A bit of a mixed bag for me at Cunningham Falls... I was excited to find a listing of parks that supposedly had wheelchair accessible trails. I've never been to Cunningham Falls before and the idea of seeing a waterfall seemed lovely. However, the accessible boardwalk has strips on pretty much everything board which made me feel like I was riding a very angry horse. Each bump shot pain up my spine. I'm writing this a day later and I still hurt, and I think I'm a pretty tough chick... and the view of the falls was mostly blocked and not worth the actual pain. The Falls is more like a small stream of water that splashes down some rocks. It's a soothing noise but I was expecting something more grandiose... I suppose I could blame climate change. Most of the old stream beds are dry. We also checked out the "south beach" which I enjoyed. There's plenty of pavement, and packed gravel. I couldn't get close to the water, but that's okay because it was a sunny day and I prefer to stick to the shade. I was impressed by the fact that every picnic table has a grill nearby. If I lived closer I'd like to think I'd come to the south beach often, hide in the trees near the river, grill something delicious... but I was a several hours long trip from Dundalk, so it's unlikely that I'll return. It was a nice day-trip though. I don't regret going. read more

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Hikes in a Sunday with friends. 100% recommend. I'd say it's beginner friendly. Beautiful water views both on the hike and in the picnic areas. Hammocks, rental canoes. Such a nice all day event with families or a mate. Trash free park, wheelchair accessible, clean bathrooms. 100% recommend read more

A beautiful place to spend the day surrounded by nature. The hiking trails are well-marked and the views along the way are refreshing especially when the sunlight hits through the trees. The walk to the waterfall is moderate and enjoyable, not too long but enough to make you feel like you earned the view at the end. The sound of the water and the peaceful atmosphere make it a great escape from daily routines. The park is clean and well maintained and there are plenty of picnic areas where you can relax after your hike. I also liked that the parking was easy to find and there were signs guiding the way clearly. It can get a little crowded during weekends so coming earlier in the day is definitely a better idea. Overall it's a calm and scenic spot for hiking relaxing or just breathing some fresh air. It's not the biggest waterfall you'll see but the overall vibe of the park makes it worth visiting at least once if you're around the area. read more

Cunningham Falls State Park - Campgrounds Near Me - Thurmont, Maryland

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This is a beautiful state park. Years ago we hiked up the sis of the waterfall. There's different trails you can take. We parked at the handicapped parking area. This was really nice bc there's a boardwalk that is accessible to wheelchairs and people who mobility issues. This walk isn't very long and takes you right to the falls. There's seating along the way and at the falls itself. Beautiful and relaxing! read more

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The falls weren't as impressive as last time, but at least we got to see some of the tree leaves starting to turn orange. The lack of water also allowed people to scale and it was quite crowded. read more

Cunningham Falls State Park - Campgrounds Near Me - Thurmont, Maryland

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This is a smaller park than its neighbor across the road (Rt 77) Catoctin Mountain National Park. It doesn't have as many trails and the mountain not as high, however it's got the scenic lake and waterfalls. Good place to visit all year round but wintertime is particularly peaceful and quiet and the view of the frozen lake is amazing. read more

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We didn't make it directly into the park, instead we parked on an outer lot & hiked up the viewpoint hikes for Wolf Rock & Chimney Rock- the hikes were steep, but well maintained with built in 'stairs' helping ease the trek the views weren't overly spectacular, but the woods were very beautiful, so the journey was worth the meh destination- trails were well marked & loops were highlighted with milage would hike again when in the area (in all I believe it was about 4 miles out & back read more

Great spot for families especially with children. There's a beach and a playground and a grassy area and picnic tables and bathrooms. The hiking is ok and all over just an ok spot because the water is a little bit smelly and the trails are not far enough away from the highway, so it doesn't feel as serene. The sound of the semi trucks going down the hill kind of takes away from the vibe. The one benefit of it being so close to the road however is there is an accessible parking lot with an accessible trail to see the waterfall...that is really cool. But the waterfall itself is pretty disappointing, as is the lake. You can swim in the lake if you're ok with the smell and there are showers. You can't swim in the waterfall/watering hole (well, I guess you could but you aren't supposed to according to the signs). But pretty good amenities overall. There was no one at the station when we got here, so not sure how much it typically costs because we got in for free lol. Seems like there's big events here with the aggressive amount of parking lots. Overall solid spot, but I wouldn't go back, but you can have a good time there! read more

Cunningham Falls State Park - Campgrounds Near Me - Thurmont, Maryland

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Went on a lovely hike to the falls. It was a cool morning & I had a lovely time with my pup. The area is serene & beautiful. I enjoyed hearing all of the different species of birds singing. I'd like to go back when possible. read more

I will never go again. The hike was weak. Cost $7 per person. There was no parking. When we arrived back at the car after the 30 min hike there were tickets on all the cars parked off the road. This is a money grubbing state park. I would find anything else to do but go here. read more

This review is for the Cunningham State Park lake/beach, which the address to get to it is 14274 William Houck Dr, Thurmont, MD 21788. I heard you have to arrive right when they open, at around 8:00am in order to get in during peak season, July is the busiest. It normally is filled to capacity by 10:00am, then you have to wait for patrons to exit before they let others enter, I believe is on the weekends mainly. I was lucky and we came the Sunday before Labor Day, it was hot and we got right in (1:30pm). Lots of parking but the lot was getting full. They have ramps for those with strollers, wheelchairs, wagons, etc. It's a man made lake with sand. Nice facilities. LOTS of areas where you can use grills along with trees for shade, so no pavilions or canopies needed. There were probably about 5 birthday parties that I saw going on, people brought hammocks, small speakers, they went all out, it was great. They have a food vending area where they sell hot dogs, ice cream, nachos, burgers, slushies and drinks (they take cash and credit cards). Their bathroom facilities and bath houses are nice too, all the buildings are made of stone. Its $7.00 per person, but kids in a car seat or booster get in free (credit cards or cash taken). They have campsites, you can either bring your tent, camper, or camp in their cabins. I wasn't able to find a price on those, but you can call to find out. If you are camping out, you're able to get into the lake/beach right away and don't have to wait, even if they're filled to capacity, not sure how that works. They have canoe rentals too. It's great day trip, just 25 minutes from us, will definitely return! read more

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No camping or long hikes or waterfall slides for me today, I did have the opportunity to park and take a brief hike this afternoon through the park. I was passing from Hagerstown to Thurmont and drove through. Along the way, I passed any number of parking areas until the right one caught my eye and I stopped. A half hour out and back along a natural trail through the woods cleared my mind and helped me get into the right state. Pretty well populated though not crowded. I would have stayed longer but I have places to be. Perhaps I will return soon. [Review 15583 overall - 631 in Maryland - 1087 of 2021.] read more

Cunningham Falls State Park - Cunningham Falls State Park - Campgrounds Near Me - Thurmont, Maryland

I definitely enjoyed myself. It's nice to be able to get that bitch environment without going far away from home. It's definitely Tucktaway and if you're not a local you're not gonna find this place. The water temperature definitely cold but it's a good time. You don't have to worry about Waze very relaxing and the people are very friendly. There is a place where you can buy ice cream and use the restroom inside along with a picnic area and a path to go hiking. read more

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I had a great experience camping here. The camp host in the forest rangers were friendly and helpful. There was a bad storm coming in during my trip and they were proactive about it. The hiking trails are beautiful and the view from cat Hill is really nice. read more

A thirty minute drive north of Frederick, Cunningham Falls State Park is the perfect family day trip. Here's why: 1) Scenery: From the drive up to the hike through the forest, the views are beautiful. There's a man-made lake and the largest cascading waterfall in the state. There are several trails that are gorgeous. 2) Parking: There's plenty of it along the lake. There are two lots and the lower lot always has spots (and a restroom nearby). 3) Hikes: We took the Lower Trail to Cunningham Falls, which was short and easy to do with a toddler. On the way back to the lot, we hiked the Cliff Trail through rocks. Our toddler did both and never asked to be carried. Going in the off season, we weren't charged the $5 entrance fee. It's a trash-free park so take out everything you carry in. read more

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This a simply a beautiful wooded paradise. Great hikes that well maintained and well marked. Cunningham Falls has beautiful picnic grounds, a picture perfect lake where you can fish and picnic. An absolutely wonderful state park! read more

I visited Cunningham Falls State Park a few weeks ago during the beginning of the reopening of state parks in Maryland. It was probably a 45-60 minute drive as it is located near Frederick. Definitely make sure that you plan to arrive early as they close the park when it hits capacity, which was by noon on my visit. There is an entry fee and it's different for in-state/out of state (which is dumb given how often people travel between MD, VA, and DC but I digress). I chose to park near the beach to have easy access to the falls. From a social distancing perspective , there was very little at the falls. I chose to stick to the peripherary and climbed all the way to the top of the falls where there were few people. I actually found a nice rock and ate my packed lunch. After hiking the falls, I drove to the other area were there is more hiking. I completed the Bob's Hill hike which was mostly uphill going there and downhill back. There were not many people I saw along the way. I also completed the short Catoctin Furnace trail, which is only 0.25 miles but gives a glimpse into the past of this area as an ironworks. There is a really nice playground in this area although it was closed at the time of my visit. It seems this area of the park has no entrance fee as there was no booth to pay upon entry. I chose to visit Cunningham Falls because it is the largest waterfall in Maryland, but I really enjoyed the hiking more in the end. I definitely plan to return in the nearish future to hike some of the longer trails. read more

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Great ten mile hike (a bit less, really) is the loop starting with Cunningham Falls, up to Wolf Rock, then over to chimney rock and back to the visitors center. Take the left fork when descending from chimney rock, to see the gorgeous cliff rocks along the stream (and the noisy road). Staff at the visitors center are really sweet and helpful. read more

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Really cute beach area where you can swim, paddle board, and kayak! Obviously not a super nice beach or clear water, but good for a day trip. Also bathrooms, a food option, and a playground. It gets pretty crowded on the weekends so you need to get there before 11/12. read more

Cunningham Falls State Park - Campgrounds Near Me - Thurmont, Maryland

Had a great time hiking with my dog not too long ago! The falls has different trails so you can take a longer more rocky path or a very mild walk to see the falls. People are always climbing up by the waterfall. They also have a beach area with some nice grills and a play ground. Definitely an inexpensive family day out! read more

Cunningham Falls State Park - Campgrounds Near Me - Thurmont, Maryland

Beautiful park with spacious, level, wooded sites. I didn't get any pictures here unfortunately because it rained most of the time we were here. We are traveling in our 30' Class A pulling a Jeep. It was very mountainous coming in and out. We opted for hooking up the Jeep at the dump station rather than pulling her down the hills when we left. We were greeted by the camp hosts, Hugh and Susie while we were filling the water tank up. They were very friendly and welcoming! Our site had been freshly raked before our arrival and was clean and wooded. We had a grill, fire pit and picnic table. Electric hook up on site. We use AT&T and Verizon for internet. AT&T signal was NIL. Verizon was good but not great. Highly recommend for RV, TT or tent camping. read more

Nice park with lots of trails, lake, fishing and waterfall. Nice terrain and all sorts of levels of hiking. Great area for bouldering too. read more

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I went with a group of people after brunch in historic downtown Frederick, Maryland--a great way to fuel up before what I later learned was a strenuous hike! Cunningham Falls is an easy drive from 270 and has plenty of parking along the main road and various pockets of parking as you approach the main entrance for the falls. There is an old wooden bin at the entrance (no staff in the booth and no entrance lever) to drop in cash for the entrance fee, which is on an honor system. $3 for Maryland residents and $5 for out-of-state residents. The bin is hard to reach and stuff all three dollars at once so slip the bills in one at a time (or read, which I didn't do, and use the provided envelope attached to the side of the bin). There is plenty of parking somewhere around 200 at least, no trash cans (they believe you should take your trash with you to preserve the park of filled trash cans and other debris), and at least one port-a-potty with hand sanitizer. The maple trees near the parking lot have sap-collection bins (metal containers attached to the trees at about adult eye level with a spigot running a surprisingly fast flow of liquid). It's not immediately clear where to go to access the trails, and there is no clear map to tell you. Follow the crowd, or ask someone if you're lost. There are two trails from one corner of the parking lot---one easy one and one hard one. We took the hard one, and it was manageable. Both seem to lead to the actual falls, which were moderately impressive (but my mind was comparing them to Great Falls in Virginia, which is unfair). There is also Chimney Rock, which is a difficult climb with lots of uphill action and rocky terrain. I would not recommend very small dogs on this hike unless you plan to carry them. The view, however, is so worth the visit. However, plenty of unwise teens were jumping around and dangerously playing on the cliff rocks, and the one closest to the cliff is a bit risky to get to. I gazed on from a safe distance. Be prepared for plenty of time to stop and rest, and bring enough water. A compass could be helpful at night, but I didn't have much trouble navigating the trails on the way back, even in the late-afternoon darkness. read more

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6/18/20 As young adult I was taken here by my teacher Sylvia Pabrizia (last name spelling?) I had no idea how long we were driving to get there, but I can say when we did get there, I had a blast. I loved waterfalls and the fact you could slide down a natural waterside made things even better. I don't remember the lake area that much, but as an adult today, I would mind sleeping overnight at this park. I had no idea you could do this as a kid, but it would have been a lot of fun. I had completely forgotten about this place. If I hadn't been randomly scrolling down various people's reviews, I wouldn't have come across this forgotten memory. Another memory that crossed my mind is a kid named Christopher Deavers. He happened to be at this park when I showed up at Cunningham Park that one day out of the blue. Evidently Deavers though my teacher was really sexy in a one piece swimsuit. I had never thought about that or noticed my teacher in that moment until he had said that. I had a crush on my teacher Sylvia, but at the time it was only when she had her hair in a ponytail. This park now gives me the idea of taking my wife here for a day trip. It is just a matter of when we get to go there. Hopefully soon read more

We like hiking so we decided to try this park. There is a cost to enter the main part of the park. Once there (at the water) There is a fair amount of parking, bathrooms and a concession stand. We arrived after 1 pm and the place was very busy so if you are going to visit you may want to go early. We hiked the upper falls trail and then walked down to the waterfalls. The falls were nice but even though people were not supposed to climb on the rocks or be in the water at the falls there were a lot of people in both places who had no respect for the park rules. My suggestion for anyone visiting this park is to take the trails away from the main area. read more

Cunningham Falls State Park - Falls - Campgrounds Near Me - Thurmont, Maryland

Beautiful ride on this bypass to Cunningham state park from Baltimore. Would have enjoyed it more if I would have brought deet for the bugs and better shoes to hike the woods. read more

there is nothing bad I can say about this place, you can walk the Appalachian Trail, fish, swim and go canoeing. this is the perfect spot for a family to go on vacation, or if you just love nature (like me) this is the place for you and the staff could not have been nicer. read more

This is a terrific park, I've actually camped here twice with about 10 other people and really enjoyed the various activity options this park has to offer. The falls are nice here but don't expect anything grand and majestic but they are pretty. There are plenty of hiking trails to choose from as well. It should be noted that if you bring trash be sure to pack it back out with you and leave no trace. There is ample parking here at the park as well. Certainly you can make a day or a weekend out of it. The camping facilities are nice, we did pitch tents on a few lots and each campsite has parking for two vehicles, other vehicles have to park in a lot which is a short walk away depending on your site location. There are quiet hours too, and each time I've camped there people are very respectful of that so please be sure to do the same if staying there. There's a bathroom that's a short walk from the campsites it is complete with sinks, toilets, and a shower. However, please be sure to bring a camp sink to wash your dishes, the bathroom sinks are to be used for personal hygiene not doing dishes. Also the campsites have a grill available for use as well. But keep in mind with camping you'll need to bring your necessary supplies. read more

We love, love, love coming to the lake at Cunningham Falls. We live in Utah and when we are in Maryland visiting family each summer, my kids beg to go to the lake. It's shallow and clean. The sand is nice too. There is plenty of shade and grass for sitting and watching. The bath house is super clean and nice too. We can't wait to go back next summer. read more

Cunningham Falls State Park - William Houck Lake - Campgrounds Near Me - Thurmont, Maryland

Bunch of FUN and adventure! Beautiful State Park in Central Northern MD. The Falls are the tallest in the State. If you visit after a good rainfall, they are pretty full. The Park has two areas: Houck and Manor Area's. Houck has the Big Hunting Creek Lake where you can camp, picnic, hike, swim, fish and boat. There is also a Nature Center where everyone can learn about local wildlife. We were surprised to find that a particular animal has a 'beard' and there is a huge one in the Nature Center. At the Manor Area, you can camp, picnic, hike and visit the Scales and Tails Aviary, Visitors Center and giant playground. The Aviary is home to many birds including a bald eagle. These animals cannot be returned to the wild due to one reason or another and are cared for by Park volunteers and personnel. Wow! The Visitors Center has a huge encased black bear and three live snakes. Trails are there to hike to a few locations including the Catoctin Iron Furnace where history abounds. There is a calendar of events each month and Ranger Padilla and her team can email anyone the schedule. We have a lot of fun at Cunningham Falls State Park. read more

This review is for the scrap tire playground at the Manor Area. The lake beach and the falls that I previously wrote about are at the William Houck Area. I have always found Cunningham Falls somewhat tricky to navigate because it consists of 2 different areas that are spread out on either side of Route 15. The William Houck Area is farther north on 15 by Route 77, while the Manor Area is just south of Thurmont across from the Catoctin Wildlife Preserve. To get to the playground if you are heading north on Route 15, turn left into the Manor Area, make an immediate left after you go through the toll booth, and the playground will be on your left. The Manor Area has a scrap tire playground that is really cool. My 6 year old loved it, but it is also great for both younger and older kids because of the variety of play equipment. The playground has a wood castle with slides, zip lines, a big vertically-hanging xylophone made out of pipes, huge tires to climb on, a dragon made of tires, a big net made of conjoined tires, tire swings, balance beams, and many other unusual features. Picnic tables adjacent to the playground give parents a place to relax in close range. Grills are also abundant. If you continue down the road from the playground to the visitor center, there is a really interesting aviary with owls, falcons, turkey vultures, and other birds. There used to be an eagle, but he was released back into the wild when he was healed (I believe his wing was injured). A very friendly park ranger came out and talked to us about the birds when we visited. There are also turtles in the visitor center and in a pond out front. While my favorite part of Cunningham Falls is definitely the William Houck Area for its scenic beauty, swimming, and hiking, don't miss the Manor Area if you have kids aged 12 and under. read more

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Cunningham Falls is a great place to make memories for you and/or your kids. Side note: you do have to pay to get in the park. Its $5 per MD resident, $7 for all out of state residents and kids are free. This review is based off our trip to the falls on Aug 3rd 2014. It takes about 54 min to get to the falls from the Bethesda/Rockville area. This place is a great time and I could spend all day here. -Most important, parking :D they have a HUGE parking lot that's right next to everything. I really like the close parking lot so I don't have to carry my crap with my around all day. Lawn chairs get heavy and fishing rods tend to hit people in the head. -You can have a cook out next to the lake. They have plenty of benches and tables with grills right next to them so you can have a cookout. -Fishing is allowed anywhere except for the swimming area(s)... that would be kind of funny though "and in this lake you can fish for a rare species called the Human." Technically you need a freshwater fishing license to fish in my lake in MD but they do NOT check when you enter the park. You can get a year long fishing license here https://compass.dnr.maryland.gov/DnrCompassPortal/Security/Logon for $20.50 and a 7 day fishing license for $7. Side note: kids will do whatever the hell they want! If some come near your fishing area and you don't want them around just say with a lot of enthusiasm "you know what, earlier we were over there *just point wherever* and caught A LOT of fish!" Even though you didn't catch jack and they will run away soooo fast and ever come back :D -The designated swimming areas are phenomenal! I've never felt such soft sand in my life (in the USA) and the view is breathtaking. We were lucky enough to have the whole swimming area to ourselves... My little girl is almost 4 and the water wasn't too deep for her. She could go out far and still stand. It was cute to see her swim, panic because she thought she was drowning *even with floaties* and then stand with a "god damn it" expression on her face. When you have kids you take advantage of the peace and quite when you can. Its very different sitting on the lake with out little snot nose kids running around and kicking up sand like it's a desert sandstorm. There are lifeguards on duty during certain hours which is nice... some of them do have an "I'm entitled to everything" kind of attitude which is annoying. -There are countless hiking trails that I want to take advantage of this year. -The falls are beautiful... defiantly worth the little walk. -Even the drive into the park is beautiful. There are a lot of twists and turns so I suggest going the speed limit 0.o -They also have boat rentals. There are different kinds of boats too. We asked them how much it was to rent a boat but honestly I wasn't paying attention. I think its $15 for one hour. -I know there is a nature center but I haven't been there yet. Cunningham Falls is now my go to place for a nice day outside but like every park there is always a good time to go. Do some planning... if you hate kids you might want to go early or late and possibly stay home. Sometimes it's parked with humans and sometimes you are lucky to have the place almost to yourself. read more

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Everything in park from the trails, lake and falls appears to be well maintained, ample parking and picnic spots with nice permanent grills, the entire park makes for wonderful experience, whether fishing,exploring or picnicking with family. read more

I love this park we went here for the weekend. The boys were so excited we camped out in the tents and it was only $20 a day. We also went to the beach and went canoeing it was $15 per canoe for 30 minutes. The canoe fits 3 people. There was a concession stand there so I was excited the French fries were homemade. I also got a coffee but they ran out of sugar. The girls behind the counter quickly found me a few equal packets and I was happy again. The next day we went on a hike and than checked out the waterfalls. Everyone was climbing all over the rocks and waterfalls even though the sign said not to. It's was really fun slot of families were out a d the kids had a blast. They love to sleep in the tent. I prefer a cabin but the kids love it so much we will save the cabin for winter time. We all know I'm not getting in a tent in the winter lol. read more

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Amazing ! Beautiful park .. tips : Leave Early.. We did and as we were leaving gosh the line was forever long ! We took the 1/2 mile trail (sorry forgot the name of it ). But it was steady incline uphill .. not hard to do at all but very active trail i think LIts the shortest one to the falls but id like to go back and try the other trails as well to see it from a different angle . Once you get to the water falls they are beautiful to look at / take pictures along the way . It would help if there were more signs along the way to the trails we kept driving around eventually found it but you have to really look for it . read more

Cunningham Falls State Park - The falls - Campgrounds Near Me - Thurmont, Maryland

* Nice little waterfall at the end of a wooden boardwalk/ramp * When I went, definitely parked at Catoctin and just walked over to a short trail at Cunningham, otherwise check their website for park fees ** Best part of Cunningham Falls is....there are TONS of Catoctin trails just across the way Useful Links: http://dc.about.com/od/stateparks/ss/CunninghamFalls.htm read more

Beautiful setting, plenty of grass, bathrooms were available on both sides and nice sandy bottom for swimming.

Large park with plenty of hiking. There are also the water falls and lake with beach.

1 star for mother nature, but Cunningham Falls gets four from me. The camp sites have enough parking for two cars and plenty of room for two tents, the picnic bench area (provided) and the fire pit. And there is plenty to do with fishing, hiking, swimming, boating etc. Its not really true outdoor camping- you have a camp store you get some basics at and Thurmont is only a ten minute drive. I think my favorite part of the trip was the rock scrambling up the falls. It was amazing to see some little kids doing it- it can get slippery and you do have to carefully watch where you go. We didnt have any issues with any rangers or any staff- everyone was friendly and polite. I would definitely go back. read more

I wanted to write this review in response to another that I read about dogs not being allowed at Cunningham Falls State Park. My husband and I wanted to take our playful pup on a hike, but were worried because we read a Yelp review on the car ride there in which someone else was sent away because they had a dog in their car. We were prepared to go down the road to Catoctin Mountain Park as well. However, we were not denied entrance with our dog--we were greeted warmly by the entrance booth, and were simply told that it was a no swimming day for dogs but to enjoy the trails and the rest of the park. We did the waterfall hike and took the more advanced route (I forget what it's called, but there is a sign explaining the difference when the trail splits). It was more of a "real hike" than I thought it would be -- I say that as a former Coloradan! There were a bunch of dogs splashing through the water toward the base of the waterfall, and that didn't seem to be a problem. I would go here again, and bring a picnic or even camp. read more