Cunningham Falls Lake
- Road
- Paved
- Permit
- Not required
- Dogs
- Not allowed
Entry fee: Houck peak: $3 MD / $5 out-of-state weekdays. Cunningham Falls Lake is a lake cove on Hunting Creek Lake in Frederick County, Maryland.
Closures and warnings
Park often fills to capacity on warm weekends; when Lake, Beach and Falls Area capacity is reached, entrance traffic is turned away. Pets are not permitted on sandy beaches or in the lake Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day. As of September 30, 2026.
Before you swim
| Swimming allowed | Yes |
|---|---|
| Water type | Lake cove |
| Entry | Walk in |
| Lifeguards | Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; limited Monday coverage. Swim at your own risk when lifeguards are off duty. |
Access
| Road | Paved |
|---|---|
| Road note | William Houck Area lake and beach at 14274 William Houck Drive, Thurmont, three miles west of Thurmont on Route 77. |
| Parking | William Houck Area day-use lots at Hunting Creek Lake (South Beach and North Beach overflow). |
| Fee | Houck peak: $3 MD / $5 out-of-state weekdays; $5/$7 weekends. Off-peak: $3/$5 per vehicle. |
| Hours | 8 a.m. to sunset April through October; 10 a.m. to sunset November through March. Vehicles may not remain parked after sunset. |
| Reservation or permit | Not required |
| Seasonal closure | Lake swimming Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend only; swimming prohibited after Labor Day. |
| Wheelchair access | Accessible bathhouse at South Beach; beach wheelchair available upon request. |
| Managed by | Maryland Department of Natural Resources (Cunningham Falls State Park) |
| Restrooms | Yes |
|---|---|
| Picnic sites | Yes |
| Note | Three designated swim areas on Hunting Creek Lake; camping and falls trails nearby in William Houck Area. |
Rules
| Dogs | Not allowed |
|---|---|
| Camping | Allowed |
Common questions
Common questions
Is Cunningham Falls Lake open?
Park often fills to capacity on warm weekends; when Lake, Beach and Falls Area capacity is reached, entrance traffic is turned away. Pets are not permitted on sandy beaches or in the lake Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day. As of September 30, 2026. Seasonal closure: Lake swimming Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend only; swimming prohibited after Labor Day. Hours: 8 a.m. to sunset April through October; 10 a.m. to sunset November through March. Vehicles may not remain parked after sunset.
Can you swim at Cunningham Falls Lake?
Yes, swimming is allowed at Cunningham Falls Lake. Lifeguards: Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; limited Monday coverage. Swim at your own risk when lifeguards are off duty.
How do you get to Cunningham Falls Lake?
The road in is paved. William Houck Area lake and beach at 14274 William Houck Drive, Thurmont, three miles west of Thurmont on Route 77. Parking: William Houck Area day-use lots at Hunting Creek Lake (South Beach and North Beach overflow).
Do you need a reservation for Cunningham Falls Lake?
No reservation or permit is required.
Is there a fee at Cunningham Falls Lake?
The fee is Houck peak: $3 MD / $5 out-of-state weekdays; $5/$7 weekends. Off-peak: $3/$5 per vehicle.
What facilities are at Cunningham Falls Lake?
Restrooms and picnic sites. Three designated swim areas on Hunting Creek Lake; camping and falls trails nearby in William Houck Area.
What are the rules at Cunningham Falls Lake?
Dogs are not allowed and camping is allowed.
Nearby
Sources
2
- https://dnr.maryland.gov/publiclands/Pages/western/cunningham.aspx (accessed September 30, 2026; backs manager / waterbodyName / access.roadNote / access.parking / access.seasonalClosure, swimmerNotes.swimmingAllowed / swimmerNotes.lifeguardSeason / swimmerNotes.waterType / swimmerNotes.entryType, access.hours / access.fee / access.wheelchairAccess / amenities / rules.camping, rules.dogs / hazardNote, access.roadSurface / access.permitRequired)
- https://dnr.maryland.gov/publiclands/pages/oc.aspx (accessed September 30, 2026; backs access.fee / access.hours)
More: Maryland swimming holes