Winter
Skiing, tubing, and mountain coaster runs — then come home to the hot tub, mudroom foyer, and two stone fireplaces.
We're a small family who's been driving up to Deep Creek for years — Wisp in winter, the lake in summer, Swallow Falls in between. This is the guide we wished someone had handed us the first time. The places we go back to. The activities that work for kids and grandparents in the same group. The ones we recommend when you ask us at check-in.
A short guide to the places we'd point our own family to first. Most of this is within a twenty-minute drive; everything is within forty.
The Perch sits inside Biltmore at Lodestone — Hale Irwin's course is a five-minute drive. Three more championship courses are close by, plus a simulator and patio bar in McHenry for the days the weather doesn't cooperate.
Designed by Hale Irwin on top of Wisp Mountain — the highest golf course in Maryland at 2,973 feet. A 110-foot drop from tee to green at the 13th. This is the course inside our community.
Visit Lodestone →Formerly the Wisp Resort course. Par 70, 6,446 yards, named one of Golfstyles Magazine's 100 Must-Play Courses of the Mid-Atlantic. Wooded fairways at the base of Wisp's slopes.
Visit Fantasy Valley →An 18-hole championship in rolling country — host of the Western Maryland Amateur. Driving range, putting green, and a clubhouse restaurant with a patio bar.
Visit Oakland Golf →A semi-private course on the lake's quieter east side, set inside the Thousand Acres community. Wooded mountain terrain with views over the southern end of the lake. Call ahead for tee times and course information.
Visit Thousand Acres →Indoor golf simulator for the days the weather doesn't cooperate — plus live music on the deck when it does. Casual sports-bar vibe, easy walk-in.
Greene Turtle on Facebook →Wisp anchors winter at Deep Creek — but groomed cross-country trails, sleigh rides through Amish country, and a coaster that runs year-round all sit within a half-hour of the front door.
30+ trails across 172 acres, seven lifts, terrain park, and night skiing Wednesday–Saturday. Lessons for all ages, including absolute first-timers.
Plan a Day at Wisp →Ten to twelve lanes of tubing up to 750 feet long, with conveyor belts back to the top. No skill required; 42-inch minimum. The mixed-age winter win.
See Bear Paw →A gravity-powered coaster through the slopes and trees, with hand-brake speed control so riders pick their own pace. Open year-round; especially fun in falling snow.
Mountain Coaster →Groomed trails through hemlock forest at Herrington Manor State Park, with equipment rentals on site. Also available at Wisp and New Germany.
Herrington Manor →Sleighs through Amish country, weather permitting. Pleasant Valley Dream Rides and Circle R Ranch both offer winter rides — call ahead.
Pleasant Valley: (301) 334-1688Deep Creek Lake is the largest in Maryland — 3,900 acres of water with sixty-five miles of shoreline. Boats and gear are renting within ten minutes in any direction.
Pontoons, speedboats, fishing boats, and water-sport gear. One of the largest fleets on the lake since 2004 — delivery to your dock available.
See Lake Life →Pontoon, speed, and fishing boat rentals with a safety tutorial before departure. Walk-ins possible; reservations recommended in peak season.
Deep Creek Marina →Kayaks and stand-up paddleboards by the hour or multi-day. Guided kayak tours available; delivery to your rental recommended.
High Mountain Sports →Two sandy beaches with roped swim areas, lifeguards in summer, kayak and paddleboard rentals. The public boat launch is open 24 hours.
Deep Creek Lake State Park →Trout, bass, walleye, perch, northern pike — and ice fishing when the lake freezes. Maryland fishing license required for ages 16+, available online or at the Oakland Walmart.
Get a fishing license →Garrett County holds more state-park acreage than any other Maryland county. Easy waterfall loops, twenty-mile trail networks, and the summit of the state are all close.
Maryland's most spectacular natural area. An easy 1.1-mile canyon trail past four waterfalls, including Muddy Creek Falls — at 53 feet, Maryland's tallest. A 300-year-old hemlock forest stands alongside it.
Swallow Falls →365 acres with twelve miles of trails. The 5.5-mile connector trail to Swallow Falls is a Garrett County classic; the 3.4-mile Park Loop around the lake is gentler.
Herrington Manor →1,800+ acres with twenty miles of trails. Cherry Creek Loop, Beckman's Trail (coal mine ruins), and Indian Turnip Trail (panoramic lake views) are favorites.
Deep Creek Lake State Park →A moderate 2.3-mile out-and-back trail to the highest point in Maryland at 3,360 feet. Panoramic summit views — and free.
Trail details →Garrett County has a deep craft and antique tradition. A weekend afternoon in Oakland or Grantsville turns up things you won't find anywhere else.
Historic 1818 stagecoach stop next to a working artisan village — hundreds of Appalachian craftspeople in quilts, pottery, woodwork, and weaving. Worth the drive.
Penn Alps →A Garrett County institution since 1946. Old-time soda fountain and grill alongside antiques, jewelry, and collectibles. Open Mon–Sat 8:30–5, Sun 8:30–3.
Englander's →One of the most popular antique destinations in the area. Ephemera, old books, primitives, glassware in a large warehouse with ever-changing inventory.
Cabin Fever →Books on the ground floor, curated antiques upstairs. Colorful, photogenic shop beloved by locals.
Book Mark'et →The Vermont glassblower's only mid-Atlantic factory store. Watch master glassblowers daily 10am–2pm (free), and shop outlet prices on seconds.
Simon Pearce →The go-to local souvenir and gift shop. Deep Creek apparel, home décor, and the famously-named "Bear Poop" candy. Next to Shop 'n Save.
Bear Creek Traders →When the trip has a four-year-old, a fifteen-year-old, and a grandparent all at once — these are the stops that work for everyone.
One of the most unexpectedly memorable local stops — especially for small children and grandparents. Open May through Halloween (closed in winter). Check hours and book ahead.
Plan an Alpaca Visit →Go-karts, mini golf, laser tag, ninja course, bumper boats, and arcade. All-day passes available — the rainy-day plan.
Funland →A nature center inside Deep Creek Lake State Park with exhibits on local ecology, wildlife, and lake history. Free with park entrance — easy hour for younger kids.
Discovery Center →Paint-your-own pottery, clay classes, and mosaics. The classic rainy-day move, and you go home with a souvenir nobody else has.
Deep Creek Pottery →Five days of parades, craft shows, and live music in mid-October, right in peak fall color. The most distinctively Garrett County weekend of the year — our Autumn Glory dates book earliest.
Festival Schedule →Skiing, tubing, and mountain coaster runs — then come home to the hot tub, mudroom foyer, and two stone fireplaces.
Quieter hikes, Lodestone golf, and easy family days while the mountain greens up and crowds stay light.
Lake days, whitewater, chairlift rides, and adventure outings — with a calm home base to return to every night.
Foliage drives, Swallow Falls, scenic overlooks, and cooler nights that make everyone ask for one more day.
Wisp laps by day, hot tub and fireplace reset at night, with enough bedrooms for everyone to stay together.
Plan easy Deep Creek boat days, paddle mornings, and sunset dinners, then come back to a quiet wooded base.
Swallow Falls, scenic trails, and long outdoor days with a comfortable recovery spot waiting at home.
Low-key mornings, cozy nights, and room to breathe — ideal for reconnecting without a packed itinerary.
From little kids to grandparents, there are activities nearby for every energy level and interest.
Build a weekend around Lodestone tee times and Wisp runs, then unwind with movies, games, and the fire pit.
Blend active days with relaxed evenings, great food, and a beautiful home base made for conversation.
Activity hours, seasonal openings, and age/height requirements change throughout the year. Always check directly with each provider before heading out. If you'd like help narrowing options for your group, just send us a note — we'll talk through what fits your trip.
From first chair to lake days to low-key local favorites, The Eagle's Perch is designed as a beautiful home base near the best of Deep Creek — and we're working hard toward a Summer 2026 opening.