Page 21 - Garrett County 2024/2025 Visitors Guide

Do you love hiking through stunning displays of fall colors? Racing down a snowy slope in winter? Feeling sand
between your toes in the summer? Watching nature reemerge in the spring?
You’ll get to experience all that and more in Garrett County. As the home of both Maryland’s only ski resort and Maryland’s largest inland body of freshwater, we’re
a true four-season destination. Whether hiking, cross-country skiing, ORV riding, boating, swimming or fishing is your speed for outdoor recreation, we’re guaranteed to have plenty of options for you. (And for those with limited mobility — or those who simply prefer to explore on four wheels — we offer fall-foliage driving tours to help you reconnect with nature as you follow our winding, scenic roads.)
What are you waiting for? Come join us in the great outdoors.
WINTER
Wisp Resort (wispresort.com), Maryland’s only four-season downhill ski resort, is home to 33 slopes, spanning 172 acres. That diversity ensures you’ll find skiing
and snowboarding activities tailored to all levels of experience, from beginners to intermediates and experts. Lessons are available from qualified instructors, and lights illuminate the hills for nighttime activities.
There are dozens of trails and several Terrain Parks with jumps, boxes, rails and other features to cater to freestyle skiers and snowboarders. Visitors love the Mountain Coaster, a mix of an alpine slide and a roller coaster with stunning views of Deep Creek Lake. And the whole family can enjoy snow tubing at the Wisp Mountain Park. (As long as everyone is at least 4 years old and 42 inches tall). It’s all the thrills of sledding without the long hike back up the hill! Advance reservations for snow tubing are required; make your reservation online at wispresort.com.
Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing are also popular wintertime activities. Some of our favorite places to strap on the
gear are New Germany and Herrington Manor State Parks. Park staffers at New Germany groom and track the 12 miles
of trails to make for a great cross-country experience for anyone from beginners to more experienced skiers. Trails at Herrington Manor are easy to intermediate level, and rentals of skis, boots, poles, snowshoes
and sleds are available 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. in season. More information and
PHOTO BY CREDE CALHOUN – VISION QUEST STUDIOS
current guidelines can be found at dnr. maryland.gov/publiclands/pages/western/ newgermany/winter-activities.aspx and dnr. maryland.gov/publiclands/pages/western/ herringtonmanor/winter-sports.aspx.
There are several groomed trails for cross- country skiing and snowshoeing at Savage River Lodge (savageriverlodge.com), but the lodge is a year-round outdoor destination, with other offerings including cycling trips and fly-fishing classes.
Those who prefer leisurely pursuits will
enjoy a walk down to Muddy Creek
Falls, the highest free-falling waterfall in Maryland, at Swallow Falls State Park (dnr. maryland.gov/publiclands/pages/western/ swallowfalls.aspx). The falls sometimes freeze over during icy weather, and you’ll get great views of the winter landscape along the way there.
Ice fishing is a popular winter sport at lakes in Garrett County, including Deep Creek Lake, where the “catch of the day” can include yellow perch, walleye, northern pike, bluegill, pickerel and other local species. Please call Deep Creek Lake State Park at 301.334.8218 for daily conditions, updates and approximate ice depth to ensure it is safe for ice fishing.
Another fun way to enjoy the cold season is with a horse-drawn sleigh ride from Circle R Ranch (deepcreeklakestable.com).
For those who like their outdoor fun in a group setting, Deep Creek Adventure Bureau (dcabfun.com) hosts runs, races and fundraisers all year long. In winter, join fat bike rides through the snow at our state parks and on our local trails!
PHOTO BY SARAH DUCK
SPRING
Spring is a wonderful time to witness the reawakening of nature as you wander Garrett County’s many hiking trails, which range in difficulty level from “suitable for everyone” to those that only a seasoned outdoor enthusiast should attempt.
If you’re not sure where to start, head to the Garrett Trails website (garretttrails. org) for an inventory of county trails. Trails are grouped into categories, including town trails (ideal for quick workouts and people with mobility restrictions), easy forest trails, fishing and boating trails, state park trails and more.
PHOTO BY SARAH DUCK
Another great way to enjoy the spring blooms: playing one of the many fine golf courses in the region. Players love the challenging fairways and dazzling scenery at Lodestone Golf Course (wispresort.com/ activity/golf-overview), designed by Hale Irwin. The course has the highest elevation of any golfing venue in Maryland at 2,973 feet above sea level.
Fantasy Valley Golf Course, formerly known as Wisp Resort Golf Course (wispresort.com/activity/golf-overview),
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