Cunningham Falls State Park Beach
Thurmont, MD
The William Houck Area of Cunningham Falls State Park holds a lake beach on Hunting Creek Lake in the Catoctin Mountains, a short drive from Camp David's back gate. Most visitors come for Maryland's tallest waterfall first and find the lake beach second, though plenty of Frederick County locals treat the lake as the main event on its own.
A genuine mountain lake beach paired with the state's tallest waterfall in the same park, solid rather than spectacular on its own, most visitors are there for the falls first.
How we score beachesPair the beach with the falls hike if you're making the drive out. It's short and scenic enough to do both in one visit without eating the whole day.
A lot at 14274 William Houck Drive serves the lake beach, with a park entrance fee.
A short, flat walk from the lot to the sandy lake beach.
Leashed dogs (six feet or shorter) are allowed in the park but not at the lake, beach, picnic areas, or on trails during hunting season.
Water warms enough for comfortable swimming by mid summer in the Catoctin Mountains, cooler overall than the Chesapeake side of the state. Fall brings some of Maryland's best leaf-peeping to the surrounding trails, well past swim season.
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