Garrett County, Maryland

Waterfalls Near Oakland, MD

Oakland has 6 named waterfalls within 30 miles, 4 of them inside 10 miles. The nearest is Tolliver Falls, 6.0 miles north of town. Muddy Creek Falls earns the best visitor rating nearby (5.0 stars from 43 Google reviews). Most of the falls are north of Oakland. The list includes falls across the line in West Virginia.

Distances are straight-line from the town center. Driving routes are longer.

Photo of Blackwater Falls in Tucker County, West Virginia
Pictured: Blackwater Falls, WV

Best Waterfalls Near Oakland at a Glance

6 Waterfalls Near Oakland, Ranked by Distance

  1. Tolliver Falls

    Oakland, MD · Garrett County · 6.0 mi north of Oakland
    4.9 (15 reviews)

    Tolliver Falls is the closest named waterfall to Oakland, 6.0 miles to the north in Garrett County. It ranks 3rd for review count among waterfalls near Oakland. Low, gentle waterfall in Swallow Falls State Park with a scenic forest setting & a swimming hole.

    Rating
    4.9 (15 Google reviews)
    Address
    Garrett County, MD 21550 (GPS 39.4948, -79.4189)
    View details Directions

  2. Upper Swallow Falls

    Oakland, MD · Garrett County · 6.1 mi north of Oakland
    3.9 (8 reviews)

    Upper Swallow Falls lies 6.1 miles north of Oakland in Garrett County, number 2 of 6 by distance. It ranks 4th for review count among waterfalls near Oakland.

    Rating
    3.9 (8 Google reviews)
    Address
    Garrett County, MD 21550 (GPS 39.4956, -79.4173)
    View details Directions

  3. Lower Swallow Falls

    Oakland, MD · Garrett County · 6.4 mi north of Oakland
    5.0 (2 reviews)

    Lower Swallow Falls lies 6.4 miles north of Oakland in Garrett County, number 3 of 6 by distance. It ranks 5th for review count among waterfalls near Oakland.

    Rating
    5.0 (2 Google reviews)
    Address
    Garrett County, MD 21550 (GPS 39.5004, -79.4159)
    View details Directions

  4. Muddy Creek Falls

    Oakland, MD · Garrett County · 6.5 mi north of Oakland
    5.0 (43 reviews)

    Muddy Creek Falls lies 6.5 miles north of Oakland in Garrett County, number 4 of 6 by distance. It ranks 2nd for review count among waterfalls near Oakland. State's highest waterfall at 53 feet flowing through a river gorge in forested state park.

    Rating
    5.0 (43 Google reviews)
    Address
    Garrett County, MD 21550 (GPS 39.5012, -79.4178)
    View details Directions

  5. Gap Falls

    Oakland, MD · Garrett County · 13 mi north of Oakland
    3.0 (2 reviews)

    Gap Falls lies 13 miles north of Oakland in Garrett County, number 5 of 6 by distance. It ranks 6th for review count among waterfalls near Oakland.

    Rating
    3.0 (2 Google reviews)
    Address
    Garrett County, MD 21541 (GPS 39.5904, -79.4270)
    View details Directions

  6. Blackwater Falls

    Parsons, WV · Tucker County · 21 mi south of Oakland
    4.8 (171 reviews)

    Blackwater Falls lies 21 miles south of Oakland in Tucker County, number 6 of 6 by distance. It draws more Google reviews than any other waterfall near Oakland. A long boardwalk with stairs leads to views of this 57-foot waterfall in a scenic recreation area.

    Rating
    4.8 (171 Google reviews)
    Address
    Tucker County, WV 26260 (GPS 39.1138, -79.4832)
    View details Directions

Where the Waterfalls Are

Oakland sits in or near the Allegheny Plateau area of Maryland. Garrett County is Maryland's highest and snowiest corner, and its falls have a mountain character unlike anything else in the state. Swallow Falls State Park, near Oakland, protects a cluster of falls in a hemlock forest: Muddy Creek Falls, described as the state's highest at 53 feet, along with Upper and Lower Swallow Falls on the Youghiogheny River and the gentler Tolliver Falls. The water here often runs tea-colored from tannins in upland bogs and forests. Ledges of sandstone and conglomerate shape the drops, and the surrounding plateau of farms and forest makes for a quiet, cool-weather destination even in midsummer. Read the Maryland waterfall guide.

By direction from Oakland: 5 to the north and 1 to the south. They are spread across Garrett County (5) and Tucker County (1). The average distance is 9.7 miles.

By Distance

Within 10 miles of Oakland

Tolliver Falls (6.0 mi), Upper Swallow Falls (6.1 mi), Lower Swallow Falls (6.4 mi), Muddy Creek Falls (6.5 mi)

10 to 20 miles of Oakland

Gap Falls (13 mi)

20 to 30 miles of Oakland

Blackwater Falls (21 mi)

Nearby Towns With Waterfalls

Waterfalls Near Oakland: FAQs

How many waterfalls are near Oakland, MD?

6 named waterfalls lie within 30 miles of Oakland: 4 within 10 miles, 1 10 to 20 miles, 1 20 to 30 miles. Distances are straight-line from the town center.

What is the closest waterfall to Oakland?

Tolliver Falls in Garrett County is the closest, about 6.0 miles north of Oakland.

What is the best-rated waterfall near Oakland?

Muddy Creek Falls has the highest Google rating among nearby falls with at least 10 reviews: 5.0 stars from 43 Google reviews. The most reviewed is Blackwater Falls.

Which counties are the waterfalls near Oakland in?

Garrett County (5) and Tucker County (1).

How does Oakland compare with other Maryland towns?

Oakland ranks 1st of the 7 Maryland towns in our directory for the number of waterfalls within 30 miles.