Waterfalls in Maryland: 14 Photo Spots, Light & Night Sky Guide

Name	County	Elevation	Nearest town	Sky
Great FallsChesapeake & Ohio Canal	Montgomery County	38 m	Great Falls	7
Kilgore Falls	Harford County	—	Susquehanna Trails	5
Round Falls	City of Baltimore	—	Remington	9
Amos Falls	Cecil County	6 m	Rising Sun	5
The Cascade	Frederick County	299 m	Myersville	5
Cunningham Falls	Frederick County	380 m	Thurmont	5
Gap Falls	Garrett County	594 m	Terra Alta	3
Gilpins Falls	Cecil County	63 m	North East	5
Kilgores Rocks	Harford County	120 m	Susquehanna Trails	5
Lower Swallow Falls	Garrett County	662 m	Oakland	3
Muddy Creek Falls	Garrett County	705 m	Oakland	3
Tolliver Falls	Garrett County	694 m	Oakland	3
Upper Swallow Falls	Garrett County	688 m	Oakland	3
Wiley Falls	Harford County	155 m	Jarrettsville	5

Sky = estimated Bortle class (1 darkest – 9 brightest).

Map

How to photograph waterfalls

Waterfalls photograph best in soft, even light: overcast days, deep shade, or the hour after sunrise before direct sun hits the water. Bright sun on white water blows highlights and adds harsh contrast.

Use 1/4 to 1 second for a silky look; 1/500 s or faster freezes individual drops.
A circular polarizer cuts glare on wet rocks and leaves and deepens greens — rotate it while watching the rocks, not the sky.
Spring snowmelt and the days after heavy rain give the strongest flow; late summer flow can drop to a trickle.
Look for a foreground: a mossy boulder, a fallen log or the creek's leading lines make a stronger frame than the falls alone.
Keep a microfiber cloth handy — spray drifts onto the lens, especially at the plunge pool.

Season: Peak flow is usually in late spring; autumn adds color around the falls, and winter can bring ice formations at colder locations.