Swallow Falls State Park, Oakland

We came here in the afternoon on the Labor Day weekend, and the parking lot was pretty full. Visitors need to pay entrance fee, but it’s not much ($10 for 2 people in a car). The trail was pretty short to connect the 3-4 waterfall view points, and the waterfalls were beautiful. Many people were swimming or just lying on the rocks next to the waterfalls. There were some stairs to get down to the river, but it’s not too bad. Overall, it’s a nice place for a relaxing hike.

Rented a cabin for a weekend in June and brought the kids. The cabin and site was excellent: clean and orderly. There was an overhead fan in the cabin, a mini fridge, queen bed and twin bunk beds: perfect for a family of four. There was a picnic bench and fire ring. The bath house was surprisingly clean. There’s also a place to wash dishes. There is a convenient place to dump trash and recycle plastics. This park is not dog friendly so I’d recommend boarding your dog. There are several jungle gyms and swing sets for the kids. The trail system was excellent, beautiful old trees and several remarkable waterfalls. The camp store sells ice, firewood, soda, snacks, shirts, camping gear, etc. The weekend seemed to be busy so be prepared to share the trails with lots of large groups. We didn’t see any wildlife except for some deer, squirrels, and birds. The nearby town of Oakland has a few interesting spots including the B&O Railroad Museum and the Garrett County Museum of Transportation. This is a beautiful state park and I’d highly recommend it!