Muddy Creek Falls, Swallow Falls
Youghiogheny Highlands, Maryland · 2,319 ft
Typical peak
Oct 9 – Oct 17
moderate confidence in typical timing.
Best light
Best under flat overcast
Maryland's tallest free-falling waterfall drops 53 feet over a sandstone lip inside an old-growth hemlock and white pine stand. The dark conifers hold the edges of the frame while red maple and yellow birch supply the color along the creek.
Seasonal model estimate. Timing remains uncertain; check recent reports before traveling. Source: seasonal timing model. Calculated .
Crowds
high
Busy through peak. Be parked before sunrise or expect to walk in.
Getting there
Enter Swallow Falls State Park off Swallow Falls Road nine miles north of Oakland; a paved 200-yard path runs from the lot to the falls overlook and stairs.
What turns here
- eastern hemlock
- white pine
- red maple
- yellow birch
Color progression
Typical peak Oct 13Typical color progression for Muddy Creek Falls, Swallow Falls. No change from Sep 5 to Sep 22. First color from Sep 22 to Oct 1. Approaching peak from Oct 1 to Oct 9. Peak from Oct 9 to Oct 17. Past peak from Oct 17 to Oct 27. Bare from Oct 27 to Nov 10.
Muddy Creek Falls, Swallow Falls is typically at bare on Nov 1, 2026.
This season so far
First frost
None yet
No night at or below 32°F since Aug 1.
Last 14 days
62°F / 40°F
Average daily high and low.
Modeled weather for these coordinates from the Open-Meteo historical archive, Aug 1 – Oct 31; not a station record. Reported peak is the median date of approved peak-color reports.
Plan the light
Muddy Creek Falls, Swallow Falls on October 13, 2026, the center of its typical peak window.
| Event | Time |
|---|---|
| First light (blue hour) Sun 6° below horizon | 6:58 AM |
| Sunrise Rises E · 99° | 7:25 AM |
| Morning golden hour ends 36 min of low, warm light | 8:01 AM |
| Solar noon Highest sun, flattest light | 1:04 PM |
| Evening golden hour starts 36 min before sunset | 6:06 PM |
| Sunset Sets W · 260° | 6:42 PM |
| Last light (blue hour) Sun 6° below horizon | 7:09 PM |
Times in America/New York · day length 11h 17m · computed from NOAA solar equations.
Local terrain can hide the sun; allow extra time to reach your viewpoint.
Which way to point the camera
Sun rises E, sets W.
Aim within 45° of the sun for translucent leaves. Turn your back to it for flat, accurate color.
Shooting conditions
Glassy water, wind blur, and what the cloud will do to your light.
Recent reports
What people actually saw here. Been recently? Add yours.
Nearby locations
Within 100 miles in a straight line; road distances can be longer.
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