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Kilgore Falls Hike
Waterfall · about 17 ft high | Maryland
1 mi round trip
Kilgore Falls Hike at a Glance
The Kilgore Falls hike is 1 mi round trip.
| Falls height | About 17 ft |
|---|---|
| Elevation at the falls | ≈ 520 ft |
| Distance | 1 mi round trip |
Your time: about 20 min of moving time at Naismith pace (3 mph plus 1 hour per 2,000 ft climbed); about 25 min at a relaxed pace. A 160 lb hiker with a daypack burns roughly 190 kcal. No elevation gain is published for this route, so climbing time isn’t included.
Adjust for your pace and breaks →Route line not shown. The 1 mi distance for this hike is verified (dnr.maryland.gov), but we don't yet have a trail track we trust, so the map shows only the destination. Carry an official map.
About Kilgore Falls
Kilgore Falls is a waterfall in Maryland, about 17 feet high, on land managed by Rocks State Park (Maryland Park Service). Its height is from dnr.maryland.gov.
The Hike
The hike to the falls follows the Kilgore Falls Trail: 1 miles round trip, from Falling Branch parking lot, 1026 Falling Branch Road, Pylesville. Distance from dnr.maryland.gov.
Before You Go
- Reservation fees are $3.00 per person for Maryland residents or $5.00 per person for non-residents, plus a processing fee. (dnr.maryland.gov)
- Pets are allowed at Falling Branch but must be leashed at all times. (dnr.maryland.gov)
- Reservations are required on weekends and holidays from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day. (dnr.maryland.gov)
- When the designated parking lot is full, the area is at capacity. (dnr.maryland.gov)
- The trail is not handicapped accessible and is not appropriate for wheelchairs, baby strollers or large coolers. (dnr.maryland.gov)
- The park discourages leaping from the falls into the creek because serious injuries have occurred. (dnr.maryland.gov)
- Rock around waterfalls is slick when wet; stay on the trail and back from the edge.
- Check Rocks State Park (Maryland Park Service) for current conditions, closures and parking before you go.
Sources
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the hike to Kilgore Falls?
The Kilgore Falls Trail to Kilgore Falls is 1 miles round trip.
Where does the Kilgore Falls hike start?
It starts from Falling Branch parking lot, 1026 Falling Branch Road, Pylesville.
How tall is Kilgore Falls?
Kilgore Falls is about 17 feet high.
Is there a fee to hike to Kilgore Falls?
Reservation fees are $3.00 per person for Maryland residents or $5.00 per person for non-residents, plus a processing fee.
Are dogs allowed on the Kilgore Falls trail?
Pets are allowed at Falling Branch but must be leashed at all times.
Safety Information
Current Hazards
- Slippery wet rock near the falls
- Fast, high water after rain or snowmelt
- Check weather before departure
Turn-Around Time
3:00 PM
Plan to reach the falls by this time so you are back before dark.
Essential Gear Checklist
* Critical items - do not hike without these
Emergency Contacts
Emergency / Search & Rescue
911Point Forecast
NWS Point Forecast →In most of the US, backcountry search and rescue is dispatched through 911 — tell the operator you have a hiker emergency and your GPS coordinates.
Downloads
Sources for The Kilgore Falls Guide
Where the trail data, elevation and route line on this page come from.
- Verified against
- dnr.maryland.gov
- Distance
- dnr.maryland.gov
- Falls height
- dnr.maryland.gov
- Falls location
- mgs.md.gov
- Elevation
- ≈ Copernicus GLO-90 elevation model at the falls coordinates (via Open-Meteo)
Conditions change. Check the land manager for closures, fees and weather before you go.