DCL Policy and Review Board

DCL Policy and Review Board

Deep Creek Lake Natural Resources Management Area


ALERT - Roadwork Near Deep Creek Lake

The Garrett County Department of Public Utilities will recommence construction work on the Thayerville Water Project on Monday, March 11, 2013. The contractor assigned to the project will be installing a water line on the section of Glendale Road from the Glendale Bridge to Route 219/Garrett Highway beginning Monday, March 11, 2013. The anticipated work completion date of the work on Glendale Road is Friday, May 3, 2013. Any deviations of this projected completion date is contingent on weather conditions. Construction will occur between the hours of 7 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday thru Friday.

During the time of construction the roadway will be closed to traffic and detours will be posted. However, public access will be permitted to residences and businesses in the work zone but delays may be experienced. The local media will provide updates and other relevant information or persons may contact the Department of Public Utilities at 301-334-6983. The County apologizes for any inconvenience this construction may have for anyone who needs to travel this route.

DNR Warns Of Unlicensed Tree Companies

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) reminds homeowners to make sure that anyone they hire for tree trimming or removal is a Maryland Licensed Tree Expert.Read a recent press release regarding this issue.


The Lake


Deep Creek Lake Recreation and Land Use Plan
In 2000, the State of Maryland purchased the land underlying Deep Creek Lake, buffer zone properties and certain other parcels from General Public Utility, Inc. (GPU), for $17 million. During its' 2000 session, as the sale was being finalized, the Maryland General Assembly passed legislation to guide future management of Deep Creek Lake and established a Deep Creek Lake Policy and Review Board (PRB).

Deep Creek Lake Natural Resource Management Area lies just west of the Allegheny Front on a large plateau known as the Tablelands or Allegany Highlands. It lies west of the Eastern Continental Divide and within the Mississippi River watershed. The lake was created in 1925 when the Deep Creek project was constructed by the Youghiogheny Hydroelectric Company. At full pool, Deep Creek with 65 miles of shoreline has a surface area of 3900 acres with a storage volume of approximately 106,000 acre-ft. at the 2462 elevation level. The lake’s drainage is 64.7 square miles. Currently the water withdrawal from the lake is permitted for the Deep Creek power station and other limited purposes.

Visit the Discovery Center at Deep Creek Lake State Park for public access to the lake and buffer strip.

The lake management office is located on Brant Road just past the park headquarters. Information about buffer strip use and lake regulations can be obtained by calling 301-387-4111. Annual permits for use of waters of the lake and shoreline are issued to property owners who adjoin the State property. The State property around the lake is commonly called the buffer strip.

Resource Assessment Presentations

To view presentations made at the July 23, 2012 Policy and Review Board meeting, "click" on the links below.

Deep Creek Lake Policy and Review Board - the PRB

The PRB is charged with advising the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) on matters relating to lake fees, budget and management. In addition, the PRB and DNR were mandated to issue a Deep Creek Lake Recreation and Land Use Plan by June 2001 that provides for the wise use, protection and management of the natural and recreational resources of Deep Creek Lake. The Executive Summary and the Plan are available by "clicking" on the links below.

Questions, comments and communications for the Policy and Review Board may be directed to DeepCreekLakePRB@dnr.state.md.us or to the Policy and Review Board, Deep Creek Lake Management Office, 898 State Park Road, Swanton, Maryland 21561.

Property Owners

Boating at Deep Creek

The boat launch facility is open most of the year except when winter weather or ice conditions prohibit access. Fishing is generally good on the lake with stocked trout, walleye, bass, and yellow perch being the most abundant. A service charge for use of the ramp applies to all making use of the facility. A Maryland State Park passport (annual pass to all Maryland State Parks) is recommended. Purchase a State Park Passport here.

Boating Safety Education classes provide the the boaters of Maryland the necessary information to operate a vessel safely. "Click here" for Boating Safety Education classes sponsored by the Department of Natural Resources.

West of the Divide

Deep Creek Lake State Park lies just west of the Allegheny Front on a large plateau known as the Tablelands or Allegany Highlands. Its location at the southernmost end of Meadow Mountain places it west of the Eastern Continental Divide and within the Mississippi River watershed. It gets its name from Deep Creek Lake, a hydroelectric project constructed on Deep Creek in the 1920's by the Youghiogheny Hydroelectric Company.

Man has been associated with the use of this land for thousands of years. Early nomadic hunters and gatherers, followed by Native American hunters, roamed through the mountains of Garrett County but have left little record of their presence. Beginning in the 1700's, early settlers to the region eked a subsistence existence based on the utilization of the area's abundant natural resources. The mountains remained relatively untouched until the turn of the century when massive logging operations began stripping the land of the virgin red spruce, hemlock, white pine, and yellow birch forests.

The park is the site of the historic Brant coal mine and homesite, where a restored mine entrance preserves a typical drift or adit mine. The mine was worked for several years by the Brant family and supplied bituminous coal for heating and blacksmithing in the local community.

Deep Creek Lake NRMA

Location

Directions to Deep Creek Lake:
  • From Pittsburgh: Take I-79 south to I-68 east. Exit 14A (Route 219 South Deep Creek Lake). Continue on Route 219 South for 18 miles. Turn left onto Glendale Road. Continue on Glendale Road for one mile, crossing over the Glendale Bridge. Immediately after crossing the Glendale Bridge, turn left onto State Park Road. Continue on State Park Road for one mile until you see the information sign for the state park facilities.

  • From Washington, D.C.: Take 270 north to I-70 west to I-68 west. Exit 14A (Route 219 South Deep Creek Lake). Continue on Route 219 South for 18 miles. Turn left onto Glendale Road. Continue on Glendale Road for one mile, crossing over the Glendale Bridge. Immediately after crossing the Glendale Bridge, turn left onto State Park Road. Continue on State Park Road for one mile until you see the information sign for the state park facilities.

  • From Baltimore: Take I-70 west to I-68 west. Exit 14A (Route 219 South Deep Creek Lake). Continue on Route 219 South for 18 miles. Turn left onto Glendale Road. Continue on Glendale Road for one mile, crossing over the Glendale Bridge. Immediately after crossing the Glendale Bridge, turn left onto State Park Road. Continue on State Park Road for one mile until you see the information sign for the state park facilities.

Deep Creek Lake State Park
898 State Park Road
Swanton, Maryland 21561

Contact Deep Creek NRMA

Phone: 301-387-4111

Hours of Operation

8 a.m. to Sunset
Certain activities are permitted outside of the regular park hours (e.g. fishing, boat launch, hunting where permitted). Please check with the park before your visit if you plan to engage in an activity which requires you to be in the park before or after the posted hours.

Contact the Park Service

  • Toll Free: 1-800-830-3974
    (Annapolis Office)
  • Reservations: 1-888-432-2267
  • Park Watch: 1-800-825-7275
  • Email Us

Find A Park


If you prefer, you can use a map to locate one of our parks.