Right now
Right now as of Oct 29, 2026
- Permit No permit needed. Entry fee: $3-$7 per person in summer; $3-$5 per vehicle off peak.
Status note (Oct 29, 2026): MD DNR's official page was checked on October 29, 2026, and the park is open. Hours are 8 a.m. to sunset from April to October, and 10 a.m. to sunset from November to March. William Houck Area campsites and camper cabins are available April to October. Off-peak vehicle fees run from after Labor Day weekend to the Friday of Memorial Day weekend: $3 for Maryland residents and $5 for others. What the status labels mean
Cunningham Falls, also called McAfee Falls, is a 78-foot cascade in Cunningham Falls State Park, run by Maryland DNR (MD DNR). The falls trails start in the William Houck Area, three miles west of Thurmont on Route 77. The Maryland Geological Survey lists it as the state's tallest cascading waterfall. Swimming is prohibited at the falls. Off peak, from after Labor Day weekend to Memorial Day weekend, MD DNR charges per vehicle.
About Cunningham Falls
Cunningham Falls drops 78 feet in a cascade, according to the Maryland Geological Survey (MGS). MGS ranks it as Maryland's tallest cascading waterfall. MGS lists Muddy Creek Falls, at 54 feet, as the state's highest free-falling waterfall.
Wikipedia says Cunningham Falls is known locally as McAfee Falls; MD DNR also uses the name in its falls alert. The falls are in the William Houck Area of Cunningham Falls State Park in Frederick County. NPS says they sit just across MD 77 from Catoctin Mountain Park.
Wikipedia gives the park's size as 6,157 acres and says it was established in 1954. Hunting Creek Lake, 43 acres by Wikipedia's figure, is where you swim, boat and fish.
Boats on the lake must use electric motors only, and the launch has an honor box: $3 for Maryland residents and $5 for others. Eastern Watersports rents boats in summer at (410) 999-4465. Anglers 16 and older need a Maryland freshwater license.
MD DNR says Hunting Creek Lake is stocked as put-and-take trout water, with an accessible fishing pier. Big Hunting Creek is catch-and-release, fly fishing only.
The Manor Area holds the Catoctin Iron Furnace, which made iron for 127 years, from 1776 to 1903, per MD DNR. It is on the National Register.
Each March, the park holds a Maple Syrup Festival on the first and second weekends, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. MD DNR says it has run for "over 50 years".
Getting there and parking
The park has two areas with separate addresses, so pick the right one. For the falls, go to the William Houck Area at 14274 William Houck Dr, Thurmont, MD 21788. It is three miles west of Thurmont on Route 77, with the lake, the falls trailhead, Houck Campground and the Nature Center.
The Manor Area, at 6709 Cunningham Falls Park Rd, Thurmont, MD 21788, is three miles south of Thurmont off Route 15. It has the Manor Campground, the Scales and Tales Aviary, the Visitor Center and Catoctin Furnace. Call the park at 301-271-7574.
Park in the Day-Use Area for the Lower Trail, MD DNR says, with overflow in the South Beach and North Beach lots. By regulation, vehicles are not permitted to be parked after sunset.
Come early on summer weekends. MD DNR says the park "often fills to Capacity on weekends". It is likely to close on Memorial Day and Fourth of July weekends. When it is full, traffic is turned away, even if your party is already inside.
Shelter and camping reservations are still admitted when the park is full. The Lake, Beach and Falls Area "usually re-opens in the afternoon," per MD DNR.
Save directions before you leave. MD DNR warns that many carriers do not get service in the Catoctin Mountains. Groups arriving by bus need a reservation. Buses are not allowed on summer weekends or holidays.
You can also reach the falls from Catoctin Mountain Park, run by the National Park Service. NPS describes a short boardwalk to the base from a handicap pull-off lot. Its trailhead page lists a 2.8-mile round trip from the park's visitor center.
The map pin uses GNIS coordinates that we could read only in a search excerpt, so treat it as approximate. The Directions button routes to that pin, not to a parking lot. For the Lower Trail and Cliff Trail, set your navigation to the William Houck Area: 14274 William Houck Dr, Thurmont, MD 21788.
Other falls in the region include Great Falls Park in Virginia and Blackwater Falls in West Virginia. Our Maryland waterfalls guide explains how MGS ranks the state's falls.
Camping at Cunningham Falls State Park
Reserve at parkreservations.maryland.gov or 1-888-432-CAMP (2267). The park runs two campgrounds with different seasons.
William Houck Campground is at 5783 Campground Dr. MD DNR says its campsites and camper cabins are available April to October. It has 106 basic and 36 electric sites, plus 4 six-person mini camper cabins. There is a dump station and bathhouses, and check-in starts at 3 p.m.
The camper cabins have no heat, so you cook outside and bring your own linens. MD DNR says they "often fill weeks or months in advance".
Manor Area Campground is open year round, with 20 basic and 7 electric sites and no cabins. Reserve online in advance. Its bathhouse is open April to October only. In winter, the gates close from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., and campsites are not plowed.
Pets are allowed in the Addison Run, Bear Branch, Catoctin Creek, Deer Spring and Manor loops. Accessible campsites are in the Deer Spring loop, and all campground bathhouses are accessible.
Alcohol is prohibited in all areas, campgrounds included, except the Manor Area Shelter with a permit. Black bears visit the campgrounds, so keep food stored away. Camping along the trails is prohibited.
Map and nearby falls
Map loads as you scroll. Open in OpenStreetMap
OpenPartly open / seasonalUnconfirmedClosedNortheastSoutheastLarger map
The hike
Two trails reach the falls from the William Houck Area. The Lower Trail is ½ mile and red-blazed, and MD DNR rates it easy to moderate. MD DNR calls it "the shortest and easiest access to the Falls". Interpretive signs and benches line the way.
The Cliff Trail is ¾ mile, yellow-blazed and strenuous. It crosses rough terrain past rock outcrops to the falls. MD DNR says you can return by either trail, so you can go out on one and back on the other.
MD DNR does not say whether those distances are one way. From the Catoctin Mountain Park side, NPS lists a 2.8-mile round trip from its visitor center. It also describes a short boardwalk from a handicap pull-off lot.
Longer Houck Area trails include Lady's Slipper (2.5 miles), Old Misery (2 miles) and Cat Rock (1.5 miles), which leads to Cat Rock at 1,560 feet. Pets are allowed on all trails there.
In the Manor Area, the Iron Trail is ¼ mile and the African American Cemetery Trail is ½ mile. Bob's Hill (1.5 miles) reaches 1,765 feet, and the Cat Rock/Bob's Hill trail runs 7.5 miles one way.
The Catoctin Trail is 27 miles long, with 9 miles in the park. MD DNR says mountain biking is not permitted on park trails.
When to visit
MD DNR sets hours of 8 a.m. to sunset from April to October, and 10 a.m. to sunset from November to March.
Summer weekends are the busiest time. The park often fills, and MD DNR says closures are likely on Memorial Day and Fourth of July weekends. If it is full, the Lake, Beach and Falls Area usually reopens in the afternoon.
Fees change with the season. From Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend, the Houck Area charges per person. The rest of the year it charges per vehicle.
Lake swimming runs only from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend. In March, the Maple Syrup Festival fills the first two weekends. We found no official best month for the falls' flow.
| Height | 78 ft (cascading)Note: the tallest cascading waterfall in Maryland, per the Maryland Geological Survey (MGS); MGS lists Muddy Creek Falls, at 54 ft, as the highest free-falling one |
|---|---|
| Trail | Lower Trail ½ mi, red blaze, easy to moderate; Cliff Trail ¾ mi, yellow blaze, strenuous (MD DNR). From Catoctin Mountain Park: 2.8 mi round trip from the visitor center, or a short boardwalk from a handicap pull-off lot (NPS) |
| Difficulty | Easy to moderate on the Lower Trail; the Cliff Trail is strenuous over rough terrain (MD DNR) |
| Entry fee | William Houck Area, Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend: $3 MD / $5 non-MD per person on weekdays, $5 / $7 on weekends and holidays. Off peak and at the Manor Area: $3 MD / $5 non-MD per vehicle (MD DNR) |
| Permit / reservation | No permit; a day-use fee applies, and the park can close to traffic when it fills |
| Parking | Houck Day-Use Area; overflow at the beach lots |
| Hours / season | 8 a.m. to sunset April-October; 10 a.m. to sunset November-March (MD DNR) |
| Dogs | Allowed on all trails, per MD DNR. In the Houck Area, not on the sandy beach or in the lake from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day |
| Swimming | Prohibited at the falls (MD DNR). Swimming is allowed in three designated areas of Hunting Creek Lake from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend |
| Wheelchair / stroller | Partly: NPS describes a short boardwalk to the base of the falls from a handicap pull-off lot. MD DNR lists an accessible fishing pier, a beach wheelchair on request and accessible bathhouses |
| Walk behind the falls | No |
| Restrooms | Accessible bathhouse at South Beach; bathhouses in both campgrounds, with the Manor bathhouse open April-October only (MD DNR) |
| Best time to visit | No official best month; lake swimming runs Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend |
| Crowds | High on weekends: MD DNR says the park often fills to capacity, especially on Memorial Day, Fourth of July and other summer weekends |
| Managed by | Maryland Department of Natural Resources (Cunningham Falls State Park) |
Safety and swimming
MD DNR's alert is direct: swimming is prohibited and climbing is not advised at the falls. Park staff have responded to "hundreds of accidents at the Falls," MD DNR says. Most were a direct result of visitors slipping or falling.
Stay on the trail and off the rocks. MD DNR asks for "no hiking or climbing off of the trail in or around Cunningham Falls (McAfee Falls)".
Swim at Hunting Creek Lake instead. Swimming is allowed in three designated areas from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend. Lifeguards are on duty 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., with limited coverage on Mondays.
When lifeguards are not on duty, you swim at your own risk. MD DNR says swimming is prohibited after Labor Day.
Copperheads and timber rattlesnakes have both been documented in the park, and black bears visit the campgrounds. Hunting is permitted on 4,400 acres of the park. With little cell service, tell someone your plans before you hike.
Our waterfall safety guide has more on slick rock near falls.
Conditions change: confirm with MD DNR before you go.
Where to stay near Cunningham Falls
Compare hotels, cabins and rentals close to the falls around Thurmont.
See places to stay nearbyAffiliate link: we may earn a commission at no cost to you. Partners do not see or change our waterfall facts. Disclosure.
Photos
Cunningham Falls FAQ
How much does it cost to get into Cunningham Falls State Park?
$3 to $7 per person in summer, or $3 to $5 per vehicle off peak, per MD DNR. From Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend, the William Houck Area charges per person. Maryland residents pay $3 on weekdays and $5 on weekends and holidays; non-residents pay $5 and $7. Off peak, and at the Manor Area, it is $3 or $5 per vehicle.
How tall is Cunningham Falls?
78 feet, according to the Maryland Geological Survey, which lists it as Maryland's tallest cascading waterfall.
Can you swim at Cunningham Falls?
No. MD DNR prohibits swimming at the falls and says staff have responded to hundreds of accidents there. You can swim in three designated areas of Hunting Creek Lake from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend.
How far is the hike to Cunningham Falls?
The Lower Trail is ½ mile and the easiest route, per MD DNR. The Cliff Trail is ¾ mile and strenuous. From Catoctin Mountain Park, NPS lists 2.8 miles round trip from its visitor center.
Can you camp at Cunningham Falls State Park?
Yes. William Houck Campground has 106 basic and 36 electric sites plus 4 camper cabins, available April to October. Manor Area Campground is open year round with 20 basic and 7 electric sites. Reserve at parkreservations.maryland.gov or 1-888-432-CAMP (2267).
Can you reach Cunningham Falls from Catoctin Mountain Park?
Yes. NPS says the falls are just across MD 77 from Catoctin Mountain Park. It describes a short boardwalk to the base from a handicap pull-off lot, and a 2.8-mile round trip from its visitor center.
Are dogs allowed at Cunningham Falls?
Yes. MD DNR says pets are allowed on all trails. In the Houck Area, they can't go on the sandy beach or in the lake from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day.
What is the tallest free-falling waterfall in Maryland?
Muddy Creek Falls, at 54 feet, per the Maryland Geological Survey. Cunningham Falls is taller at 78 feet, but it is a cascade rather than a free fall.
Nearby waterfalls
More waterfalls to explore
On these lists: Dog-friendly waterfalls
Sources
Only the map pin's coordinates come from a search-result excerpt (a TopoQuest GNIS mirror), so treat the pin as approximate. Fees, rules and trail facts were read on the official MD DNR and NPS pages.
- Maryland DNR: Cunningham Falls State Park (read Oct 29, 2026)
- Maryland Geological Survey: Maryland's highest waterfalls (Cunningham Falls 78 ft cascading; Muddy Creek Falls 54 ft free-falling)
- NPS Catoctin Mountain Park: Cunningham Falls
- Wikipedia: Cunningham Falls State Park
- NPS Catoctin Mountain Park: Cunningham Falls Nature Trail trailhead
Last verified Oct 29, 2026 by The Waterfall Guide editorial team. Conditions change: confirm with Maryland Department of Natural Resources (Cunningham Falls State Park) before you go. Spotted something out of date? Report a correction.