Greenbrier State Park Beach
Boonsboro, MD
Greenbrier's 42-acre man-made lake sits in the Appalachian foothills off I-70, close enough to DC and Baltimore that it's become one of the region's default mountain lake day trips. A white sandy beach rings a clear swim area, straightforward and easy to reach compared to Garrett County's more remote lakes.
The easiest mountain lake beach to reach from the DC and Baltimore corridor, which is exactly why it can feel more crowded than Maryland's more remote lake beaches.
How we score beachesReservations are increasingly required for summer weekends here, so check the park's current reservation system before driving out rather than assuming walk-up access.
A lot at 21843 National Pike serves the beach, with a day-use entrance fee.
A short, flat walk from the lot to the swim area and beach.
Pets are allowed in the day-use area and lake only from the day after Labor Day through the Friday before Memorial Day, not during the swim season.
Lifeguards are on duty 11am to 6pm from Memorial Day to Labor Day, with water comfortable for swimming through summer. Fall hiking on the surrounding Appalachian trails picks up once the lake closes for the season.
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