Rocky Gap State Park
RV Guide

The state park features all sorts of multi-use trails for guests to enjoy during their stay here, and you'll see plenty of guests taking the opportunity to get out on their bikes. The 5.3-mile Lakeside Loop Trail is one of the biking trails available, offering stunning views of Lake Habeeb. The trail is mainly a single dirt track, but there are a few short sections that are gravel or paved. This trail is recommended for bikers due to its distance and moderate difficulty. It is not overly challenging and, but can get a bit tight in a few places. This is a fun trail and ideal to take beginners on.

For park visitors who would like to take advantage of this sport, Rocky Gap State Park provides public access to over 1,400 acres for hunting. This area is easily reached by making a short trek from the Touch of Nature Trailhead parking lot or by coming from the campground. There is a separate area of Pleasant Valley Road that encompasses 300 acres and is only open to bow hunting. Hunting area maps are available at the Ranger Station. This is one unique recreation you can take advantage of while visiting Maryland in your motorhome.

If you're a fishing enthusiast, you're in luck. The park offers fishing in the lake where you can expect to reel in trout, catfish, panfish, and both largemouth and smallmouth bass. In order to assist the fish population, there are park volunteers that add artificial fish habitats in the lake, to increase brown trout and rainbow trout numbers. If you're over the age of 16 and looking to try your hand at fishing, be sure you have an active Maryland Non-Tidal/Freshwater fishing license.

If you want to take a simple stroll, you can try the quarter-mile stretch of the Touch of Nature Trail. It's an easy walk that offers a paved trail, meaning visitors of all ability levels are able to travel along it. Benches line the tree-edged pathway that leads over to the fishing dock. In the woods, 100 feet from the Touch of Nature parking lot, you'll find the Lemel Bucy Family Cemetery. This cemetery dates all the way back to the 19th century and is the family cemetery of the previous owners of land that the park is on. You'll also be able to see Civil War-era stones when you visit.

When you're looking for a magnificent view, you'll want to be sure you take the opportunity to witness the one-mile-long gorge. This gorge is shared by visitors who take the Canyon Overlook Trail, a quarter-mile long trek that offers a worthwhile scenic hiking destination. Usually, the longer, more difficult hikes produce some of the best views, and visitors hiking along this trail can witness the awe-inspiring landscape. Make sure to take enough water and food along - and don't forget to take your camera along to capture pictures of the views!

Lake Habeeb is an excellent place for boating at Rocky Gap State Park. As long as you don't have a gas motor on your boat, you are good to go. You can easily launch your boat at the public ramp, which is just off Pleasant Valley Road. If you didn't bring your own watercraft, you can rent canoes and kayaks from the Day Use Area during the summer.

The lake allows for all sorts of watercraft opportunities, including many forms of paddle boats. Paddling along the shore lake is a great way to explore the lake, and you'll find several different coves to stop at and enjoy a break while enjoying the scenery. It's okay if you don't have a boat that you regularly pack up for trips; the park has you covered. There are rentals available for canoes, kayaks, and even stand up paddleboards. These rentals are available from Memorial Day weekend through to Labor Day and can be found in the Day Use Area and at the campground's beach.

The aviary at Rocky Gap State Park offers an exciting educational program for visitors to the park. This program utilizes non-releasable birds of prey and reptiles that have been previously injured and rehabilitated by qualified staff. The Scales and Tales naturalists highlight important environmental problems, like environmental pollution and loss of habitat, by telling stories about how the birds in their care got injured and ended up in the program.

All the species in the program are native to Maryland and are often wildlife that you may even get a glimpse of during your stay. It's a highly unique activity that will be worth reliving long after this adventure is over.

You can enjoy the interpretive programs that the park's staff conducts through the summer, all based out of the Nature Center. The center offers guests all sorts of activities, and each is an opportunity to learn more about the culture and natural history of the park. Types of programs include talks, demonstrations, nature hikes, children's programs, nature crafts, campfire programs, and special events. Group programs can also be arranged throughout the year upon request and can be adjusted to suit the group's needs.

There are a variety of trails to choose from when looking for a hiking opportunity during your stay at Rocky Gap State Park. The trails here range in terms of terrain, difficulty levels, and length. The longest hike is just over five miles and the shortest one is a quart-mile long. One of the more popular trails is the Lakeside Loop Trail that encircles the entirety of Lake Habeeb.

Hikers who take on this 5.3-mile trek will be rewarded with the beautiful scenery of the area. Don't let this be your only view of the place, though, there is a variety of diverse trails here are sure to keep you busy.