About
Swallow Falls Trail Parking & Trailhead is the day-use parking area at Swallow Falls State Park, 2470 Maple Glade Road, about nine miles north of Oakland. From here you can walk the park's Canyon Trail to its waterfalls along the Youghiogheny River, making it the starting point for most visits to the park.
The Canyon Trail
The Canyon Trail is a foot-only loop of about 1¼ miles through old-growth forest, passing several waterfalls, including 53-foot Muddy Creek Falls and the Upper and Lower Swallow Falls, with a side trip to Tolliver Falls. The park's hemlock and white pine grove covers about 37 acres, and DNR reports some trees at least 360 years old. Swallow Falls takes its name from a rock pillar that once held nesting cliff swallows. Rocks along the river are slippery and the current is swift, so stay on the trail. In winter, ice and snow can make the path hazardous, and DNR recommends sturdy footwear and traction devices when it's slick.
Day-Use Reservations and Pets
- Reservations: Day-use reservations are required on weekends and holidays from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day. Book online at parkdayuse.maryland.gov before you arrive.
- Pets: Pets aren't allowed in the day-use area, including the Canyon Trail, during the peak summer season. Check DNR's page for this year's dates.
- Off-season: In February and March, questions go to Herrington Manor State Park headquarters at (301) 334-9180.
More to Do Nearby
The park also has picnic areas, pavilions, fishing and a campground. A 5.5-mile trail through Garrett State Forest links Swallow Falls with Herrington Manor State Park and is open to mountain bikes. History buffs may like knowing that Henry Ford, Thomas Edison and Harvey Firestone camped here in July 1921 on one of their "vagabond" trips.
Reserve your day pass early in summer and wear shoes with good grip for the wet rocks.
Address
2470 Maple Glade Rd, Oakland, MD 21550