A guide to the D.C. areas lakes, swimmin holes and waterfalls

Publish date: 2024-08-10

Drive an hour or two outside the District, and you can find your way to countless lakes, waterfalls and swimmin’ holes. But which ones are worth the drive? And what should you know before you head out? We set out on freshwater adventures across Maryland and Virginia to find hidden (and not-so-hidden) gems where you can zip down a waterslide, cool off beneath a waterfall and watch the kids splash around a lake. Here are six spots that make for a perfect day-long escape.

Geographic distances are measured from the White House.

Cascade Lake

Distance: 50 miles

2844 Snydersburg Rd., Hampstead, Md. 410-374-9111. $8-$15, seniors and age 7 and younger $8-$12.

Set amid the scenic hills of Carroll County, Cascade Lake feels like you just happened onto a chill summer party. Music emanates from pavilions, guests are grilling food, and both children and adults take turns zipping down a large spiral waterslide. There’s also plenty of roped-off water for swimming and splashing (complete with lifeguards), as well as a small sandy beach and several decks for sunning yourself. Other amenities include concessions, a “sprayground” for the kiddos and paddle boats available for rent by the half-hour. You can also fish in the six-acre, spring-fed lake. The water — and the welcome — is warm. -- Becky Krystal

Cunningham Falls State Park

Distance: 53 miles

14039 Catoctin Hollow Rd., Thurmont, Md. 301-271-7574. Lifeguards on duty daily from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Maryland residents $3-$5, out-of-state visitors $5-$7.

Cunningham Falls is the best known and largest cascading waterfall in Maryland, but for safety and ecological preservation reasons, visitors aren’t allowed to swim there. Instead, there’s the state park’s scenic 75-acre Hunting Creek Lake, surrounded by tree-covered hills that provide a splendid sense of isolation. Sandy beaches are on two sides of the lake, where parents and teenagers stretch out while kids splash around in the water. The lake’s southern end — closer to the main parking lot — is busier and includes a snack bar, while the north side is often quieter. Grassy slopes leading to the water are perfect for picnics.

Beyond swimming, the lake is near the start of a half-mile hiking trail to the falls, and boat rentals are available. (Important note: Cunningham Falls State Park is divided into two regions with separate entrances; the lake and falls are in the William Houck Area.) -- Fritz Hahn

Where to eat, drink and play on the water in the Washington region

Greenbrier State Park

Distance: 54 miles

21843 National Pike, Boonsboro, Md. 301-791-4767. Lifeguards on duty daily from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Maryland residents $3-$5, out-of-state visitors $5-$7.

Miles of hiking trails wander through Greenbrier State Park, including the Appalachian Trail. The big draw in summer, though, is the 43-acre man-made lake. Even on weekday afternoons, there’s a party atmosphere on the lake shore, as salsa and reggaeton play from portable speakers while families in T-shirts and bathing suits grill in the picnic area, which is separated from the beach by a broad stretch of grass. The lake includes multiple roped-off swimming areas, separated by depth. One end of the beach has a volleyball net; the other has a boathouse for rentals. Four gazebos next to the water can be reserved by groups.

Greenbrier is very accessible for families: The swimming area is just steps from the main parking lot, as are the changing rooms. A store sells sundries ranging from water toys to bags of charcoal, and a snack bar offers ice cream and other treats. -- Fritz Hahn

Rocks State Park

Distance: 61 miles

3318 Rocks Chrome Hill Rd., Jarrettsville, Md. 410-557-7994. Free. Picnic areas: Maryland residents $3 per car on weekdays, out-of-state visitors $5 per car; rate increases to $3-$5 per person on weekends. Parking for Kilgore Falls is available east of 1099 Falling Branch Rd. in Pylesville.

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There are some very fine rocks to climb at Rocks State Park, but unless you’re prepared to chalk your hands and on-belay, the park’s tall trees and rolling hills are probably best enjoyed from a tube in the middle of crystal-clear Deer Creek. Shallow and slow-moving, it’s perfect for kids, with picnic areas along the creek offering restrooms and grills to whip up lunch when you’re tired of floating.

Bring your tennis shoes or Tevas to the park’s out-of-the-way gem, a 17-foot waterfall hidden in the forest five miles north of Deer Creek. Kilgore Falls doesn’t have lifeguards, restrooms or picnic tables, and it’s about a 10-minute hike from the tiny public parking lot, which fills up fast on weekends. Frolicking at the base of the falls, though — letting the water pound against your back or cascade in front of your eyes — may make you reconsider ever settling for a public pool. -- Harrison Smith

Lake Anna State Park

Distance: 68 miles

6800 Lawyers Rd., Spotsylvania, Va. 540-854-5503. Parking: Virginia residents $4-$7, out-of-state visitors $6-$9. Swimming fee: age 13 and older $3-$4, ages 3-12 $2-$3, age 3 and younger free.

Lake Anna is a kid’s summertime dream. On weekends, the beach becomes a swimmable playground, crammed with children toting water guns, beach balls, noodles and floats — think tubes, sharks and swans. The concession stand hawks such kid-friendly snacks as snow cones, peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwiches and hot dogs, and a convenient bathhouse means parents don’t have to worry about getting sand all over the car. Plus, the swimming area is shallow, and lifeguards are on hand.

This may not be the ideal place for those looking to lounge quietly with a book, but if you’re in search of a family destination where the kids can splash around, it’s the perfect place to set up for the day. Bring an umbrella. Oh, and water toys. -- Emily Codik

Shenandoah National Park's Whiteoak Canyon

Distance: 75 miles

4400 Weakley Hollow Rd., Syria, Va. 540-999-3500. $20 per car or $10 per person. (Shenandoah National Park’s next free-admission days are Aug. 25-28 and Sept. 24.)

You’ll hear the water as you approach the falls on the Whiteoak Canyon trail: It roars, rushing over boulders like a siren call during summer months. The best way to take advantage of it is to hike from the Whiteoak Canyon parking lot, which gives you an easy uphill hike to a natural waterslide and the first big waterfall. (There’s also access from Skyline Drive at mile 42.6, but it’s a longer, downhill hike.) Follow the blue blaze on a short hike along the Robinson River to the lower falls, where you can cool off in swimming holes or underneath a waterfall of about 50 feet.

The trek is what you make of it. Go for an easy out-and-back in less than three miles, which takes about two hours, or tackle a more challenging circuit with the Cedar Run trail. The short hike gets you to some of the best and most easily accessible swimming spots, with just enough of an elevation change to get your heart pumping.

Keep in mind that the rocks can get slippery. If you plan on swimming, bring water shoes (or a non-hiking pair of sneakers) to wear in the water to protect your feet. Packing snacks and water is also a good idea. -- John Taylor

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