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Muddy Creek Falls Hike
Waterfall · about 53 ft high | Maryland
1.5 mi loop
Muddy Creek Falls Hike at a Glance
The Muddy Creek Falls hike via the Canyon Loop Trail is 1.5 mi loop.
| Falls height | About 53 ft |
|---|---|
| Elevation at the falls | ≈ 2,350 ft |
| Trail | Canyon Loop Trail |
| Distance | 1.5 mi loop |
Your time: about 30 min of moving time at Naismith pace (3 mph plus 1 hour per 2,000 ft climbed); about 40 min at a relaxed pace. A 160 lb hiker with a daypack burns roughly 280 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 1.5 mi distance for this hike is verified (garretttrails.org), but we don't yet have a trail track we trust, so the map shows only the destination. Carry an official map.
About Muddy Creek Falls
Muddy Creek Falls is a waterfall in Maryland, about 53 feet high, on land managed by Swallow Falls State Park (Maryland Park Service). Its height is from dnr.maryland.gov.
The Hike
The hike to the falls follows the Canyon Loop Trail: 1.5 miles as a loop, from Swallow Falls State Park day-use parking. Distance from garretttrails.org.
Before You Go
- Day-use reservations are required at Swallow Falls State Park beginning Memorial Day weekend. (garretttrails.org)
- Rocks along the river are slippery and the current is swift. (garretttrails.org)
- A handicap accessible trail to Muddy Creek Falls is also available. (garretttrails.org)
- An accessible observation deck stands above the falls. (news.maryland.gov)
- Rock around waterfalls is slick when wet; stay on the trail and back from the edge.
- Check Swallow Falls State Park (Maryland Park Service) for current conditions, closures and parking before you go.
Sources
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the hike to Muddy Creek Falls?
The Canyon Loop Trail to Muddy Creek Falls is 1.5 miles as a loop.
Where does the Muddy Creek Falls hike start?
It starts from Swallow Falls State Park day-use parking.
How tall is Muddy Creek Falls?
Muddy Creek Falls is about 53 feet high.
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 Muddy Creek Falls Guide
Where the trail data, elevation and route line on this page come from.
- Verified against
- garretttrails.org
- Distance
- garretttrails.org
- Falls height
- dnr.maryland.gov
- Falls location
- gowaterfalling.com
- 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.
Nearby Hikes
Other hikes within 30 miles of Muddy Creek Falls.