Retired Nomads - Part 2 : Swallow Falls State Park & Chesapeake and Ohio Canal - Maryland

Swallow Falls State Park & Chesapeake and Ohio Canal - June 22

We got a fairly early start today to make the hour or so drive to Swallow Falls State Park up in the mountains. A scenic byway leads you there as you wind through beautiful tree covered hills and mountains. There are mostly Hemlock and some Blue Spruce and Pine trees. The Youghiogheny River runs along the border of the park and winds through its lush greenery, creating rippling rapids. Both this river and nearby Muddy Creek are white water rivers, with waterfalls, strong rapids, and swift currents.

It had to be one of the best weather days of our trip. In the mountains it was in the 70’s and sunny. So, about 10* warmer in Cumberland. I was still cool in the shade and especially if it was a breezy area.

scenic byway

We hiked the short distance to Swallow Falls and then a short distance to Tolliver Falls. There were people in the water in a couple of the spots. (just young kids)

walkway to Swallow Falls

Walking to Tolliver Falls

Tolliver Falls

Magnolia Warbler

We then did the loop hike to Muddy Creek Falls which is 53 feet tall. Very impressive. We did see a few birds mainly Robins, Catbirds, Chickadees, Mockingbirds and even a beautiful Magnolia Warbler. We have seen many Red-winged Blackbirds on our road trip as well.

Henry Ford, Thomas A. Edison, Harvey Firestone & John Burrough camped here in 1918 & 1921

Muddy Creek Falls

part of the hiking trail

large group on the trail

Annette by the overhang

Greg under the overhang

There really aren’t any new birds to be seen in this area for us, but we have enjoyed seeing a few Bald Eagles as well as the birds listed above. We saw our first live deer of the trip yesterday. (lots of dead ones along or in the road) Even a fragrant dead skunk this morning.

After the hike we stopped at Deep Creek seafood restaurant. It was a lovely view from where it was perched on a hill and the owner was super friendly. When he saw me trying to get a photo of the lake and the blow-up wind man was in the way he turned it off. My crabcake had no filler at all, just pure crabmeat and Greg’s Mahi was blackened to perfection and cut in the perfect size to make tacos with. Darn tasty tater tots too!

view from the restaurant

Blackened Mahi Tacos

Crabcake & Tater Tots

Our next stop was to be at the House of Yoder Museum. The navigator took us to the wrong place. Perhaps it used to be in the house at that address. It turned out to be located in the Spruce Forest Artisan Village and we looked at the area and didn’t go in. They didn’t list the House of Yoder on their sign. If we have time we may try to go back and see the small museum about the heritage and important role the Yoder immigrants played in American history. Christian Yoder, one of the original Yoder immigrants, was a leader in establishing the Amish brotherhood in the U.S. and served as the first Amish Bishop in America from 1785-1836.

scenic lookout

ski lifts

lodging at the top

from the car windshield

Casselman Bridge

We stopped for ice cream and we both had huge hot fudge sundaes.

We then went back to Cumberland and walked around the historic district. The downtown was having a car show. A bunch of them are staying at our hotel. After that we walked to the Western Maryland Railway Station, listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historic Park is a National Historic Park nestled in three different regions: Maryland, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia. It was established by President Eisenhower to preserve the canal structures along the Potomac River, which stretch over 180 miles from Georgetown, Washington D.C. to Cumberland, Maryland. (it never was competed to go to Ohio)