State guide

Waterfalls in Maryland

15 waterfalls across 5 counties, ranked 33rd nationally. The main waterfall regions are Allegheny Plateau, Potomac Fall Line and the Piedmont, and Catoctin Mountain.

Source: USGS Geographic Names Information System, with visitor ratings from Google Maps listings.

Best WaterfallsMust-See Waterfalls

Photo of Great Falls in Montgomery County, Maryland
Pictured: Great Falls, MD

Towns

Where Maryland's Waterfalls Are

Maryland packs several distinct physical provinces into a small state, and its waterfalls track the boundaries between them. In the far west, Garrett County sits on the Allegheny Plateau, where streams cross nearly flat-lying sandstone and drop off resistant ledges. Central Maryland includes the Blue Ridge, represented locally by Catoctin Mountain, with hard metamorphic and volcanic rock. East of that, the Piedmont meets the Coastal Plain along the fall line, the zone where rivers descending from older, harder rocks tumble onto softer sediments near the head of tidewater. Each of these settings produces a distinct style of waterfall.

Our directory counts 15 named falls in Maryland, 33rd nationally, spread across just five counties. Garrett County leads with five, most of them on the Youghiogheny River and its tributaries around Oakland. Montgomery County follows with four, centered on the Potomac River, where Great Falls is the most reviewed waterfall in the state. Frederick County's falls lie in the Catoctin Mountain area near Thurmont, while Cecil and Harford counties hold smaller Piedmont falls on creeks heading toward the Chesapeake Bay. The flat Eastern Shore has no named falls at all.

Maryland Waterfall Regions

Allegheny Plateau

5 waterfalls · Garrett County

Garrett County is Maryland's highest and snowiest corner, and its falls have a mountain character unlike anything else in the state. Swallow Falls State Park, near Oakland, protects a cluster of falls in a hemlock forest: Muddy Creek Falls, described as the state's highest at 53 feet, along with Upper and Lower Swallow Falls on the Youghiogheny River and the gentler Tolliver Falls. The water here often runs tea-colored from tannins in upland bogs and forests. Ledges of sandstone and conglomerate shape the drops, and the surrounding plateau of farms and forest makes for a quiet, cool-weather destination even in midsummer.

Start with: Muddy Creek Falls, Tolliver Falls, Upper Swallow Falls, Lower Swallow Falls, Gap Falls

Potomac Fall Line and the Piedmont

8 waterfalls · Montgomery County, Cecil County, and Harford County

The Great Falls of the Potomac is the state's signature cascade, a wide series of rapids and drops where the river crosses hard Piedmont bedrock and enters the narrow Mather Gorge. On the Maryland side it is part of the C&O Canal National Historical Park, with boardwalks to viewpoints and rugged riverside trails nearby; Stubblefield Falls and Yellow Falls are smaller named features in Montgomery County. In northeastern Maryland, Cecil and Harford counties hold modest falls on Piedmont streams. Gilpins Falls, near North East in Cecil County, sits beside a historic covered bridge, and other small cascades lie in wooded stream valleys near Jarrettsville and Rising Sun.

Start with: Great Falls, Gilpins Falls, Stubblefield Falls, Amos Falls, Yellow Falls

Catoctin Mountain

2 waterfalls · Frederick County

Catoctin Mountain, the easternmost ridge of the Blue Ridge in Maryland, rises above the Frederick Valley near Thurmont and Myersville. Its streams cascade over hard, fractured rock in steep, boulder-filled ravines. Cunningham Falls, in the state park of the same name, is the best-known example and a popular summer destination thanks to a nearby lake, picnic areas and short trails to the falls. The Cascade is another named feature in the county. Catoctin's forests are especially attractive in autumn, and the area is close enough to Baltimore and Washington that warm weekends bring heavy visitation.

Start with: Cunningham Falls, The Cascade

All 15 Waterfalls in Maryland

Ordered by Google rating and review volume, then by documented USGS history.

  1. Great Falls

    Potomac, MD · Montgomery County
    4.8 (623 reviews)

    Stretch of powerful rapids & waterfalls on the Potomac River, with hiking trails nearby.

    Rating
    4.8 (623 Google reviews)
    Address
    Potomac, MD 20854
    Nearest town
    Potomac, MD (2.8 mi)
    View details Directions

  2. Muddy Creek Falls

    Oakland, MD · Garrett County
    5.0 (43 reviews)

    State's highest waterfall at 53 feet flowing through a river gorge in forested state park.

    Rating
    5.0 (43 Google reviews)
    Address
    Garrett County, MD 21550 (GPS 39.5012, -79.4178)
    Nearest town
    Oakland, MD (6.5 mi)
    USGS topo
    Sang Run quad
    View details Directions

  3. Cunningham Falls

    Thurmont, MD · Frederick County
    4.3 (61 reviews)

    Cunningham Falls is a waterfall in Frederick County, Maryland, about 3.3 miles west of Thurmont. It appears on the USGS Blue Ridge Summit topographic map.

    Rating
    4.3 (61 Google reviews)
    Address
    Frederick County, MD 21783 (GPS 39.6315, -77.4714)
    Nearest town
    Thurmont, MD (3.3 mi)
    USGS topo
    Blue Ridge Summit quad
    View details Directions

  4. Gilpins Falls

    North East, MD · Cecil County
    4.1 (38 reviews)

    Gilpins Falls is a waterfall in Cecil County, Maryland, about 3.3 miles north of North East. It appears on the USGS Bay View topographic map.

    Rating
    4.1 (38 Google reviews)
    Address
    Cecil County, MD 21921 (GPS 39.6476, -75.9522)
    Nearest town
    North East, MD (3.3 mi)
    USGS topo
    Bay View quad
    View details Directions

  5. Tolliver Falls

    Oakland, MD · Garrett County
    4.9 (15 reviews)

    Low, gentle waterfall in Swallow Falls State Park with a scenic forest setting & a swimming hole.

    Rating
    4.9 (15 Google reviews)
    Address
    Garrett County, MD 21550 (GPS 39.4948, -79.4189)
    Nearest town
    Oakland, MD (6.0 mi)
    USGS topo
    Oakland quad
    View details Directions

  6. Stubblefield Falls

    Potomac, MD · Montgomery County
    4.4 (11 reviews)

    Stubblefield Falls is a waterfall in Montgomery County, Maryland, about 3.5 miles south of Potomac.

    Rating
    4.4 (11 Google reviews)
    Address
    Potomac, MD 20854
    Nearest town
    Potomac, MD (3.5 mi)
    View details Directions

  7. The Cascade

    Myersville, MD · Frederick County
    3.0 (26 reviews)

    The Cascade is a waterfall in Frederick County, Maryland, about 2.4 miles east of Myersville. It appears on the USGS Myersville topographic map.

    Rating
    3.0 (26 Google reviews)
    Address
    Frederick County, MD 21773 (GPS 39.5174, -77.5248)
    Nearest town
    Myersville, MD (2.4 mi)
    USGS topo
    Myersville quad
    View details Directions

  8. Upper Swallow Falls

    Oakland, MD · Garrett County
    3.9 (8 reviews)

    Upper Swallow Falls is a waterfall in Garrett County, Maryland, about 6.1 miles north of Oakland. It appears on the USGS Oakland topographic map.

    Rating
    3.9 (8 Google reviews)
    Address
    Garrett County, MD 21550 (GPS 39.4956, -79.4173)
    Nearest town
    Oakland, MD (6.1 mi)
    USGS topo
    Oakland quad
    View details Directions

  9. Amos Falls

    Rising Sun, MD · Cecil County
    3.8 (9 reviews)

    Amos Falls is a waterfall in Cecil County, Maryland, about 6.1 miles southwest of Rising Sun. It appears on the USGS Conowingo Dam topographic map.

    Rating
    3.8 (9 Google reviews)
    Address
    Cecil County, MD 21034 (GPS 39.6584, -76.1663)
    Nearest town
    Rising Sun, MD (6.1 mi)
    USGS topo
    Conowingo Dam quad
    View details Directions

  10. Lower Swallow Falls

    Oakland, MD · Garrett County
    5.0 (2 reviews)

    Lower Swallow Falls is a waterfall in Garrett County, Maryland, about 6.4 miles north of Oakland. It appears on the USGS Sang Run topographic map.

    Rating
    5.0 (2 Google reviews)
    Address
    Garrett County, MD 21550 (GPS 39.5004, -79.4159)
    Nearest town
    Oakland, MD (6.4 mi)
    USGS topo
    Sang Run quad
    View details Directions

  11. Yellow Falls

    Potomac, MD · Montgomery County
    4.0 (4 reviews)

    Yellow Falls is a waterfall in Montgomery County, Maryland, about 3.3 miles south of Potomac.

    Rating
    4.0 (4 Google reviews)
    Address
    Potomac, MD 20854
    Nearest town
    Potomac, MD (3.3 mi)
    View details Directions

  12. The Spout

    Potomac, MD · Montgomery County
    5.0 (1 reviews)

    The Spout is a waterfall in Montgomery County, Maryland, about 2.5 miles southwest of Potomac.

    Rating
    5.0 (1 Google reviews)
    Address
    Potomac, MD 20854
    Nearest town
    Potomac, MD (2.5 mi)
    View details Directions

  13. Wiley Falls

    Jarrettsville, MD · Harford County

    Wiley Falls is a waterfall in Harford County, Maryland, about 5.8 miles north of Jarrettsville. USGS notes: 100 ft high, approximately 860 ft. long; located along Falling Rocks Branch, 1.1 mi NE of Ivory Mill

    Address
    Harford County, MD (GPS 39.6830, -76.5189)
    Nearest town
    Jarrettsville, MD (5.8 mi)
    USGS topo
    Norrisville quad
    View details Directions

  14. Gap Falls

    Oakland, MD · Garrett County
    3.0 (2 reviews)

    Gap Falls is a waterfall in Garrett County, Maryland, about 13 miles north of Oakland. It appears on the USGS Sang Run topographic map.

    Rating
    3.0 (2 Google reviews)
    Address
    Garrett County, MD 21541 (GPS 39.5904, -79.4270)
    Nearest town
    Oakland, MD (13 mi)
    USGS topo
    Sang Run quad
    View details Directions

  15. Kilgores Rocks

    Jarrettsville, MD · Harford County

    Kilgores Rocks is a waterfall in Harford County, Maryland, about 6.6 miles northeast of Jarrettsville. It appears on the USGS Fawn Grove topographic map.

    Address
    Harford County, MD (GPS 39.6912, -76.4267)
    Nearest town
    Jarrettsville, MD (6.6 mi)
    USGS topo
    Fawn Grove quad
    View details Directions

Highest Rated in Maryland

  1. Muddy Creek Falls 5.0 from 43 reviews · Oakland
  2. Great Falls 4.8 from 623 reviews · Potomac
  3. Cunningham Falls 4.3 from 61 reviews · Thurmont
  4. Gilpins Falls 4.1 from 38 reviews · North East
  5. The Cascade 3.0 from 26 reviews · Myersville

Waterfalls with at least 25 Google reviews.

What Visitors Mention

  • Reviews of 1 Maryland waterfall mention swimming, including Tolliver Falls.

Maryland Waterfalls by the Compass

The farthest-apart named falls in Maryland are about 185 miles apart.

Names and History

4 waterfalls have alternate historical names on record, such as Cunningham Falls (also McAfee Falls) and Gilpins Falls (also Gilpin's Falls).

From the USGS record for Wiley Falls: "Named for Matthew Wiley (1751-1840), the first of five generations of the Wiley family to own and operate the grain mills in the area"

Best Time to See Waterfalls in Maryland

Spring is generally the strongest season for Maryland's falls, when winter snowmelt in Garrett County and frequent spring rains raise every stream. The Great Falls of the Potomac reflects rainfall over a vast upstream basin, so it can roar after storms in any season and runs especially high in late winter and spring. Summer brings lower flows and hot, humid weather, although Garrett County stays noticeably cooler. October is a fine month across the state, with fall color usually arriving first on the Allegheny Plateau and later in the Piedmont. Winter can coat Swallow Falls and Muddy Creek Falls in ice, but snow and freezing spray make paths treacherous.

Planning a Waterfall Trip in Maryland

Nearly all of Maryland's well-known falls are on public land: state parks such as Swallow Falls and Cunningham Falls, and the C&O Canal National Historical Park at Great Falls, which charges an entrance fee on the Maryland side. Popular parks fill quickly on summer weekends and holidays, and some state parks close their gates once parking is full, so arriving early helps. The Potomac at Great Falls is one of the most dangerous stretches of river in the region, with powerful currents and hidden hazards; wading and climbing on riverside rocks have led to many drownings. In Garrett County, ledges are wet and slippery, and water is cold well into spring. Some Piedmont falls lie close to private property.

More: waterfall safety · packing list

Find Waterfalls Near a Maryland Town

Waterfalls by County

CountyWaterfallsShareMost visited
Garrett533%Muddy Creek Falls
Montgomery427%Great Falls
Cecil213%Gilpins Falls
Frederick213%Cunningham Falls
Harford213%Wiley Falls

All Maryland Waterfalls A to Z

Maryland Waterfalls: FAQs

How many waterfalls are in Maryland?

Our directory lists 15 waterfalls in Maryland (11 officially named in the USGS Geographic Names Information System and 4 added from Google Maps listings), 33rd among the 50 jurisdictions in our directory and 0.6% of the national total. 73% of them are in just three counties: Garrett, Montgomery, and Cecil.

What is the most visited waterfall in Maryland?

By Google review count, Great Falls in Montgomery County leads with 623 reviews and a 4.8 rating. Cunningham Falls is next.

What is the tallest waterfall in Maryland?

Muddy Creek Falls in Swallow Falls State Park, Garrett County, is described as the state's highest waterfall at 53 feet. It drops over a sandstone ledge into a forested gorge.

Can Great Falls be seen from both Maryland and Virginia?

Yes. The falls span the Potomac River, with overlooks on the Maryland side within the C&O Canal National Historical Park and on the Virginia side in Great Falls Park. The two sides are not connected by a bridge at the falls, so plan to visit one side at a time.

Which Maryland town has the most waterfalls nearby?

Oakland has 6 named waterfalls within 30 miles, the most of any town in our Maryland directory.