Deep Creek Lake Fun Learning Outdoor Adventures For All Ages
Big storm a coming! 12-18″ inches of snow the forecast and cold weather continuing through next week! We will be updating our snow report with post storm totals. Real winter is apparently here, yippiee!
Local Weather Links – Maps and Forecast
Book your snowshoeing tours! We are open!!!!!
Deep Creek Lake and Garrett County Highway Webcams
Hello everyone. It’s about time. Here is our first snow report! Whoppie!
A storm event is coming through Thursday and may leave 4-8″ by Friday. Weather appears fairly unstable after that for Sunday with some afternoon rain moving in. The hopeful part is the ground is pretty frozen so what falls could start a base. Monday gets could again with snow showers and colder more seasonal weather appears to be moving in later next week. Throw in some precipitation and winter could be back? Stay tuned here for the storm outcome and next week right here to see where we are at and what’s up.
Nevertheless our guided hikes for Friday, Saturday and Sunday morning should be very beautiful with the forest covered in snow. A journey into our very special backcountry areas will definitely provide superb picture taking and oohing and awwwing. Swallow Falls has been very crowded on weekends. We will be avoiding the main trails as usual in the interest of safety. Currently our region is at severe covid risk and our Governor has declared a state of emergency. Be safe out there folks.
Link To Our Weather Page – Here you will find our favorite weather web links and webcams for the Deep Creek Lake and Surrounding Area.
Having some great fall and late fall hiking tours as we approach winter. This week we had the pleasure of guiding a nice family from New Jersey on our 2 hour Swallow Falls Nature Walk. (See photos below) David and Christina had bought the kids digital cameras for their triplets, Emily, Sarah and Katie, It was fun blending in some photo work shop learning on the hike and kids really got into it and exploring the lighting. Grandma Sherri joined the hike too.
Weather was chilly and and you needed gloves and warm clothes. Remember folks, weather in our mountains is chilly. Especially at Swallow Falls which can be extra cold due to its proximity to the Cranesville Sub Artic Swamp. Prepare for winter from now on out. Hard frosts are almost every night.
However this weather makes for wonderful hiking if you are properly dressed.
In keeping with current current rate of INCREASING positivity in Garrett County, low local vaccination rates and the arrival of the Delta Variant we are requiring EVERYONE to wear a mask when checking in and while on shore. Once on the water masks may be removed. We are asking guests to maintain suitable distance while on the water, especially with Non associated groups.
GARRETT COUNTY COVID INFORMATION UPDATED 8/21/21
Garrett County Health Department
August 21st Update
Garrett County Vaccination Rate (ages 12 and up) 47%
KAYAKING TOUR: YOU MUST BRING A MASK FOR USE BY EVERYONE IN YOUR GROUP. So far 100% of the adults on our tours have been vaccinated. However this is an honor system. Kids are still not vaccinated so in respect to them we want everyone to have a mask with them and to stay at least 6 feet away from kids not in your group. Guides mask up when close to unvaccinated kids. We want folks to have their masks in their lifejacket pockets in case we have an emergency that requires us to get close to each other.
On hikes and other programs we require everyone to have masks and wear tem when close together. When adequate spacing can be maintained masks can be pulled down.
Our general feelings as of April 1st, is that we still do not know how this pandemic will play out this summer. Uncertainty seems to be the hallmark of this situation. We attract visitors from all over. Please be careful when out and about. More infectious and dangerous variants are in the United States. We intend to be cautious and conscientious. Our boat touch services and paddles will continue to be cleaned with CDC approved cleaners after every kayak tour. Stay safe everyone!
Last snow report of the year! Unless….we get a dump of 12″ or more.
What an amazing year it was! Spring is springing. We actually have some snow but it is too spotty.
Guided hikes are available and they do include on and off trail explorations in a variety of scenic locations. Wild flower season is coming to the Youghiogheny Wild River and Natural Area. Stay tuned to our facebook and instagram for spring programs like wild flower walks and reptile seeking adventures wit the Feral Nut when weather warms for our scaley freinds.
Well folks…conditions held the weekend of March 6th and 7th and were some of the best spring snowshoeing in years. The hard snow makes travel in the backcountry super easy and you can scamper about anywhere. The ease of climbing and descending with our mountaineering MSR snowshoes makes tackling rugged terrain part of the fun!
As far as next weekend a big thaw is brewing midweek but not coming with much rain. There will be some melt with the warm nights and ‘possible’ showers appearing. Shade temepratures will stay cool and cold nights next weekend might deliver more good conditions for snowshoeing.
If any snow remains after the weekend of March 13th and 14th cold nights and some snow returns to the forecast. Could it possible we’ll make it to April?
Make reservations and you can always convert your snowshoeing tour to a special backcountry guided hike ($10 discount) or cancel (24 notice required for refund).
We will be monitoring the weather closely and check our FACEBOOK page for updates as the weekend approaches.
Saturday and Sunday have space. Call 301-746-4083 for latest and to make reservations.
Awesome tour Tuesday after the thaw! Private couple tour with Hillary and Ben (pictured below). Good time with good people. We keep attracting such wonderful guests.
Our snow pocket on the north slope set up overnight and delivered sublime spring conditions where we bushwhack everywhere but the snowshoes don’t sink in requiring us to break and pack trail. Conditions will remain good for a few more weeks unless it gets really warm. Cold nights in the forecast will keep things nice. No rain 🌧 coming. Yeah.
Stay tuned for the latest reports and trip photos.
Saturday the 6th is full and Sunday 7th has two spaces open. Midweek tours are available. FOLLOWING weekend is booking. Trying to put together a Friday the 5th 10am trip if anyone’s interested. Call 301-746-4083
Links to our favorite weather and local web cams. Please note: As spring progresses more and more snow will disappear and vanish all round the lake. HOWEVER- The special north slope where we offer tours will hold snow for a quite awhile. In fact we may get a situation where you will drive the entire way to our meeting place and see NO snow until you get there.
The best snow season in years is ending with a great spring snowpack (depending on exposure) of 6-24”. When you make your business with snow you figure out where it is deep and protected. Come join us as this great winter slips slowly away!
We are still offering snowshoeing tours with very good conditions. We have however moved tours back to our secret snow stash on the north slopes near Cranesville (10-15 minutes past Swallow Falls). There is still 1-2ft. of snow pack despite the the big thaw. In fact as the days progress you probably will see no snow around the lake but we will still have great snowshoeing at our snow stash. Stay tuned for snow and tour updates.
We are predicting at least being able to offer tours through the third week of March. If we get some snow? Who knows – maybe into April.
Cold nights will preserve the base for quite awhile and no big thaws with rain are around the corner.
Photos from Monday March 1st.
Weekend Trips went great! Plenty of snow. We are going to Snaggy Mountain on Monday to dig out the parking area and we are VERY CONFIDENT it is still holding snow. Forr the very latest it’s always best to call us. We do try and post conditions updates on our facebook page as well as here on our web site.
Big thaw will disappear much of the snow around the parking areas at Swallow Falls (and all around the lake, south slopes snow will be gone) so we will be moving to Snaggy Mountain again. This is our secret snow stash. The base there is subsrtantial and we are anticipating tours through mid March. Monday afternoon March 1st is going to turn very cold so the base will set up and make for some good snowshoeing. A trip is going out Tuesday.
Accuweather Daily Extended Forecast is not showing much rain coming (if any) and cold nights to freeze up the base each night. Warmer days will make for excellent spring snowshoeing atop a very solid base. The north slope of Snaggy Mountain will endure some warming especially with below freezing nights.
For the latest call us at 301-746-4083
