Best Things To Do at New Germany State Park in Maryland

Discover New Germany State Park in Western Maryland, a peaceful alternative to Deep Creek Lake with a sandy swimming beach, canoe rentals, scenic hiking trails, and family-friendly outdoor fun.

Estimated reading time: 10 minutes

Maryland’s western half is home to some gorgeous state parks, and New Germany State Park is no exception. What sets it apart is that it somehow stays overlooked.

Deep Creek Lake is one of my favorite places in western Maryland, but it also gets pretty busy during peak season. Parking lots fill up, restaurants book solid reservations weeks in advance, and the lake itself can get overrun with boats on busy summer weekends.

New Germany State Park doesn’t have that problem.

Nestled into the mountains just outside Grantsville, this park is quieter, smaller, and somehow feels even more secluded. At the center of it all is New Germany Lake, a peaceful mountain lake surrounded by thick forest and a few short hiking trails.

We didn’t spend a ton of time exploring the hiking trails during our visit, but we did spend plenty of time poking around the lake. Just wandering around, enjoying the scenery, taking photos. It was easy to tell that families love coming here.

Even though we barely scratched the surface of what there is to do at this park, New Germany State Park is already on our list for returning visitors to western Maryland.

Give it a try if you’re looking for a hidden gem off the beaten path.

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Planning Your Visit to New Germany State Park

New Germany State Park
349 Headquarters Lane
Grantsville, MD 21536

Hours: 8:00AM – Sunset

Admission Fees (May through September):

Maryland residents: Weekdays – $3 per person / Weekend/Holidays – $5 per person

Non-Maryland Residents: Weekdays – $5 per person / Weekend/Holidays – $7 per person

Children under the age of 5 enter the park for free.

In October through April, the park usually allows free admission.

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New Germany State Park Location

New Germany State Park is located in Garrett County in western Maryland. The entire park is surrounded by the much larger Savage River State Forest.

Driving Times from Nearby Cities:

20 minutes from Grantsville, MD

35 minutes from Deep Creek Lake, MD

45 minutes from Cumberland, MD

Since it’s not on the main tourist strip like Deep Creek Lake, it’s never overly crowded or loud like some other Maryland state parks.

Things to Do at New Germany State Park

Take in Views of New Germany Lake

The lake greets you as soon as you enter the park. New Germany Lake is by no means enormous, but man, is it scenic.

The thick forest hugs the shoreline while the surrounding hills give the entire area a secluded feel. We spent a lot of our time just hanging out around the lake during our visit.

On busy summer weekends, it’s probably going to be the place where most families are hanging out too.

Near the lake, there’s a sandy swimming beach where kids can run around. And on nice days, you’ll find plenty of people in the water.

But even if you don’t want to swim, it’s a beautiful area to kick back and relax for a bit.

Enjoy the Swimming Beach

Speaking of swimming beaches.

The swimming area at New Germany State Park has its own special spot along the lake. They’ve even roped off an area just for swimming.

Compared to beaches at other larger Maryland state parks, this swimming area felt quaint. But we loved it. Fewer people means less of a crowd and more space for families.

The lake was pretty calm while we were there and looked perfect for a warm summer day spent cooling off with the kids.

Bring your beach towels and chairs. You’ll want to hang out here for a while.

Rent Canoes or Kayaks

Right near the swimming area, there’s also a small boat rental station.

Rentals include:

canoes
kayaks
paddle boats

Renting a canoe or kayak to paddle around New Germany Lake would be a great way to spend some time here.

After all, there aren’t a ton of motorboats allowed on the lake since it’s relatively small. So paddling yourself along would be super relaxing.

Take a Short Walk Around the Lake

The lake may be the shining star of New Germany State Park, but there’s more to see and do.

We really enjoyed taking a short walk around the lake during our visit.

There’s a path that loops around New Germany Lake through the thick forest. The trail isn’t extremely long or challenging by any means. It’s more of a stroll you’d take with your family to see the sights.

We spotted tall evergreens, patches of ferns and forest foliage, and had plenty of chances to peek at the lake as we walked through the trees.

Be sure to stretch your legs before you leave if you only spend time at the lake beach area.

Hike Around New Germany State Park

If you want to spend more time on the hiking trails at New Germany State Park, we’ve got you covered.

Here are some of the better-known hiking trails at New Germany State Park:

Poplar Lick Trail: Follow Poplar Lick Run, a mountain stream that trickles through the forest.

Hemlock Trail: Walk through tall hemlock trees that create a thick canopy overhead.

Ace’s Run Trail: A longer trail that connects with others in the park for extended hiking adventures.

Since most of the hiking trails aren’t overly challenging, they’re great for families with younger children or anyone that doesn’t consider themselves a “serious hiker.”

Picnic Areas

One of my favorite things about smaller state parks is that they always seem to have hidden nooks and crannies for families to explore and enjoy.

Near New Germany Lake, there are several picnic tables and open grassy areas where families can spread out and relax for hours.

Pack a cooler. Bring a picnic lunch. Grab your beach chairs and blankets. These are the types of spots that make you want to slow down and take your time.

Camp at New Germany State Park

If you want to truly take in all New Germany State Park has to offer, consider staying overnight.

There are multiple campsites available for visitors that range from:

traditional campsites
rustic cabins
modern cabins

Since there are only around 50 campsites here, it tends to stay pretty quiet. And we imagine overnight guests really enjoy visiting the lake during sunrise and sunset hours.

Rent Cabins at New Germany State Park

Staying in one of New Germany State Park’s cabins is a great way to relax and unwind after a long day of hiking and exploring.

Cabins are available year-round but book up quickly during peak seasons. There are both modern and rustic cabins to rent, depending on your preference.

Cabins feature bathrooms and kitchens so you can cook meals yourself, or you can grab food from the small store at New Germany State Park’s welcome center.

New Germany State Park: An Alternative to Deep Creek Lake

Deep Creek Lake is awesome.

But sometimes that lake gets so crowded that you need a break.

That’s where New Germany State Park comes in.

Throw down a picnic lunch. Bring your beach towels and chairs. Relax on the small but scenic swimming beach. Rent a canoe or kayak and drift around the lake. The whole point of New Germany State Park feels like relaxing and spending time with family.

The entire area just exudes that relaxing mountain vibe.

One of Our Favorite Maryland State Parks

New Germany State Park may not be the biggest, nor the most popular Maryland state park, but we sure did love it.

The entire vibe here makes you want to kick back and relax. Whether that’s enjoying your picnic lunch by the lake or renting a canoe to peacefully paddle around, there’s something for everyone to enjoy at New Germany State Park.

We’ll definitely be back the next time we visit Deep Creek Lake!

Best Things To Do at New Germany State Park in Maryland

Planning Your Visit to New Germany State Park

Explore Western Maryland?