Garrett County Attractions

Often called ‘Maryland’s Best Kept Secret,’ Garrett County offers stunning scenery, one-of-a-kind attractions, rich history, and plenty for everyone to enjoy. With 8 state parks and 3 state forests, there’s more state-owned park land here than anywhere else in Maryland! Boasting Maryland’s largest freshwater lake, highest point, and tallest free-falling waterfall, it’s not hard to know why it’s a ‘must see’ destination.

Deep Creek Lake

Perhaps the most well known attraction for the area is Deep Creek Lake - Maryland’s largest freshwater lake. The man-made lake was dammed and filled in 1925, creating a vacation destination unlike anything Maryland had seen yet. Vacationers have been escaping the city heat to enjoy the cool refreshing waters of the lake ever since! The lake is roughly 13 miles long with 69 miles of shoreline and provides dozens of coves and beautiful scenery. The lake is now owned by the state of Maryland which allows for better management of motorists on the water and rules for homeowners on the shoreline to keep the natural beauty in place. 

Deep Creek is perfect for boating, swimming, tubing, water-skiing, wake surfing, wake boarding, stand-up paddleboarding, kayaking, canoeing, and all other water sports and activities! In the winter, the lake freezes solid, and you can see ice fishermen and snowmobilers enjoying the frozen surface and winter season.

Wisp Resort

As Maryland’s only ski resort, Wisp Resort is one of the biggest attractions for Garrett County. Located along the shores of Deep Creek Lake, Wisp Resort offers nearly 40 downhill trails of varying terrain, a tubing park, terrain park, and wonderful beginner ski area with a magic carpet lift. Wisp Resort utilizes new-age snow-making technologies to allow them to produce their own snow as weather permits, adding to the ample snow our area receives each winter. With 7 chairlifts across the mountain, you can enjoy varying terrain in different sections of the mountain - it’s never boring! The tubing park offers groomed tubing lanes and two magic carpet lifts to get tubers easily to the top of the hill. Outside of ski season, Wisp Resort offers scenic chairlift rides, an alpine mountain coaster, outdoor concerts, seasonal events, and more. 

Parks & Forests

Garrett County is home to 8 state parks and 3 state forests! There is always something to see and explore no matter the season. Many of the parks offer well-marked trail systems that vary from flat and gentle to steep and rocky. Parks can be enjoyed on foot, on a mountain bike, fat tire bike - even on horseback! Hiking in the winter months provides scenic snowy backdrops and frozen waterfalls, while hiking in the fall offers stunning fall colors and crisp mountain air. There’s no bad season to enjoy nature! 

In addition to state parks and forests, you’ll find numerous other parks and recreation areas throughout the county. Nearly every town in the county offers a community park. 

  • Big Run State Park

  • Casselman River Bridge State Park

  • Deep Creek Lake State Park

  • Herrington Manor State Park

  • New Germany State Park

  • Sang Run State Park

  • Swallow Falls State Park

  • Wolf Den State Park

  • Savage River State Forest

  • Garrett State Forest 

  • Potomac State Forest 

  • Fork Run Recreation Area

  • Broadford Park

ASCI Whitewater Course

Garrett County is home to one of the only mountaintop recirculating whitewater course in the world! Coined ‘ASCI’ for its original name Adventure Sports Center International, ASCI has allowed our area to host dozens of accredited races, including the world championship for kayaking in 2014. Never fear, the average person can do the course, too! Wisp Resort operates the facility and offers time slots for paddlers looking to go in their own vessel and guided rafting tours. The water flow is customizable based on the paddler’s desired intensity.