About
Deep Creek Lake State Park Boat Launch is the public boat ramp inside Deep Creek Lake State Park in Swanton. It is run by the Maryland Park Service and is a practical put-in if you are trailering a boat to the lake for the day or camping at the park.
What You'll Find at the Ramp
The launch area is small, with room for four vehicles at a time, so it helps to have your boat prepped before you back down. Facilities published by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources include:
- ADA-accessible boat trailer parking
- ADA-accessible restrooms
- A pump-out station for boat holding tanks
- An ADA-accessible fishing pier and shoreline fishing access
Fees, Permits and Overnight Rules
You pay the launch ramp fee each time you use the ramp, unless you display a valid Deep Creek Lake use permit or a Maryland State Park pass in your windshield. There is no overnight docking except for park campers: overnight slip use is offered only to Deep Creek Lake State Park campers, first come, first served. Campers at the park's Meadow Mountain campground can also register their boat trailer for overnight parking, and campsites are booked through the Maryland Park Service reservation system at parkreservations.maryland.gov.
Deep Creek Lake itself is managed as the Deep Creek Lake Natural Resources Management Area, which publishes the lake's boating and personal watercraft regulations, so it is worth reading those before your first trip.
Before You Go
The ramp operates weather permitting, and in winter the park asks you to call ahead to confirm it is open. The park office and the Discovery Center are at 898 State Park Road, Swanton, if you have questions once you arrive.
A quick call to the park office before a shoulder-season trip can save you a wasted drive.
Address
898 State Park Rd, Swanton, MD 21561