than taking the dreaded 66. Once I arrived, I found my perfect zen. I unplugged from the world. I rarely let go of my electronics. Besides I had limited service lol. It wasnt crowded. It had everything a beach would have except waves and a boardwalk. Lifeguards are on duty and always have their eyes on the water. I'm a water sport fanatic! I had a blast water skiing and going on my cousins speedboats. The second day, we rented jets skis. Though it's recommended to reserve them advanced. There's so much (water) room to race or do water tricks than the Chesapeake Bay. If your a fishing fanatic, this place is it. My uncles caught perch, bass and some other fishes. Luckily, they let it go back into the water after taking selfies. Yes, these guys are selfie fanatics when it comes to fishing lol. Camping can be scarce. Get here early. I managed to stay one night and the rest at my cousins place. There's so much to do here. I could go on and on. All year round there's something fun to do here. I felt so recharged going back home. I can't wait to come back especially when it snows, so I can go snowboarding or on a snowmobile. ** The S tip: quiet hours are enforced here! ** read more

The Discovery Center is free to visit and is geared towards teaching children about Maryland wildlife but everyone in our group had a wonderful time! They have a lot of information on he local animals, a bunch of hands-on learning, and real animals to observe! They also have a small gift shop with affordable toys and souvenirs for everyone on your list! On our trip, we saw freshly (hatched?) monarch butterflies, a pretty big soft shell turtle, some frogs, a snake, and tanks of local fish (blue gill, perch, trout). They also had an awesome outdoor Aviary with owls and a bald eagle! Th Park also has a well-maintained playground and sandy "beach" area - perfect for the kids! read more

We are still trying to wrap our heads around paying for every park you enter in a Maryland but after saying that, $5 each for this small park was a bit much. It does have two tiny beaches that have lifeguards but it really didn't have the impact that other surrounding parks have. We just weren't impressed. read more

A wonderful landscape This place is absolutely beautiful A nice family retreat or vacation

5 stars, but I am very sympathetic to the concerns others have raised about the super-strict park rangers. We had our fun time shut down promptly at 10 pm, both nights we were there. Same story last year, and the year before. That said, there were a lot of families there (not just the 75 triathletes I went with), and I can understand that they would want those quiet hours enforced. The facilities are great. I saw some cleaning folks making the bathrooms spotless at around 7 am. By 7 pm, when I went for a shower, there was standing water/muckiness around the 2 showers. But the water was warm, and the pressure was good. Every campsite has a grilling ring. Campsites can fit 2 cars. A third car needs to be parked at the camp office, about 1/4 mile away. read more

Check out this great park! The Discovery Center and Aviary are Amazing! read more

Deep Creek Lake State Park - Spring - Parks Near Me - Garrett, Maryland

We went to the beach at the state park. The kids had fun and it wasn't too crowded. We all enjoyed the Discovery Center and the bird aviary. The owl was beautiful read more

Very nice park. We only hiked it, but also took a look at the campgrounds-which we will use next time we are in the area. A word of warning, the hiking guide you get at the information is really not useful. The orange trail is actually marked orange triangle with a blue center. The trail we originally set out to do was the brant mine. On the paper map it says to head out on orange and turn left to a red trail. Well heads up....as soon as you get to a marker 2...there is a map...wasnt sure if the spot on the map was indicative of here is where you are ..or just some blob of glue. Never occured to me to look left and note a white blaze. Follow the white blazeAnd have fun! read more

Deep Creek Lake State Park - Parks Near Me - Garrett, Maryland

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Great State Park that can be accessed by. Oat or vehicle. Their is a museum and aviary as well as scheduled events. The beach is a favorite spot for our kids and the lake is consistently warm. Their are trails and play areas and filling 1/2 to a day is easily done. read more

As an avid camper and visitor to state parks all around the country I have had many good and a few bad experiences. This one was one of the bad ones. The park itself is very nice, however the issues I had were with the rangers. Quiet time starts at 10:00. Okay that's the same everywhere. That does not mean that everyone goes to sleep at 10:00. My family and I chose this park to get together for our annual camping trip and for many of us this is the only time this summer we will see each other. So getting to spend as much time as possible together to catch up is our main reason to go camping. At about 10:35 we were approached by two rangers who proceeded to inform us that we were being too loud. Okay. Thank you we will quiet down. Nope. These men went on a Gestapo style power trip that ended with my mother and I being issued "disorderly conduct" warnings and threatened with a fine of $125 if they had to return. Now if we had a radio blasting or were swinging from trees yelling I could understand. This seemed like a harsh encounter for a family to deal with for talking around a campfire after quiet time. Needless to say this will be our last trip to this park. There are many more beautiful parks to camp that actually appreciate families bonding rather than sending the kids into the RV to stare at their iPhones once the sun goes down. read more

Deep Creek Lake State Park - Getting hassled by the rangers for talking around the campfire after "quiet time" - Parks Near Me - Garrett, Maryland

love the beach, especially the tall, tan, brunette lifeguard... Wish I could've gotten her name.

Deep Creek is beautiful! Awesome state park with beautiful waters, waterfalls, great hikes, gorgeous views and just all in all lots of fun.

DNR at this campground are extremely rude. They snuck up on our campsite and proceed to write citations. They told us we had a complaint the night before as well but we are not sure how considering we were all in bed by 10:15. Someone at the site used a curse word and they complained, although that is not against the law. They should just call themselves vacation ruiners. It was late in the season, there were barely any families even in the campground. What happened to the good old days where you would walk over and give a friendly "Hey can you guys quiet down a bit?" instead people are quick to call and complain 1 minute after quiet hours. This park used to be fun but now it is laden with rules read more

A perfect park! We love the beach and always a family go to. Swimming and cookouts make for a great summer memory. Kids enjoy the Discovery center and their programs. The campground is clean and efficiently run. We've stayed several years and never regretted it. The boat ramp wait moves quick and they typically do a safety check which is a bonus for new boaters. Prepare yourself for strong winds depending on when you're boating. The wind can make putting in at Deep Creek a struggle at times. read more

My favorite place to vacation. People are nice, cool weather, and can get there in less than 3 hours from most of the DC, Pittsburgh and Baltimore areas and as a professional photographer, it is an ideal place to take pictures. Here are some of my photos www.deepcreekimages.com read more

Great hikes, walks along the beaches and rock skipping for the kids. We rented bikes and rode the family friendly paved trails that outline the park. What a beautiful park!! read more

Deep Creek is a beautiful place to go to there are many restraunts and alot of things to do you can swim or picnic go to the theaters ect.