Dog walking in Accident

Bumblebee Road

The dog park at Deep Creek Lions Club Park is a real-mutts visit! At a full 40,000 square feet, there’s plenty of room in both the small and large dog areas for even the friskiest fur-ball to blow off a little steam. Bags and water are provided, and there’s even a doggy shower in case your buddy gets muddy. The park is the product of a joint project between the gifted and talented class at a local middle school and HART for Animals, and as if the story couldn’t get any cuter, the park is located on the peaceful, semi-rural and adorably named Bumblebee Road.

Deep Creek Lake State Park

With Accident right in the middle of the spectacular natural beauty of the Deep Creek region, it should come as no surprise that there are some fantastically fur-friendly hiking options nearby. Deep Creek Lake State Park is just twenty minutes away, and it’s a pawfect place for you and your buddy to get back to nature! You’ll find miles of trails here, all wandering through natural wooded wonderland. The Beckman Trail is a nice easy walk, while the Indian Turnip Trail should suit more athletic animals. And if your pooch likes swimming, you’re in luck -- doggy paddlers are welcome at all parts of the lake except the beach.

Deep Creek Drive

No bones about it, if you and your pooch are looking for somewhere to chow down, you’re sure to find it on McHenry’s Deep Creek Drive! For breakfast, chill out on the lakeside patio at Canoe on the Run, and be sure to try their chili omelet! If you’re stopping for dinner, Black Bear Tavern is your best bet -- their pub grub might be basic, but your pooch is sure to appreciate their $2 Doggy Burger, and their pup-friendly terrace offers gorgeous views over the water. A special mention has to go to Deep Creek Sweets, where a wide range of doggy delights are stocked alongside human treats!

Swallow Falls State Park

Swallow Falls State Park is definitely a mutts-visit! Standing stately on the western side of the Youghiogheny River at the corner of Garrett State Forest, the park’s titular falls are the highest standing falls in Maryland, and truly a sight to be seen. The way up isn’t bad to look at, either -- the trees are tall and majestic, and the Canyon Loop Trail is lined with wild rhododendrons peeking out from interestingly formed rock outcroppings. The path itself is rated easy to moderate -- though there isn’t much of an incline, some of the rocks by the river can get slippery.

Savage River State Forest

You’d have to be barking mad not to take your pooch to Savage River State Forest! This pawesome preserve is one of the most scenic in an area that provides some serious competition. The mature oak and hardwood forest is shot through with almost too many streams, creeks, and tributaries to count, and its many trails mostly meander along the waterways. Fitter furry friends in search of a challenge should try the twelve-mile Meadow Mountain Trail, which features some steep elevation gains and rewards those who complete it with stunning vistas from Meadow Mountain Overlook. There are, of course, trails for the less athletic among us as well.