Waterfalls – Maryland Travel Stories

The Gap Falls Mystery

gap-falls-gate Maryland has 13 waterfalls throughout the state (14 if you count Paw Paw Falls). My wife and I tried to visit Gap Falls in Garrett County and ran into a little bit of a barrier (see photo). The road to the falls was blocked by a gate with private property signs on it. The GPS said we still had 4 minutes of driving time to go.

Google Maps has Gap Falls only a short drive from Wisp Resorts in McHenry, Md. The Garrett County Visitors Center is also in the area. We stopped by the center to get more information or see if there’s another route to the falls. This is where the mystery begins.

The very friendly woman at the center had not heard of Gap Falls. She did have a map of Swallow Falls State Park listing 4 falls in the area; Muddy Creek Falls, Lower Swallow Falls, Upper Swallow Falls and Tolliver Falls. No Gap Falls.

I scanned a few brochures … nothing. Gap Falls is either on private property or you have to go through private property to get to it. Bummer!

I can’t say it was a wasted trip. Driving through Maryland mountains this time of year is wonderful. A sea of trees and fall colors greeted us on the drive up. We drove through one of our favorite parts of the state, Deep Creek Lake, Md. The Supermoon gave us extra light along country roads on the way back. Not a wasted trip!

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Yellow Trail Mystery Solved – Stubblefield Falls

Scotts Run Trail - Yellow Trail

Previous posts about Finding the Yellow Falls can be found here.

I explained my approach to seeing Yellow Falls in my first post about Yellow Falls. I will try to see the falls by getting as close to the Potomac River on the Virginia side with a good camera.

I can get access to the river from the Scotts Run Nature Preserve. Scotts Run has a system of trails that will take you all the way to the river but I needed to find the best path.

I parked in the East parking lot at the start of the yellow trail and walked to the end. I found a waterfall. Problem is … it’s clearly not the Yellow Falls.
Mystery solved. Look at the map above. The Yellow Falls are in front of Turkey Island. The falls I saw are the Stubblefield Falls on the Virginia side of the Potomac River. There’s an overlook at the end of the Yellow Trail that gives you a nice view of the falls but you still have trees in the way.

On a side note. I saw a small sign at the entrance to Scotts Run on my last trip. It was a sign for Great Falls Creamery. I decided to check this place out on this trip. After a short drive with the help of my GPS, I had me some ice cream! The salted caramel was wonderful.

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Finding Yellow Falls III

Previous posts about Finding the Yellow Falls can be found here.

I explained my approach to seeing Yellow Falls in my first post about Yellow Falls. I will try to see the falls by getting as close to the Potomac River on the Virginia side with a good camera. I can get access to the river from the Scotts Run Nature Preserve in Fairfax County, VA. Scotts Run has a yellow marked trail that will take you all the way to the river.

For the trip, I parked in the East parking lot at the start of the yellow trail and walked to the end. I found a waterfall. Problem is … it’s clearly not the Yellow Falls. I need to do some research but here are some photos from the trip.

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See the Potomac River Yellow Falls on Video

Ok, I haven’t seen the Yellow Falls on the Potomac River yet but I will. I wanted to know what to expect at the end of the hike to the Potomac River. I did a search on Google and found tow videos on Youtube. Presenting the Yellow Falls:

and video 2

This confirms the Yellow Falls are the smallest falls in the state of Maryland and maybe the hardest to get to. I think I have a whitewater kayaking class in my future.

Maryland Waterfalls Project

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Finding Yellow Falls II – Follow the Purple and Yellow Trails

Scotts Run Trail Map (Partial) I explained my approach to seeing Yellow Falls in my first post about Yellow Falls. I will try to see the falls by getting as close to the Potomac River on the Virginia side with a good camera.

I can get access to the river from the Scotts Run Nature Preserve. Scotts Run has a system of trails that will take you all the way to the river but I needed to find the best path. (I don’t want to get lost!)

Well, I have my path mapped! I will park in the same parking lot off Georgetown Pike. Go up the steps to the Parking Lot Connector Trail (Purple). Follow the Parking Lot Connector Trail to the Stubblefield Falls Overlook Trail (Yellow). Take the Stubblefield Falls Overlook Trail all the way to the Potomac River. The trip is planned for next week. Wish me luck!

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Finding Yellow Falls I – The Trails of Scotts Run

Scotts Run Nature Preserve - Fairfax County - Virginia I explained my approach to seeing Yellow Falls in my first post about Yellow Falls. I will try to see the falls by getting as close to the Potomac River on the Virginia side with a good camera. Well, easier said than done.

Most of the roads that go from Georgetown Pike to the river near Turkey Island are private roads. Each road has a sign warning you, “Private Road, Residences Only” or “No River Access”. I finally found a way to get access to the river, Scotts Run Nature Preserve. (Thank you Fairfax County, Virginia!)

Scotts Run has a system of trails that will take you all the way to the river. The problem is it’s a large system of trails. Miles of trails. Trails crossing in all directions. A person could get lost trying to find the river. Luckily, the trails are color-coded and I found a map!

Scotts Run Sign Scotts Run Steps There are two entry points with available parking. I can park my car and climb a set of steps to access the trails. It’s hiking shoes for my next trip. Wish me luck!

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Yellow Falls and Turkey Island

Yellow Falls is one of three waterfalls in Montgomery County, Maryland. All three falls located in the county are on the Potomac River.

Yellow Falls are really a set of very small rapids formed when the river bends around Turkey Island. Turkey Island appears to be the best vantage to see the falls but I’m still researching. It looks like a boat ride is in my future if I can’t see the rapids from the Virginia side of the river.

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Maryland Waterfalls Project

dreamstime_xs_25473158 - Hill with waterfalls landscape Maryland has 13 waterfalls throughtout the state. I will visit and photograph each of them. The waterfalls are as follows:

Gap Falls – Garrett County
Muddy Creek Falls – Garrett County
Swallow Falls – Garrett County
Tolliver Falls – Garrett County
Cascade Falls – Frederick County
Cunningham Falls – Frederick County
Amos Falls – Cecil County
Gilpins Falls – Cecil County
Kilgore Falls – Harford County
Long Green Creek Waterfall – Baltimore County
Great Falls of the Potomac – Montgomery County
Stubblefield Falls – Montgomery County
Yellow Falls – Montgomery County

This will be fun!

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