Cunningham Falls Lake (also known as Hunting Creek Lake) is the major feature of Cunningham Falls State Park. The man-made lake catches the water from the scenic Cunningham Falls that can be viewed at the end of a half mile hike. At 78 feet, Cunningham Falls is the largest cascading waterfall in the State. In addition to stocked trout, the lake includes a good population of bass, crappie, and catfish. While there are places to fish from the shoreline, this is primarily a boating lake with electric motors only. The boat launch is well-maintained and offers quick access to the lake for a small service fee. A concession rents boats during the busy summer season.
The park has plenty of picnic areas surrounding two white sand beaches. The beaches are a major attraction and cause the park to reach capacity early in the day on summer weekends and holidays. In addition to being prohibited in the beach area, fishing is also prohibited from the junction of MD 77 and Catoctin Hollow Road to the dam’s output. Fishing is permitted above the lake downstream of the falls.
Getting There: From Frederick, MD head north on US 15. Exit onto MD 77W and follow it into the park. Turn left onto Catoctin Hollow Road. Follow Catoctin Hollow to the right-hand turn for the boat launch and, farther down, the park itself.
Access Point:
· Boat launch on Catoctin Hollow Road (39.624405,-77.461427),
· Parking lot in the State Park (39.626372,-77.462264)Secrets Revealed? No. This is a very public location that is documented in the Maryland DNR stocking plan.
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Unless stated otherwise, this article was authored by Steve Moore