The Lake!
- Deep Creek Lake covers nearly 4,000 acres and just shy of 70 miles of shoreline. The highlight of western Maryland, the lake offers opportunities to play and relax throughout the many coves and quiet corners. Indeed, summer Saturdays on the water can be busy so reserve those for chilling in a hammock or deck chair until the crowds subside in the evenings. The remaining days of the week and nearly every day from Labor Day to Memorial Day, are quiet and you can have miles of the lake to yourself. Boating, paddle-boarding, kayaking, jet-skiing are all available to visitors who bring their own 'toys' or rent from one of the excellent local vendors at the lake. 

Boating on the lake: if you bring your own boat, launch at Deep Creek Lake State Park. Good ramps there and just a few minute run back to our "Lake Effect" private dock. You can pay the State Park to leave your trailer in their lot so no need to wrestle with our driveway and trailer. For boat rentals, call Bill’s Marine or Silver Tree Marine. Jet Ski rentals call Aquatic Center
aquatic-center.com
. DNR enforces the lake rules – especially the restriction on jet ski use (limited to 11 am to 4 pm on weekends in summer) & don’t tow through the bridges – period.  Our cove is not a no-wake zone & has deep water so it’s a good place to play - just be aware of traffic during weekends – and note the ‘no towing’ area about 200 yards down the cove.

Swallow Falls State Parkdnr.maryland.gov/publiclands/pages/western/swallowfalls.aspx
    A beautiful 15 minute ride from our retreats. The park offers several miles of biking, hiking and cross-country skiing trails in and around the tallest waterfall in Maryland. Muddy Creek Falls is worth the visit year-round but Fall foliage and winter snow cover add a remarkable natural filter to your selfies or landscape pics. The upper falls are an easy ten minute hike over mild terrain and even includes an accessible trail and deck. Be careful to avoid slippery outcrops and do not risk jumping off of those rocks into the river. Enjoy the views and this Maryland marvel. 

Deep Creek Lake State Park - discoverycenterdcl.com  just a five minute ride from our retreats, this park has hiking trails with a variety of distance and challenge levels. Swimming beach with paddleboard and ‘yak rentals – and the Discovery Center, a great kid-oriented look at lake’s natural world. This park is also home to some of the most remarkable single-track mountain biking in the region – check with the folks at High Mountain Sports for more intel and/or bike rentals. 

Wisp Report -
not just a winter destination - of course Wisp is known for ski, snowboard, and snow-tubing during the winter.  But the resort also includes a year-round mountain coaster, downhill-mountain biking (most fun ever on 2-wheels without a motor), zip lines, Frisbee golf (we swear you’ll have fun!), mountain hiking, scenic chairlift rides & more–try it all! 

Fishing
- the lake is loaded with every species of freshwater fish in MD, including some of the biggest sunfish anywhere. If you brought or rented a boat, slow-troll perch-pattern shallow crankbaits in 15-18’ of water. Go to main lake and fish points to the right and around the Deep Creek State park shoreline – find grass beds and fish just off the edges. Also try night crawlers under a bobber off the dock for perch, bass and bluegills – and the wonderful table fare of the walleye. Off the lake, the fly and spin fishing is truly world-class in nearby Youghiogheny, Casselman, North Branch Potomac or Savage Rivers and their tributaries – and almost all publicly accessible water.  

ASCI -
Adventure Sports Center Int’l
adventuresportscenter.com
 is the recreation area perched atop Wisp resort. Spring through Fall they offer whitewater rafting & kayaking on one of only two-in-the-world manmade ‘rivers’. It’s worth the trip to see this engineering spectacle even if the family opts out of the rafting trip. 

Youghiogheny River Rafting/Kayaking
– if the man-made river isn’t your thing, check out the options to raft or ‘yak down the wild Yough! Mild to wild depending on conditions – or skip the float and drive to town of Friendsville and hike the Kendall trail along the river shore. 

Horseback riding - there are two options nearby. Western Trails & Circle R. We can't really say which is better but both are local...and we hear Circle R does horse-drawn sleigh rides--sounds like fun :).

Smiley’s Fun Zone
– it’s not the boardwalk (which is fine by us) but they have an arcade, laser-tag, bumper boats, go-karts, mini-golf & more!

No matter when you visit, there is plenty to keep you busy at the lake and in the nearby area.