RE: Cunningham Falls State Park MD - Anyone been there?

[LoveOurBayside]

 
We are thinking of camping there in September.  They have 2 electric loops but one looks like it is farther away from the other loops, but it also says that one has a playground.  The website does not give a full picture of the park itself.  WOuld appreciate feedback from anyone who has camped there.
 
 

[Pline Online]

 LoveOurBayside
We camped their earlier this year and liked it so much that we are going back in a couple of weeks. There is a swimming lake and trails to a waterfall that the kids can enjoy and a few playgounds scattered about. Most of the sites are well suited to pop-ups and are well maintained, even the electric loop (not many full size rigs).
 
 We stayed in a non electric site and filled our water tank from a nearby water source. We toured the electric loop and found it to be as private as the non electric site. The first few loops on the access road have better tree cover than the loops tword the top of the access road. Get a site that is shaded because there were a few sites that were out in the open and not private at all.
 
 Plenty of kids in the campground when we went. A little noisy during the sunset hours but it quieted down nicely. The loop roads were fairly quiet with not much traffic.
 
 Youll enjoy it.
 
 2003 Coleman Utah
 2001 Nissan Pathfinder
 DH 1962
 DW 1962
 DS 2001
 DD 2002
 
 The camp store isnt that great but the town of Thurmont is a short drive away in case you need supplies. There is a animal farm within a couple of miles of the campground and several good breakfast joints in case you want to get out. We didnt explore the surrounding area that much since, like all of spring, it rained much of the time.

[whitestar505]

 LoveOurBayside
LoveOurBayside,
 
     If not mistaking, no pets are allowed.. We were looking at going there last year but this did stop us....[&:]

[LoveOurBayside]

 LoveOurBayside
Pline online,
 
 Thanks for the review.  I can t wait to go now.  We don t mind dry camping except that the last time we had trouble with the battery and running the fridge on propane so I am a little worried about camping without a electric backup until we can be sure we have solved our problems.  
 
 Whitestar,
 
 My dog is 15 years old so we leave her at Camp Grannie (my mom s) so that s not a problem, but it s good that you brought that up for anyone else that reads this.
 
 

[BaysideBruce]

 LoveOurBayside
LoveOurBayside,
 We camp there at least 3 times a year and love it.  The lake is great for swimming with the kids and they have some very nice hiking trails.  The bathrooms are very clean (generally).  We try to stay in the Addison Run Loop sites 5,7 or 9. But really any of the site on the outside of the loop are great.  Happy Camping!

[LoveOurBayside]

 LoveOurBayside
Bruce,
 
 What s wrong with the inside loop sites?  DH wanted to be near the bathrooms so I reserved #10. []

[BaysideBruce]

 LoveOurBayside
LoveOurBayside - Sorry I thoguht I had already replied to you but I don t know where those electrons went to...
 
 There is nothing wrong with the sites on the inside of the loop.  They are closer to the restrooms, but because of that, there are paths that run " through"  a few of the campsites to the restrooms.  (Not through the sites but along side of the sites.)  I personally do not like to see people walking along side of my campsite.  That is the only real reason I enjoy the sites on the outside of the loop more.  The restrooms are close to all the sites so it is no advantage as for as I am concerned.  I like the " isolated"  feeling the outside ones give me.  Just a personal preference.  There really is nothing wrong with the site on the inside of the loop.

[LoveOurBayside]

 LoveOurBayside
Thanks for the explanation, Bruce.  The last time we camped at Rocky Gap DH thought we were too far from the bathrooms, but that might have had more to do with the many rainy days we had and the fact that we have three children.  We willl be right behind the restrooms at CF which I am figuring will mean a path will be by us (wish they would just mark them all on the maps).  As I said to DH we are only staying two nights so if it s not a perfect site we ll scope out ones for the next time.
 
 Carole

[LoveOurBayside]

Well, our trip to Cunningham Falls State Park last fall was canceled because the park was closed due to Tropical Storm Isabelle.  We decided to try again, on short notice, last weekend.  Ironically, the only site left on the electric loop was Site 10 - the same one we had reservs for last September.

We loved it!  It had a lot of the good things about Rocky Gap but we didn't have to drive as far.  The sites all seemed to be similar in size on the Addison Loop - all seemed level, too.  There were only two popups and about three trailers on the whole loop - I was surprised to see so many tenters on an electric loop. The bathrooms were okay.   I didn't go to the camp store (first for me) but DH said it was very small.  Most of the sites had huge picnic tables and it was hard to locate it with the slideout on one side and the awning on the other - could only put it perpendicular to the camper which would involve walking around it to get to the front or to the bathroom from the back.  We finally turned it sideways in front of the front bunk.  No room for a screen house.

We did the hike to the falls, 1/2  mile each way, fairly easy to push a stroller on the path.  (we have a nice stroller with big tires.)  When we returned we decided to see what the lake was like - who would have thought that in mid May people would be swimming in Maryland?  My boys ended up going in in their clothes.  They had a ball!  There's lots of sand, but also grass just beyond which helps get rid of the sand before heading back.  The snack bar and such were closed but are available during prime summer season.  There are several roped off areas for swimming and the kids saw a catfish, tons of tadpoles, and other fish swimming near the shore.  Canoes, paddle boats and row boats are available to rental.

The lake area is a day use area.  If you camp you get a pass for free admission.  I've heard that it gets crowded and parking gets tougher in the summer/good weather.  You could conceivably drive down and not be allowed to enter on a busy day.  In fact, there was a sign that said you are not guarenteed readmitance if you leave during the day.  I guess that is why a lot of people bring a big cooler with their picnic for the day.  

The area, like many park areas lately, is a trash free zone - meaning you must pack out your trash.  No trash cans!  Unfortunately, some people don't care and just stack it in the bathroom on the floor :-(  There was a trash can in the campground bathhouse but the dumsters are a drive (I think they are trying to keep the bears away by placing dumpsters on the outskirts of the campground.)  No water hookups - it's the pump and haul system typical in MD state parks.  There is a dump station by the main entrance to the campgrounds.

I've often read about loud campers in state parks and how less is done about it than in private campgrounds.  On Saturday night some campers were playing music very loud for hours.  It didn't bother us but I was very surprised that it continued for so long.  Here people come for the peace and quiet of the woods and nature and they use their electric setup to blast music all night.

We had the added entertainment of the Cicadas.

[HersheyGirl]

This sounds like a wonderful park.  I have been wanting to camp there since I first learned about it about a year ago.  I plan on taking the kids there in mid June.  What will the weather be like, should I get an electric site so that I can run the a/c, or will it be cool enough that I won't need it.  I perfer to dry camp, but I hate the heat and humidity at night.  Any suggestions?  TIA:D

[LoveOurBayside]

What will the weather be like, should I get an electric site so that I can run the a/c, or will it be cool enough that I won't need it.  I perfer to dry camp, but I hate the heat and humidity at night.   TIA:D

Sorry I didn't check in again here sooner.  We seemed to have a milder than usual June so I  hope things went well  for you.  We don't have air conditioning and have lucked out on the summer trips we've taken.  Good shade, Popupgizmos covers, and several fans have been enough for us as it has stayed under 90 degrees on all our trips.

[HersheyGirl]

Thanks for the reply.  I actually went camping there last week and the weather was wonderful, warm days, cool nights.  We went with the electric site, number 9.  It was very nice.  That is such a nice park and everyone was so helpful and friendly.  The main road into the park was washed out, the bridge collapsed from the last storm from a few weeks ago, so we had to do the detour.  One of the rangers did tell me how to get around it and it was so much easier.  We hiked to the falls and played in the lake and hung out at the campsite while DS played with the other boys in the campground.  I am so glad that we went, as it is a really nice park.  Thanks for all imput.