10 Amazing Waterfalls in Maryland

Written by Volia Schubiger
Updated: June 29, 2023
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Amazing Waterfalls in Maryland infographic
Maryland has some of the best waterfalls!

One of the original 13 colonies, Maryland is one of the oldest states in the United States. For those who don’t know, there are countless rivers, plains, and mountains in Maryland, making the land extremely diverse. Therefore, it should not come as a surprise that Maryland has some of the best waterfalls. Listed below are ten of the most breathtaking waterfalls in Maryland that you should absolutely check out!

1. Raven Rock Falls

Raven Rock Falls Maryland

Raven Rock Falls, one of the best waterfalls in Maryland, features an interesting sloped cascade, allowing visitors to access the top.

©Skaterwithaboard / Creative Commons – License

Raven Rock Falls
Location:Baltimore County, Maryland
Nearby Attractions:Gunpowder Falls State Park
Animals to See:Common Goldeneye, Ring-Necked Duck

Raven Rock Falls lies in Gunpowder Falls State Park, a park covering over 17,000 acres. Embraced by lush forests, the hike along the Big Gunpowder River is long. Once you reach the end of the trail, you’ll see the Raven Rock Falls, which has a 25-foot drop. Raven Rock Falls is best seen immediately after heavy rains. 

Next up, we have a stunning waterfall in Maryland that borders another state!

2. Great Falls

Great Falls Park

The Great Falls is on the border of Maryland and Virginia.

©iStock.com/Douglas Rissing

Great Falls
Location:Montgomery County, Maryland
Nearby Attractions:Great Falls Park
Animals to See:Box Turtle, White-Tail Deer

The Great Falls is a waterfall in Maryland that is located along the Potomac River. A 75-foot drop cascades wonderfully over a number of rock formations, and it is quite powerful. As for activities, you can go kayaking, rock climbing, and whitewater rafting while visiting the park alone, with friends, or with your family. 

3. Muddy Creek Falls

Muddy Creek Falls Maryland

Muddy Creek Falls can be found along the Youghiogheny River.

©Steve Heap/Shutterstock.com

Muddy Creek Falls
Location:Oakland, Maryland 
Nearby Attractions:Swallow Falls State Park
Animals to See:Black Bear, Turkey

An impressive 54-foot waterfall, Muddy Creek Falls is surrounded by tall hemlocks and mossy green woods. There’s a little over a mile of trail to the falls, but the entire hike there is absolutely gorgeous thanks to the scenery. There are a lot of rocks to climb on to give you a better view of the waterfalls, but be careful as the rocks can be slippery.

Next, we’ll explore the tallest waterfall in Maryland!

4. Cunningham Falls

cunningham falls

Cunningham Falls is the tallest waterfall in Maryland.

©iStock.com/BernieK

Cunningham Falls
Location:Thurmont, Maryland
Nearby Attractions:Cunningham Falls State Park
Animals to See:Kentucky Warbler, Baltimore Oriole

Cunningham Falls, which drops 78 feet, is the tallest and one of the most popular waterfalls in Maryland. There are two main trails leading to the falls as well as a parking lot from which one can see the lower falls if one cannot make the hike. There are also many things to do at Cunningham Falls State Park, such as camping, boating, and fishing! 

Looking for a waterfall that isn’t well-known? We’ve got a waterfall in Maryland that is an absolute hidden gem. 

5. Cascade Falls

cascade falls

Cascade Falls is one of Maryland’s hidden treasures.

©iStock.com/Jon Bilous

Cascade Falls
Location:Elkridge, Maryland
Nearby Attractions:Patapsco Valley State Park
Animals to See:American Bullfrog, Common Watersnake

The surrounding landscape is forest and rocky terrain. Upon reaching the end of the trail, you will come across Cascade Falls. With its height of only 9 feet, this waterfall features a beautiful trickle along the rocks, while the pool below is the perfect spot to cool off.

6. Tolliver Falls

Tolliver Falls Maryland

Tolliver Falls is one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Maryland, with colorful leaves and lush vegetation all around.

©Thomas Anthony Doran/Shutterstock.com

Tolliver Falls
Location:Oakland, Maryland
Nearby Attractions:Swallow Falls State Park
Animals to See:Purple Finch, Broad-Winged Hawk

This waterfall in Maryland is located in Swallow Falls State Park. Located within the same state park as Muddy Creek Falls, this waterfall is also an excellent sight to see, although not as large. Despite only being a few feet away, this fall’s particular flow of water creates an incredibly tranquil setting. 

7. Kilgore Falls

Kilgore falls

Kilgore Falls is known as “the second-highest vertical drop” waterfall in Maryland.

©iStock.com/flownaksala

Kilgore Falls
Location:Pylesville, Maryland
Nearby Attractions:Rocks State Park
Animals to See:Scarlet Tanager, House Wren

You’ll have to hike a short distance to get to Kilgore Falls. There can be a lot of people on this trail on the weekends, especially during the summer. When you reach there, you’ll understand why. The pool below is incredibly popular, despite a drop of only 17 feet. Because of all the attention, this waterfall has received, reservations are required on weekends and holidays, such as Labor Day. 

8. Swallow Falls

Swallow Falls

Swallow Falls flows into the Youghiogheny River via a gorgeous cascade.

©VitaleBaby / public domain

Swallow Falls
Location:Oakland, Maryland
Nearby Attractions:Swallow Falls State Park
Animals to See:Bobcat, White-Tail Deer

Despite being one of the smaller waterfalls in Swallow Falls State Park, this one holds the name of the park due to the swallows that once nestled here. Sadly, since human activity has increased in this area, the majority of the population has fled. At the bottom of this flowing cascade is a pool of water, making it the perfect place to cool off from the hot summer sun. 

9. Round Falls

Round Falls Semi Circular Man-Made Waterfall in Downtown Baltimore, Maryland USA

Right in the city of Baltimore, Round Falls is a 10 ft tall manmade waterfall.

©Cascade Creatives/Shutterstock.com

Round Falls
Location:Baltimore, Maryland
Nearby Attractions:National Aquarium
Animals to See:Raccoon, Opossum

Round Falls is a 10 ft tall manmade wonder that creates a large semi-circle. The falls can be seen from a large viewing platform. People and cyclists both flock to this small getaway from the city, which is located right in Baltimore. Despite being manmade, this is still an absolutely gorgeous waterfall in Maryland.

10. Gilpin’s Falls

North East Creek plunges 106 feet directly over Gilpin’s Falls.

©Famartin / Creative Commons – License

Gilpin’s Falls
Location:North East, Maryland
Nearby Attractions:Turkey Point Lighthouse
Animals to See:American Elk, Eastern Harvest Mouse

A covered bridge is the main access point to Gilpin’s Falls, which happens to be one of six remaining covered bridges in Maryland. Samuel Gilpin once owned these falls, which he used to power his mills to grind corn and saw wood. A visit to this waterfall is an unforgettable experience, especially when you consider its history.

Summary of the 10 Amazing Waterfalls in Maryland

Here’s a summary of the 10 amazing waterfalls in Maryland and where they are located:

NumberWaterfallLocation
1Raven Rock FallsBaltimore County, Maryland
2Great FallsMontgomery County, Maryland
3Muddy Creek FallsOakland, Maryland
4Cunningham FallsThurmont, Maryland
5Cascade FallsElkridge, Maryland
6Tolliver FallsOakland, Maryland
7Kilgore FallsPylesville, Maryland
8Swallow FallsOakland, Maryland
9Round FallsBaltimore, Maryland
10Gilpin’s FallsNorth East, Maryland

The photo featured at the top of this post is © iStock.com/flownaksala


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About the Author

Volia Schubiger is a freelance copywriter and content editor with a passion and expertise in content creation, branding, and marketing. She has a background in Broadcast Journalism & Political Science from CUNY Brooklyn College. When she's not writing she loves traveling, perusing used book stores, and hanging out with her other half.

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