My family and I recently went on a kayaking tour with All Earth Eco Tours, and it was an incredible…read moreexperience from start to finish. Our guide, Oliver, was knowledgeable, patient, and passionate about the environment and the Savage River Reservoir. He made us feel relaxed and welcomed, including my daughter's cutout of "Flat Stanley", who came along for the adventure. Oliver shared numerous insights about the history, wildlife, and ecosystem of the reservoir. The setting itself is absolutely stunning--peaceful, remote, and surrounded by pristine forest. The calm, glassy water made for an easy paddle, perfect for all skill levels, especially for our 7 yo daughter, who joined in a tandem kyack. We saw herons, turtles, and even a hawk soaring overhead. We heard woodpeckers also. The local eagles were not active when we went out, but that didn't lessen the experience. Oliver made sure everyone felt comfortable and safe, as we paddled out and back. This tour is the perfect way to unwind. I can't recommend it highly enough--no matter your skill level, kayaking the Savage River Reservoir with All Earth Eco Tours is a must-do when visiting the Deep Creek Lake area. Thank you, Oliver, for such a memorable day!

I recently attended All Earth Eco Tours' Birds of Prey Program in Friendsville, Maryland. It was an…read moreamazing educational experience led by Master Falconer Deron Meador. The program was awesome! Deron is modest, so I will say he is an expert. This is not a "show" like you would see at a theme park, it is an educational program. Deron is a lifelong falconer and expert on birds of prey who brings many of his well known, as well as rare, raptors and owls to share his knowledge of their unique characteristics. It is a small, conversational program that offers the opportunity to hold the birds and observe their many fascinating natural adaptations that make them apex predators. There were naturalists, enthusiasts and families with small children there and Deron has a natural ability to interact with participants of any age or experience level to make his program a true educational and memorable experience. I learned so much. You should totally check it out!

Tony and I were driving South on RT 26 from Bruceton Mills to Kingwood in WV. I saw a sign about…read moreVirginia 1847 Iron Works Furnace part of the River of Promise Trail. Located on the Banks of Muddy Creek that flows into the Cheat River. The park is Free to enjoy with Free parking along the road. Across the street is abandoned road side picnic area and shelters from the 40s to the 60s. Once we went down the steps to the abandoned iron furnace works, I saw an amazing waterfall along the rocks The falls were gorgeous. I will definitely go here again. If you swim, it's not super deep but enough room to get wet and enjoy but remember No Lifeguard...

This is a very impressive, 53 foot waterfall located in Swallow Falls State Park. It can be found…read moreon the Swallow Falls Canyon Trail and can be viewed both from above, via a nice overlook, or from water level by heading down the stairs to the trail. It's a beautiful view!

Maryland's New Germany State Park (aka the "Maryland Alps") is such a gem. Beautiful! Well…read moremaintained. Friendly and knowledgeable staff in the Lake House (where they also rent cross-country skis). Lots of fun events in winter. We came here to cross-country ski. The snow was very good on January 14, 2024, but it was very cold. Despite the cold, thanks to the sunshine, we thoroughly enjoyed it. Very nice trails where you ski along a stream. The sound of flowing water was really soothing. They have one dog friendly trail; gonna have to try it next time.

I loved going here as a kid, but now instead of swimming I like to walk the trails. It's great to…read morebring my dog so he can sniff to his heart's content. The park is really beautiful and quiet most of the time. It's really just a great place to relax in nature and take a moment.

Nice paths, old-growth trees, waterfalls, slow waters, wild birds, dragonflies!…read more Swallow Falls State Park near Deep Creek Lake, MD, is a nice park with well-marked paths and plenty of parking. We hiked half-a-day (Jun 2026) from the parking lot to scenic waterfalls in forests where Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, and Harvey Firestone camped-in 1921. We saw some of the 37-acres of 360-year-old eastern hemlock and white pine trees, the largest of the few areas in Maryland that have never been logged, bypassed during the eastern-US logging boom of the the late 1800s and early 1900s. They tended to look a little scraggly around the base, i suppose from living an un-trimmed life in the un-tamed weather and climate. We were thrilled to read that, on June 16, 2026, the removal of old-growth forests that were threatened by bridge construction on Swallow Falls Road was blocked by the courts. Thank-you to the folks of Garrett County and the Chesapeake Legal Alliance!!! We love these old trees :-) We heard twittering birds, possibly blackburnian warblers, chickadees, nuthatches, and kinglets. We followed a rising rumbling sound, and found ourselves at a tall waterfall that roars and mists. We were careful to avoid rushing waters, and found that wading and crossing were pleasantly refreshing and not too slippery. We saw kayakers, and one paused to explain they liked these calmer waters for beginners and for staying in condition in less challenging settings. We loved the gold and black "black-shouldered spinylegs" dragonflies, we and may have glimpsed a rare all-black "sable clubtail" dragonfly, who flitted about but didnt wait for a photo or an entomology app. Let's say we saw one :-). It was a lovely cooler half-day deep in nature in a not-too-challenging environment in rare-these-days old-growth forests.

This is an easy hike with a lot of great water views. The trail is in good shape and easy to…read morenavigate. The area had over 2 inches of rain so the water was flowing quickly during our hike. If you take kids on this hike you will need to keep a close eye on them.

Great small town to stop along the GAP. Visitor Center is inside the old train station with…read morerestrooms. Local general store and several sandwich and restaurants within just a few steps away. Recommend the Ohiopyle Sandwich and Bakery for a made to order sandwich on wonderful bread with sweet treats too...recommend the cookies.

Ran/hiked an out-n-back from Ohiopyle to Confluence. Well maintained, flat, wide rail trail right…read morealongside the Youghiogheny River. Gorgeous in the fall with the leaves changing. If you only want to run/hike one direction, call the bike rental shops in Ohiopyle to purchase a return trip by van from Confluence to Ohiopyle.

Beautiful scenic views of the water falls and canyons! Nice hikes with good signage and ample…read moretrailhead parking.

The views were breathtaking. Not handicapped accessible though. If you have trouble walking or…read morecan't walk it's not a place for you which is extremely unfortunate because the waterfall I was able to walk to was beautiful.

If you like hiking, biking, skiing, living your life-being active-outside...this is a great place…read moreto go! There are all kinds of trails and adventures to take here. I do recommend figuring out which area you'd be most interested in going to before heading out or which activity you'd want to pursue, even downloading some apps can give you additional helpful information such as the best place to park to begin your journey. (The app AllTrails is very useful) There is also geocaching, a ski lift and waterfalls. There are some difficult(steep) trails and there are some super simple(flat) trails. The trails are very well marked with tree markers that have different colors based on which trail you start on and if you're wanting to take a short cut, most of those pathways have a different color marking the way. The whole entire park is decorated with different kinds of trees, ferns and wild flowers. The lookouts showcase areas all around. There are some areas that are very excellent for bird watching as well. So choose your adventure-prepare for it-and go enjoy it! (Or wing it if you're that kind of person)

Lovely place to hang out with nature. Go as soon as u get the chance, I promise it's worth it!read more

This waterfall is the fourth in the series at Swallow Falls State Park on the Youghiogheny River…read more On the loop walk this is the fourth falls and the slightly longer walk in the groves of the virgin hemlock trees. These lovely groves of Virgin Hemlocks are lovely and remind me of pine trees but super tall. I have to admit, I used my off here because of the dense forest and wet like conditions with all the ferns and trees so thick that its like a dark canopy in there. I still got bit by a mosquito so be careful with any kids, make sure everyone is covered in OFF or some sort of Deet. There is no barriers at the tops of the falls so also take warning and be careful with any pets and kids. Rocks are slippery and you can go over. You are allowed to Wade in the river and the bottom of the falls but the water is strong and swift so be extra careful This park is free to enjoy so ENJOY!!! Be sure to see all four waterfalls in this lovely park!!!

This is the smallest waterfall in Swallow Falls State Park, accessible via the Swallow Falls Canyon…read moreTrail, but it is so scenic and picturesque! The setting, off the side from the strength and noise of the river, also made it feel very peaceful and relaxing as the water trickled gently into the pond-like area below it. It was also closer to the towering trees of the old growth forest, so the backdrop was wonderful. It seemed to invite a quieter, more contemplative reaction than its larger, noisier cousin waterfalls in the park, and I was glad that we had ended up heading around the loop trail in the direction that ended us here. Beautiful!

We had a fantastic visit with Karen and Don. What a hidden gem tucked in the valley of the…read moremountains. The river is directly across the street and perfect for trout fishing. Karen and Don gave us a walking tour of the area and showed us all kinds of interesting flora and fauna. We had such a wonderful time relaxing, hiking, and enjoying the scenery. They had great tips on what to do in the area. Don gives fly fishing lessons and is a patient teacher. We had a fantastic breakfast and lots of interesting conversation. I think Karen and Don know something about everything. It was great. I was sorry that we had to be on our way. The good news is this is a 4 seasons area. I'm sure it's beautiful in the fall and is a short drive to Wisp Resort for winter skiing.

You won't find an easier and more accommodating owner than Don. He was wonderful in working with…read moremy family's difficult needs and was much cheaper than a lot of other nearby venues. We stopped by one afternoon and Don took time to give us a full tour of the cottage as well as the bed and breakfast. He even gave my husband a fly fishing lesson. We will definitely be back the next time we are looking to unwind and get back to nature.

Valley Falls State Park. Fairmont, WV. My husband and I visited this scenic West Virginia State…read morePark in Sept, 2025. Its highlight is a series of four cascading WATERFALLS on the Tygart Valley River that are easily accessible by a short path from the parking lot. There are large flat rocks right next to the falls, allowing for scenic photographs but no swimming. (Fishing with license and whitewater kayaking are allowed). Fun Fact: this is one of the sites for West Virginia's "Almost Heaven" swings, installed by the state's Department of Tourism across the state for photo opps. This particular swing has the falls in the background. (As of late 2025, there are 51 swings in the state). We had a unique experience at the park in that we were approached by a park volunteer in an ATV offering us a ride down to the falls, and then continuing along some park paths with his commentary about the history of the site as a 19th-century mill town, and pointing out some gristmills. Both park admission and the ATV ride were free although we did give the volunteer a tip. There are 18 miles of trails for hiking and mountain biking, ranging from easy to difficult. We didn't do any hiking on this visit, but did eat our picnic lunch at one of the conveniently located picnic table. There is a gift shop on-site, as well as clean restrooms. It's also a site on WV's Waterfalls Trail, wherein you can earn prizes for checking it at specific WV waterfalls. Note that this is a day-use park, so no camping is allowed. Wi-Fi connectivity is low to non-existent. We approached the park from the south, near Pruntytown, WV, and while the distance was short (about 12 miles), it took us about 25 minutes to reach because of curvy roads. On our return, we went to Tygart Lake State Park, via Grafton, where we camped for the night.

Tony and I went for a nice hike today at Valley Falls State Park in Fairmont WV…read more The Park is lovely and the Park is free to enjoy with plenty of picnic tables, restrooms, grills, playground, and the gorgeous waterfalls