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Deep Creek Lake, Maryland, McHenry, MD

Photo: Austin Kirk, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.

SightseeingOutdoor AdventureLocal Gem

Deep Creek Lake, Maryland

· McHenry, MD

Why you should go…

Deep Creek Lake anchors Garrett County in Maryland's westernmost, mountainous corner, where visitors boat and fish in summer and ski at nearby Wisp Resort in winter. The surrounding towns of McHenry and Oakland offer lakefront dining, marinas, and access to Swallow Falls and other state parks.

  • #lake
  • #mountains
  • #skiing
  • #state-park
  • #boating

Good to know

General sightseeing guidance

Habits that pay off across this whole category, not rules for this one venue. Always check the official site for the specifics.

  • The forecast is part of the ticket

    Haze, low cloud, and rain flatten a view. Clear-day visits are worth rearranging your plans for.

  • Golden hour sells out first

    Sunset slots at observation decks and cruises are the first to go, so book those further ahead.

  • Dress a layer warmer

    It is always breezier up high and out on the water than it feels at street level.

  • Timed entry is common

    Plenty of landmarks release tickets in windows rather than at the door, so check before you walk over.

What's around here?

The closest stops to Deep Creek Lake, Maryland, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

  • Museums
    Local Gem

    Springs Museum

    Under $25

    A rural Pennsylvania history museum preserving Casselman Valley pioneer life through thousands of artifacts.

    13 mi awaySwitch it up: Museums

  • Sightseeing
    Iconic

    Fallingwater

    $25–$50

    Tour the Frank Lloyd Wright house built partly over a waterfall on Bear Run, then walk the wooded grounds.

    28 mi awayMore like this

  • Sport & Outdoor
    Outdoor Adventure

    Coopers Rock State Forest

    Free

    Look out over the Cheat River canyon from sandstone cliffs, hike more than 50 miles of trails and see an 1830s iron furnace.

    30 mi awaySwitch it up: Sport & Outdoor

  • Museums
    History Buff

    Frank Lloyd Wright's House on Kentuck Knob

    $25–$50

    Guided tours of a Frank Lloyd Wright designed Usonian home overlooking the Youghiogheny River gorge.

    36 mi awaySwitch it up: Museums

  • Sightseeing
    Local Gem

    Greene County Tourist Promotion Agency

    Free

    Greene County's tourism office promoting covered bridges, trails and heritage sites in southwestern PA.

    55 mi awayMore like this

  • Sightseeing
    History Buff

    Washington County, PA

    Free

    A Pittsburgh-suburb county with Whiskey Rebellion history, the Meadows Racetrack Casino, and rolling farmland.

    69 mi awayMore like this