Maryland Mountains Majesty

Introduction To Quest

The quest at Dan’s Mountain State Park will provide teams the opportunity to visit one of the hidden gems of the Maryland Park Service. Teams will experience the splendor of Maryland’s mountains by taking a hike along the wooded Dye School Trail. Mountains have attracted people for centuries for reasons related to recreation, industry, adventure and nature. Designated stopping points along the trail will highlight the importance of our mountain ecosystem and all the ways people depend on its resources.

Quest Information

The quest begins at the pond near the Water Station Run Pavilion off of Water Station Run Road. Here, teams may sign in at the check-in station and begin the first task, following the worksheet directions. From the pond teams will cross the road and begin hiking along the Dye School Loop Trail beyond the yellow gate. Each task will prompt you to the next station along the trail. Look for white blazes marked on the trees to help guide you through the forest. Wooden Park Quest signs will also mark stations and designate trail direction throughout the hike. Each stop along the way features information regarding our wonderful mountains, and an alphabetical letter to record in order to answer the quest puzzle and receive a passport stamp.

To answer the puzzle and complete the quest, teams must unscramble the letters they collected to form a key word. The key word will provide you with the code that unlocks the stamp, located at the starting point. Don’t forget to reward yourselves with a stamp in your passport before you leave! If you desire help identifying the key word, or more information on the subject, please drive up Recreation Area Road and visit the Dan’s Mountain Overlook area for a clue.

The Dye School Trail has a moderate difficulty level due to a slight incline and rocky trail conditions. It is not recommended for the use of strollers or wheelchairs not designed for trail use. The trail supports hiking traffic only, so please leave any motorized vehicles, bikes and horses at home. If you are in need of special accommodations, please contact park staff at least one week in advance at 301-722-1480.

Don’t forget comfortable hiking shoes, water, snacks, sunscreen, insect repellant and a camera to make memories! Dogs on a leash are welcome to participate in the hike, but are not permitted inside the pool area. Please plan accordingly if you wish to stay and swim after your quest. The pool is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.

The pool is open Wednesdays to Sundays June 20 through August 26 and Labor Day Weekend.
HOURS: 12 Noon - 7:00 pm. (Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.)
Adults: $2, Children 12 and under: $1.50, Children under 3: Free
Contact Dan's Mountain Pool at 301-463-5564 or Rocky Gap State Park at 301-722-1480 for more details.

Teams are encouraged to print off the worksheet from the website ahead of time. Print the Dan’s Mountain State Park Quest Worksheet here.

Quest times are available daily from sunrise to sunset. If you need any assistance during your quest and a Dan’s Mountain staff member is not present, please call park headquarters at 301-722-1480.

Park Information

Dan’s Mountain State Park includes 481 acres and is a small part of a mountain 16 miles long. Surrounding the state park is the Dan’s Mountain Wildlife Management Area, which includes Dan’s Rock, the highest point in Allegany County at 2,895 feet above sea level. Although not the tallest mountain in Maryland, it has some of the steepest slopes and most impressive views. Dan’s Mountain is a perfect example of Maryland mountain geography referred to as the Allegheny Front, which includes ridge and valley geography extending to the north in Pennsylvania and to the south in West Virginia. The Allegheny Front separates the lower elevations in the east from the Appalachian Plateau in the west.

Named after Daniel Cresap, an early settler of the area, Dan’s Mountain State Park maintains much of the same beauty that Daniel once explored, including wildlife and forest diversity, rugged terrain and mountain streams. Today, visitors can fish in a 1/3 acre pond with a Maryland freshwater fishing license, hike the Dye School Trail, picnic, play on the tire playground, swim in an Olympic-size pool or reserve one of our four pavilions for a group gathering. Park Quest teams are invited to bring their fishing poles and swim suits and enjoy the entire park upon completing their mission!

Dan’s Mountain State Park
17410 Recreation Area Road, S.W.
Lonaconing, MD 21539
Park Headquarters (located at Rocky Gap State Park): 301-722-1480

Directions to Dan's Mountain State Park:

The Quest begins at the Dan’s Mountain State Park pond, located next to the Water Station Run Pavilion on Water Station Run Road.

From I-68:
From Interstate 68 use exit 34 toward Westernport/Frostburg. Continue south on Route 36 toward Westernport. Travel approximately 6.5 miles and Water Station Run Road will be on the left. The pond will be on the left after you enter the park. Dan’s Mountain State Park is about 30 minutes from Cumberland, 2 hours from Frederick, 3 hours from Baltimore and Washington D.C., and 5 hours from Salisbury, Maryland.