Swallow Falls

Worth a detour

Is it plungeworthy?

16feet tall

A block on Youghiogheny River.

Scale30/60

Documentation20/20

Character14/20

The details

Type: Block
Watercourse: Youghiogheny River
Coordinates: 39.49602, -79.41731

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About Swallow Falls

Swallow Falls is a 16-foot block in Maryland, on Youghiogheny River.

It's fullest after rain, and flow can drop off during dry spells — plan around recent weather.

Plungeworthy rates Swallow Falls 6.4/10 — worth a detour. The score weighs its scale, how confidently it's mapped, and its character.

What you'll find

The park's namesake: the Youghiogheny sliding over two broad 16-foot ledges with a swimming hole below — the friendly counterpoint to Muddy Creek's plunge on the same short loop.

Getting there

Trailhead: Canyon Trail, Swallow Falls State Park day-use lot
Parking: Same reserved-weekend day-use lot
Road: Paved
Hike: 0.8 mi round trip (easy)
Heads up: Reached via the staircase above Lower Swallow Falls, midway around the loop.

When to go

Spring for push, summer for the swimming hole.

Rules & fees

Fee / pass: $3/$5 per person in season
Dogs: Banned in season; leashed off-season
Hours: 8am–sunset
Camping: On site
Warnings: No lifeguard at the swimming hole — river rules apply.

Researched from Maryland Geological Survey — Swallow Falls · Maryland DNR — Swallow Falls State Park. Conditions change — verify before you drive. Been to Swallow Falls recently? Post a conditions report below.

Where it is

Before you go

The pin marks the feature, not a trailhead or a legal route in. Some sit on private land or need a real hike, and conditions change with season and rain. Check local access, don't trespass, and never enter water — hot or cold — where it isn't safe.