Backbone Mountain

Backbone Mountain is a mountain range in the central Appalachians, part of the in the Allegheny Mountains, stretching from northern West Virginia into Garrett County in western Maryland. The summit of the ridge is Hoye Crest (named for Captain Charles Hoye of the Garrett County Maryland Historical Society), at 3,360', the highest elevation in the state of Maryland. A 1.2 mile forested trail offers a moderate 40-minute climb to the summit from a trailhead a mile south of Silver Lake on US Route 219.

(301) 223-1948

Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park

The C&O Canal follows the route of the Potomac River for 184.5 miles from Washington, D.C. to Cumberland, MD. The canal operated from 1828-1924 as a transportation route, primarily hauling coal from western Maryland to the port of Georgetown in Washington, D.C. Hundreds of original structures, including locks, lockhouses, and aqueducts, serve as reminders of the canal’s role as a transportation system during the Canal Era. In addition, the canal’s towpath provides a nearly level, continuous trail through the spectacular scenery of the Potomac River Valley. Every year millions of visitors come to hike or bike the C&O Canal in order to enjoy the natural, cultural, and recreational opportunities available.

(301) 722-8226

Cranesville Sub-Arctic Swamp

A window into ice ages past, Cranesville Swamp is located in a “frost pocket,” an area where the surrounding hills capture moisture and cold air that conspire to create a landscape more reminiscent of habitat found much further north in Canada, including many rare species of flora. A property of The Nature Conservancy, an information booth identifies several trails, one of which includes a quarter-mile boardwalk over the swamp. Admission is free.

(301) 897-8570

Deep Creek Lake

Deep Creek Lake State Park and Natural Resources Management Area includes approximately 1 mile out of 65 miles of total shoreline on this, Maryland’s largest man-made lake. Access is available for fishing, swimming, and boat launching. Several picnic areas offer excellent views of the lake with easy access to the beach and other facilities. Interpretive programs, consisting of evening campfire programs, and talks and hikes on the natural and cultural resources of the park, are led by a park naturalist and are available at various times throughout the year. Fishing is generally good on the lake with stocked trout, walleye, bass, and yellow perch being the most abundant. Meadow Mountain offers opportunities for hiking. Trail difficulties range from moderate to difficult. A trail guide is available at Park Headquarters and at the Discovery Center.

(301) 387-5563

La Vale Toll Gate House

The Cumberland or National Road was constructed, from 1811 through 1818, to link Cumberland, Maryland, with the Ohio River. It became the principal transportation artery to the trans-Appalachian West. Toll gates were added in later years when this federal project was turned over to the individual states. Listed in the National Register of Historical Places, the La Vale Toll Gate House, built in 1835-1836, is a four-room structure which housed the gatekeeper who collected tolls along the road until the 1900's. It was Maryland’s only tollgate on the National Road, which continued to serve as the main highway connecting the East Coast and the Midwest until the construction of the Interstate highway system in the 1960s.

(301) 729-4938

Rocky Gap State Park

Rocky Gap State Park encompasses over 3,000 acres of public land for guests to enjoy. Rugged mountains surround the park which features 243-acre Lake Habeeb. The lake is fed by Rocky Gap Run which winds its way through an impressive mile long gorge displaying sheer cliffs, overlooks and a hemlock forest dense with rhododendron. Overlooking the lake is Evitts Mountain, named for an early settler in Allegany County. Fishing is excellent in Lake Habeeb and is permitted 24 hours a day, seven days a week, along with non-motorized boating. The lake is home to panfish, trophy trout, large and smallmouth bass. Rocky Gap offers a variety of hiking trails for all levels of ability, several of which include spectacular scenery.

(301) 722-1480

Western Maryland Scenic Railroad

Recapture the romance of railroading’s golden era on a restored early 20th century steam train ride through the mountains between Cumberland and Frostburg. Enjoy three centuries of transportation history, scenic excursions, first class dining cars, murder mystery/dinner trains and Santa’s Express
holiday specials.

(301) 759-4400

For additional information on attractions in the Western Region,
please visit the following chambers of commerce and tourism bureaus:

Allegany County Chamber of Commerce
Garrett County Chamber of Commerce
Maryland State Chamber of Commerce