Cunningham Falls
- Height
- 78 ft
- Hike
- 0.5 mi each way
- Road
- Paved
- Permit
- Not required
- Dogs
- Allowed
Cunningham Falls drops about 78 ft on Hunting Creek in Frederick County, Maryland. Reaching it is a 0.5 mi hike each way.
Closures and warnings
Maryland DNR: swimming is prohibited at Cunningham Falls. Climbing off trail around the falls is not advised; staff report hundreds of slip and fall accidents at the falls. As of September 30, 2026.
The falls
| Height | 78 ft |
|---|---|
| Flow note | Maryland's tallest cascading waterfall at about 78 feet on Catoctin Mountain (Hunting Creek). |
| Swimming allowed | No |
|---|---|
| Water type | Waterfall basin |
Access
| Hike | 0.5 mi each way |
|---|---|
| Road | Paved |
| Road note | William Houck Area, 14274 William Houck Drive, Thurmont. Falls trailhead parking in the day-use area; overflow at South Beach and North Beach lots. |
| Parking | Day-use parking at William Houck Area near Hunting Creek Lake; overflow in South Beach and North Beach lots. |
| Fee | Houck peak: $3-$5 MD / $5-$7 out-of-state per person. Off-peak and Manor: $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 |
| Wheelchair access | Accessible fishing pier and bathhouse at William Houck; beach wheelchair available on request. Stay on designated trails and boardwalks at the falls. |
| Managed by | Maryland Department of Natural Resources (Cunningham Falls State Park) |
| Restrooms | Yes |
|---|---|
| Picnic sites | Yes |
| Note | Lake swimming beach (seasonal), camping, and trails to the falls at William Houck Area. |
Rules
| Dogs | Allowed |
|---|---|
| Camping | Allowed |
Common questions
Common questions
Is Cunningham Falls open?
Maryland DNR: swimming is prohibited at Cunningham Falls. Climbing off trail around the falls is not advised; staff report hundreds of slip and fall accidents at the falls. As of September 30, 2026. Hours: 8 a.m. to sunset April through October; 10 a.m. to sunset November through March. Vehicles may not remain parked after sunset.
How tall is Cunningham Falls?
Cunningham Falls drops about 78 ft.
Can you swim at Cunningham Falls?
No, swimming is not allowed at Cunningham Falls.
How long is the hike to Cunningham Falls?
It's a 0.5 mi hike each way. The road in is paved. William Houck Area, 14274 William Houck Drive, Thurmont. Falls trailhead parking in the day-use area; overflow at South Beach and North Beach lots. Parking: Day-use parking at William Houck Area near Hunting Creek Lake; overflow in South Beach and North Beach lots.
Do you need a reservation for Cunningham Falls?
No reservation or permit is required.
Is there a fee at Cunningham Falls?
The fee is Houck peak: $3-$5 MD / $5-$7 out-of-state per person. Off-peak and Manor: $3/$5 per vehicle.
When is Cunningham Falls flowing?
Maryland's tallest cascading waterfall at about 78 feet on Catoctin Mountain (Hunting Creek).
Nearby
Sources
3
- https://dnr.maryland.gov/publiclands/Pages/western/cunningham.aspx (accessed September 30, 2026; backs manager / waterfall.heightFt / waterfall.flowNote / waterbodyName, access.hours / access.fee / access.wheelchairAccess / rules.dogs / rules.camping / amenities, hazardNote / swimmerNotes.swimmingAllowed, access.roadSurface / access.permitRequired / waterfall.ephemeral)
- https://dnr.maryland.gov/publiclands/Pages/western/CunninghamFalls/Hiking-CunninghamFalls.aspx (accessed September 30, 2026; backs access.hikeDistanceMi / access.hikeDistanceBasis / access.parking / access.roadNote)
- https://dnr.maryland.gov/publiclands/pages/oc.aspx (accessed September 30, 2026; backs access.fee / access.hours)
More: Maryland waterfalls