Swallow Falls State Park

Featuring multiple waterfalls, Swallow Falls is a unique and beautiful Maryland State Park. Located in Garrett County (Western Maryland), you can enjoy upper and lower Swallow Falls, Muddy Creek Falls (everyone’s favorite), and Tolliver falls my personal favorite. There’s a wonderful campground, picnic areas, a gift shop, etc.

The Campground

The campground features electric and non-electric campsites on two loops, nearby bath houses and water hookups (some on the campsites themselves and others for sharing between sites). Plenty of trees to enjoy your hammocks.

They also have cabins. A 5.5-mile hiking/biking trail connects to Herrington Manor, it’s neighboring state park. The park is pet friendly, and it has a couple of playgrounds. The grounds are beautiful. Fields, dense forest, really tall and very old trees.

You’ll want to bring in most of your food as there’s not a whole lot of eating out to do around here in the immediate area, which is fine by me. You are very close to the Deep Creek area which is another wonderful spot to explore, but if you don’t want to drive 20-30 minutes there, bringing your food will be your best bet. Cell reception here is limited so pre-plan your outings and don’t rely on Google maps being immediately available.

Upper Muddy Creek and Muddy Creek Falls

Muddy Creek in the Summer, viewed from the bottom.

A mild hike, but the entire reason most go, the 1.25 (ish) mile circuit takes hikers around the multiple waterfalls. It’s easy and had plenty of opportunities to wander off the immediate trail a bit for additional exploring.

Entering the forest you’re immediately embraced by notably tall trees and the smell of straight up earth after a rain. If it weren’t for the general foot traffic in this area, this would be a perfect place for Shinrikyo.

Taking the trail left will bring you to an overlook and top of Muddy Creek Falls. Muddy Creek is rather large – the tallest of all the falls here, it boasts a height of 60 feet and the title of tallest waterfall in Maryland. Especially when it’s full, it can be quite fearsome. There is no “best” season to view this wonder. Spring and Fall are, of course, favorites in photographs. However, a frozen and snow-covered Muddy Creek Falls is a unique and beautiful sight.

If you like, instead of taking a right down the steps to see the lower falls, take a left and explore some of the forest above the falls. This is a bit of a hidden gem in and of itself. The waters are pretty still, and there’s not as many people, so it’s and added layer of serenity.

Last time we were here we spent hours wading through the waters, enjoying the peace and quiet of the area and snapping a few family photos (including one where 3 seconds post photo Dwight dropped Gohan on his face- a moment that he will forever be ridiculed for.) You can also take a look at Muddy Creek Falls from the opposite side.

Moving back towards the intended top of Muddy Creek Falls, looking downward, take the steps down and enjoy the powerful flow of water from the rocks at the bottom. Depending on the water level, and use common sense here, sometimes it’s safe to take a quick excursion under the falls. Especially when it’s frozen or partially frozen – the view from here is gorgeous.

Swallow Falls (Upper and Lower)

As you move on, you’ll encounter lower and upper Swallow Falls (in that order) and a few nice spots for wading again. There are some rock ledges off to the right that have a few small, unofficial trails you can explore.

Naturally you want to minimize the traces you leave through the forest, but to my knowledge these areas aren’t in any danger and the trails are okay to use. They’ve been there for the last 30 years at least.

Swallow Falls flows north meeting up with Muddy Creek and continuing. There are many more viewing structures here than were here when I was a kid – and that’s made it a lot safer to thoughtlessly walk along the side of the falls. I still recommend bailing off in a few (appropriate) places and venturing towards the water. There are views that simply can’t be seen from the platforms.

Toliver Falls

Up until a decade ago, Tolliver Falls was not well labeled. And in all honesty, I would have been even more hesitant than I am right now to write about it had it not been more well established. Simply because it was a hidden oasis. Those of us who knew about it, knew about it. Toliver Run flows eastward towards the Youghiogheny River and is significantly smaller than Muddy Creek.

Tolliver is most certainly the coldest creek and waterfall here. Wading is significantly less immediately comfortable, but the waters are calmer and there’s something lovely about cold stream water in the middle of summer. As I once told a woman; “it’s just fine once your legs go numb”.

I could stand there forever. It’s incredibly quiet, even with the additional signage to attract foot traffic. And likely because of the temperature, not a lot of people hang around to enjoy the water. There’s a pretty deep pool immediately to the left-hand side (looking towards the falls) and if you feel like it, and can handle the chill, sitting on the waterfall is a rejuvenating experience that truly makes you feel like you are the waterfall.

I enjoy the power of the Muddy Creek, and Swallow Falls both upper and lower are gorgeous, but Tolliver has an almost ancient air about it. It’s a place where the soul joins with nature as one complete unit. Where speech is no longer needed. The smell of the moss, the gently flowing water, and the surrounding forest renews you. This is a place of surrender. This is a place where all parts of the mind, body and soul can fuse together with one agenda and one complete experience.