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In Search of Vistas, Waterfalls and Isolated Forests
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By Steve Green and Ken Wishnick
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Maryland.com
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 | | The Youghiogheny River |
Ever read one of those business publications that tout all the calming ways to relieve stress? Experts say that visualizing a relaxing location and listening to the sounds of nature are the best way to calm down after a day filled with pressure. Some people even buy desktop waterfalls and CDs filled with sounds of bird chirps, frog ribits and crickets. Here in Garrett County we use the same visualizing and nature sound therapies to unwind, but imagination is not required since we have the real thing!
Stroll down most any path and hear gurgling streams, roaring rivers and wild turkey mating calls or birds of prey letting their presence be known. Take your pick of waterfalls to visit and pack a picnic lunch to enjoy while sunning yourself on warm, smooth river rock as the white water rapids rush by.
Consider trails with great vistas, views of trout filled rivers and history you can hike to. Easy day hikes are popular at Swallow Falls State Park and longer backpacking trips can be taken along the Big Savage Mountain Trail. With ninety thousand acres of publicly owned parklands, this mountain area has more than any other county in Maryland, so make sure your hiking boots are broken in and get ready to hit the trails.
With great waterfalls, big rocks, and the oldest Hemlock grove in the State of Maryland, Swallow Falls State Park is a Mecca for outdoor enthusiasts visiting Garrett County. Missing trails in this park would be like going to Orlando and bypassing Disneyworld. The hike along Muddy Creek and the Youghiogheny River (known locally as the "Yock") is somewhat rugged, but an easy day hike with well-marked trails and lots of excitement along the way. The trail connecting Muddy Creek Falls with Swallow Falls, has all the sounds, sights and smells that let you know you are in a very special place. Expect to see a fair number of others here during summer weekends, but it can seem like a lonesome Maytag repairman’s vacation spot during spring and fall.
When exiting Swallow Falls Park, turn left and stop at the parking lot on the right, just across the Yock. There’s a trailhead across the road leading along an old railroad bed, which once ran all the way to the town of Friendsville. Take your lunch and head downstream (don’t forget to look for that perfect big rock for your picnic). The trail runs a few miles and ends at the Deep Creek hydroelectric power plant. As every experienced hiker knows, the scenery looks different in each direction, so don’t hesitate about returning on the same route. Just a neat, neat trail. There are several vantage points from where trout can be scoped out in the river when it is sunny.
Located in the Potomac State Forest is another recommended trail that is so off the beaten path that most folks in Garrett County don’t even know it exists. The Lostland Trail begins across from the old Potomac-Garrett Headquarters on Potomac Camp Road and runs three and a half miles to the Potomac River. If you enjoy scenery and hiking experiences, this is the trail for you! Be prepared for some rocky hiking and have your camera ready for when you cross the swinging bridge. And speaking of cameras, save enough film for beautiful Cascade Falls, a definite spot to stop and picnic or relax. Take time to hike up to the old fish hatchery site built by the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corp.). This area of the Potomac is also known for exceptional fly-fishing. The views of the river are also among the best in Garrett County!
In Friendsville, do as the locals do, and take the hike along the "Yock" River on the old logging railroad bed paralleling one of the best whitewater rafting areas in the United States. This corridor property was recently purchased by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources as part of the river’s "wild and scenic" designation. Although the hike is flat and relatively easy, it can still be muddy so dress appropriately. Try to plan this hike on a day that the Deep Creek Power Plant is generating electricity and releasing water so you can check out the awesome whitewater as the rafters and kayakers meander through the rapids enroute to Friendsville. From April 15 to Oct. 15, water releases are scheduled from 10:00am to 1:00pm, Mondays, Fridays and the first Saturday of the month. Keep in mind that it can take two hours for the high water to reach Friendsville after its release.
After following this trail for a few miles, you will come to the ghost town of Kendall. This is an area where barrels were manufactured and loaded onto the railroad for shipment to Friendsville and elsewhere. When the railroad pulled out, so did the lifeblood of this town. On the return trip, go easy on the trail mix snacks and save room in your belly for some small town, home cooking. Check out the Riverside Café, just a short walk along the river from the trailhead.
How about trekking along a mountain ridge? Hiking the Meadow Mountain trail will bring you to the best of several incredible vistas in Garrett County. I last saw this stunning view on a spring hike before the foliage had grown in, which created even more vistas and increased my ratings of this trail even higher. In just a mile or two a clearing opens to a magnificent vista. The beautiful Monroe Run Overlook can be seen from here in all its glory. This is the sweet spot for hikers. You can’t drive here or see anything else as beautiful in all of Garrett County!
To get to the trailhead, take New Germany Road north from State Route 495 for about 2.5 miles and turn left onto Frank Brennaman Road until you reach the top of the mountain ridge. Park on the right at the entrance at the Meadow Mountain Trailhead, BUT, CROSS THE ROAD AND TAKE THE TRAIL HEADING SOUTH. The northern section of the trail doesn’t have the same appeal as the southern.
So get your hiking boots broken in, your water bottles filled, and get moving. Also, only hike on Sundays during hunting season. This is just a sampling of the great hikes Garrett County has to offer, so start with this and keep exploring.
Article submitted by Garrett County Chamber of Commerce.
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