Updated July 2026
Muddy Creek Falls
At 53 feet, Maryland's tallest single-drop waterfall, plunging over rock ledges in Swallow Falls State Park near the Youghiogheny River. The Canyon Loop Trail also passes Swallow and Lower Swallow falls.
Before you go
Waterfalls are hazardous by nature — wet rock, cold water, and unstable edges — and flow varies enormously with season and recent rain. Trail figures here describe the route as documented, not conditions today. Check Maryland DNR (Swallow Falls State Park) for closures and current conditions, and confirm land status before setting out.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Muddy Creek Falls drops about 53 feet. That makes it the 394th-tallest documented waterfall in this inventory, taller than roughly 42% of the falls listed here. Height comes from published land-manager and survey records, not from our own measurement.
The Canyon Loop Trail reaches it about 1.25 miles (loop) with roughly 150 feet of elevation gain, rated easy. The nearest town is Oakland. That describes the route as documented, not conditions on the day — check with Maryland DNR (Swallow Falls State Park) for closures and current conditions.
Spring. Waterfall flow swings enormously with snowmelt and recent rain, so a fall that roars in spring can be a trickle by late summer.
More Maryland waterfalls
- Cascade Falls
- Cunningham Falls · 78 ft
- Great Falls of the Potomac · 76 ft
- Kilgore Falls · 17 ft
- Raven Rock Falls · 25 ft
- Swallow Falls · 16 ft
- Tolliver Falls
Sources
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