Muddy Creek Falls in Swallow Falls State Park, is the Maryland's highest free-falling waterfall. The height of the falls is listed by various sources as somewhere between 54 and 63 feet. Muddy Creek Falls has developed in the Pottsville formation, which consists mainly of cross-bedded sandstones and more easily eroded siltstones and shales. These rocks date to the Pennsylvanian Period and are about 300 million years old.
Muddy Creek Falls is labeled by many as the highest waterfall in Maryland. This is contested by Cunningham Falls in Cunningham State Park in Frederick, MD, which claims to be higher. This is a question of how a waterfall's height is measured. Cunningham Falls consists of a series of somewhat disassociated short cascades while Muddy Creek falls in one drop. Regardless of which one is taller, Muddy Creek Falls can easily be labeled as the most impressive waterfall in Maryland, especially in high water when both sides of the falls are full.
In lower water, the falls flow mainly over the right side of the falls (facing upstream). The ledge on this side has been shaped into a semi-circle from the centuries of water flowing over it, breaking down the cliff side into several step-like cascades which stagger the plunge. When the water grows high enough to allow the left side to flow, however, the falls take on a new character as a fifty foot sheet of free-falling water covers the sheer cliff side. Because water only flows over the left side of the falls in high water, the ledge on this side is still straight and comparatively unworn. The right curved ledge is wider than the straight left ledge but in the right water conditions, the entire cliff is covered with water from one bank to the other. Below the falls, Muddy Creek's channel deepens and widens somewhat but there is no real 'pool' because of the swift-moving waters. Muddy Creek continues for a quarter-mile or so before it flows into the Youghiogheny River.
A waterfall is where a river or a stream, flows over a large step in the rocks and loses elevation. Over a period of years, the edges of this shelf will gradually break away and the waterfall will steadily retreat upstream, creating a gorge of recession. Often, the rock stratum just below the more resistant shelf will be of a softer type, meaning undercutting, due to splashback, will occur here to form a shallow cave-like formation known as a rock shelter or plunge pool under and behind the waterfall. Eventually, the outcropping, more resistant cap rock will collapse under pressure to add blocks of rock to the base of the waterfall. These blocks of rock are then broken down into smaller boulders by attrition as they collide with each other, and they also erode the base of the waterfall by abrasion, creating a deep plunge pool.
Types of Waterfalls:
Waterfalls that remain in contact with the underlying rock:
Cascade: generally water that flows down in small steps or stages.
Chute: A violent section of water that is forced through a narrow passage due to cliff walls or large rocks.
Fan: falls through a relatively narrow crest and spreads out and becomes wider as it descends.
Horsetail: descends down remaining in contact with the surface most of the time.
Scree/Talus: flowing over a chaotic mix of rock debris on a slope usually found at the base of a cliff or steep incline.
Slide: glides over a single slab of rock maintaining smooth continuous contact.
Waterfalls that separate from the underlying rock:
Block/Sheet: drops over a ledge forming what appears to be a "sheet" of water - usually not broken into segments and it is wider than it is tall.
Cataract: waterfall that is large, very powerful and rushes down with force.
Classical: similar to Block, but roughly equal in height and width
Curtain: similar to Block, but typically taller than wide.
Plunge: descends vertically without contacting the underlying surface.
Punchbowl: falls through a constricted area and descends down into a pool of water.
Veil: falls over rocks creating a thin layer of water that just barely covers it's surface.
Other Descriptive Types:
Parallel: falls are side-by-side and fall similar to each other.
Ribbon: descends in a narrow strip significantly taller than it is wide.
Segmented: Pieces of land segment the river (same watercourse) causing the water to fall in sections.
Slot/Keyhole: pushes through a narrow area before falling.
Tiered: Separate waterfalls falling consecutively and in close proximity so generally they can be seen together. Any type of falls can be tiered.
Twin: side-by-side but do not have to be similar in type. (Triple and more can exist as well)
Park is open from 8AM to sunset. You will start by locating the entrance to Swallow Falls State Park and drive back to the parking area at the posted coordinates. There is a fee for parking. This is $2 for residents of Maryland and $3 for others as of 2008. From the parking area follow the trail until it forks. Proceed left to Muddy Creek Falls to complete the requirements. A right at this fork will take you on the trail to Swallow Falls. The map at the trailhead shows the location of all four waterfalls and all are worth exploring although visiting Muddy Creek Falls is the only requirement for this EarthCache.
After completing the requirements at Muddy Creek Falls it may also be of interest to some to proceed downstream to the confluence of Muddy Creek and the Youghiogheny River to see a very impressive balancing rock formation perched on the edge where the two waterways join. If you opt to go check this out, you should exercise caution in getting to this. You may have to scramble over some boulders and walk over some very slippery rocks. It is definitely worth going to check out. There are also a few nice traditional cache is this park as well.
Total round-trip distance is about four tenths of a mile for the falls and about six tenths of a mile if you decided to check out the balancing rock. The trail is hard-packed dirt and very easy. The steps down to the bottom of the falls are made of wood and can be slippery when wet. This trip should be fine for children but it is possible to go out onto the top of the falls so it would be best to keep an eye on them.
The park can be reached at (301) 387-6938 for any additional information.
To claim this as a find:
1. Post a photo of yourself and your GPS with Muddy Creek Falls in the background. (Optional)
2. Estimate the width of the water flowing over at the top, the crest of the waterfall, at your time of visit.
3. Classify the falls using the above descriptive types.
4. Use your log to describe, in your own terminology, the amount of water flowing over the falls along with a quick description of the current weather conditions.
E-mail the answers to me for 2 and 3, and post the answer to number 4 with your log within a few days. Failure to comply with these requirements will result in log deletion.
Good luck and good caching.
- Rev Mike