Nestled In Western Maryland's Mountain Region Is A State Park With Scenic Wetlands, Trails, And Fishing

Maryland's three geographic regions offer differing landscapes for travelers, from the eastern and western shores of Chesapeake Bay to the Piedmont Plateau to its western mountain region. The Appalachian Mountains contain the highest peaks within the state, including the 3,360- foot-high Backbone Mountain, and often feature the state's lesser-recognized travel destinations. Among those places worthy of a visit is Wolf Den Run State Park, known for scenic wetlands, trails, and fishing.

You'll find the 2,039-acre Wolf Den Run State Park in Garrett County, one of three counties in the mountains that is entirely within the Appalachian province. Opened in 2019, the park has three separate parcel areas for visitors: Huckleberry Rocks, North Hill Area, and Potomac River Area. Each area features diverse topography, including streams, meadows, mountainous terrain, and wetlands. The park's namesake is the nearby historic Wolf Den Run Stream and is operated by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.

Wolf Den Run State Park serves multiple purposes: protecting sensitive wetland ecosystems, offering recreational opportunities, and serving as a fun location for off-roading. It's accessible year-round, with some activities and specific areas limited seasonally due to weather and road conditions. There's a small fee for general access, which increases slightly if you're utilizing the off-road trails. In general, the park is open from sunrise to sunset, with off-road track hours of 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. from April to October and closing at 4 p.m. from November to March. "No matter what time of year you visit, the scenery is incredibly awesome, but Fall is the best time of year," wrote one past visitor on Google Reviews. "If you're an off-road enthusiast, you'll want to add Wolf Den Run to your list of places to visit."

Outdoor vehicle enthusiasts will find more than 50 miles of multi-use trails to explore the area for all skill levels. Huckleberry Rocks OHV Trail Loop is a 5-mile moderately rated route, ideal for off-road vehicles, and part of a larger trail system. Past visitors say it's best used from April to September, and to watch for a muddy water section. The North Hills Riding Area and Potomac River Riding Area offer other riding trails within the state park of varying lengths and difficulty. 

The park offers the largest grouping of ORV trails in the state, and is home to the first and only Jeep Badge of Honor Trail in Maryland known as Trail 2103, within the Potomac River portion. The route is listed in Jeep's Badge of Honor app and allows users to register and compete with other riders. During winter months, the trails are popular for snowmobile activity, with details and maps available on the park's website.

Fisherman's Camp Foot Trail is strictly for hikers and wanders through streams and forest land, offering stunning river views of the Lost Land Run area of the Potomac State Forest. Maryland's DNR offers downloadable maps and brochures of each area (Huckleberry Rocks, North Hill, Potomac River) and a full park brochure on their website. While you're touring the region, consider stopping in two regional communities: Accident, a charming rural town with a peculiar name, 23 miles away, or Oakland, an idyllic gem with pristine natural beauty and historic walking tours, 9 miles away.

For those looking to cast a line in the park, you'll want to take advantage of the 3 miles of shoreline along the north section of the Potomac River and the two natural cold-water trout streams, including the Wolf Den Run and Short Run. Conservation efforts were also undertaken to ensure a steady supply of fish by increasing the water flow between the river and the streams during their reproducing seasons. The stream areas are home to brook trout, and anglers will need to obtain the proper fishing license and adhere to state regulations around fishing and trout limits, per the Western Maryland Fisheries Office.

The Huckleberry Rocks parcel is the primary location for wetlands within the park, which also includes a forest ecosystem and rocky bluffs. The terrain continues to be studied for future conservation efforts. Scientists are hopeful of reviving the endangered Allegheny wood rat as the forest continues to thrive. To help preserve the natural surroundings, make sure you don't stray from the designated trails in the park.

If you want to stay longer in the park, it features 10 primitive campsites and two glamping tents for guests. The sites can be booked on the Maryland DNR's reservations website. Just 13 miles away from Wolf Den State Park is the state's largest lake, Deep Creek Lake, one of the East Coast's most gorgeous high-elevation lakes, located inside another Maryland state park.