Thayer Trace Trail
A hand-built trail at Deep Creek Lake State Park.
TodayPrime RidingTrail Conditions- Distance
- 3.2 mi
- Difficulty
- Difficult
- Climb
- 427 ft
- Descent
- 381 ft
- Hunting
- Partly a Hunting Area
Good For: Mountain Bike, E-bike, Hike, Trail Running
About This Trail
Local Note: Bluebird fall day! Trails are dry and awesome!
Going clockwise from the top, the first section winds through a forest and doesn’t change elevation a lot, but it flows well over large rocks in some places. There are a few spots where you’ll want to watch your bars on the trees and time your pedal strokes, but it isn’t too technical. Once you start losing elevation, there are some line options through rockier sections, but it’s generally pretty easy to stay on the right line.
The switchbacks are tight, and some of them have large rocks with uneven placement, so you may have to search for the right lines there. Before you reach the bottom, there is a straightaway bench-cut along a slope with some rollers that you can pump to really gain speed. There is a switchback soon after that, so watch your speed until you’re familiar with it. Coming back up from the connector, the climb isn’t too difficult. The switchbacks are wider and banked more, so it may be well worth riding counterclockwise as well.
Completed in late summer 2019.
Trail Type & Etiquette
Hand-cut trail: drains well and rides fine with a little rain.
Leave a Track, Turn Back. If your tires or boots are leaving a track, pick another trail.
Updated Thu, Oct 29, 10:03 AM. These ratings come from DCAB riders who are out on these trails all week. They are rated for mountain biking, so hikers, runners and skiers can use them as a general guide. Conditions can change fast, and trails are rarely closed; use your judgment.
Plan Your Visit
- Trailhead
- 898 State Park Road, Swanton, MD 21561
- Fee
- Maryland State Park day-use fee: $3 (MD residents) / $5 (out-of-state). Per person Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day; per vehicle the rest of the year. The Discovery Center is free.
- Hours & Season
- Day use 8 a.m. to sunset; trails sunrise to sunset. From Dec. 15 to Mar. 15 the main gate is closed, so park at the Discovery Center.
- Restrooms
- At the Discovery Center and boat ramp, plus a waterless toilet at the Cherry Creek lot.
- Dogs
- Allowed on a leash on trails. Not on the swimming beach, docks or fishing piers.
- Hunting
- The park has a 551-acre hunting area, open Monday through Saturday only, and some trails cross it. Wear bright colors in season.
- Managed By
- Maryland Park Service · 301-387-5563
- Emergency
- Call 911. Nearest hospital: Garrett Regional Medical Center, 251 N. 4th Street, Oakland (301-533-4000). Duty ranger: 240-405-9827 (give your nearest lettered intersection).
Know Before You Go
- Trail intersections are lettered on the map. If you need help, call the duty ranger at 240-405-9827 and give your nearest letter.
- Lookout Trail is steep, rugged and rocky. Good shoes recommended.
- Bears live here. Keep food packed away (see BearWise.org).
- Stop at the free Discovery Center, with its raptor aviary, before or after your hike.
- Leave No Trace. Pack out what you pack in, stay on the trail, and if you're leaving a track, turn back.
Make a Day of It
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Visitor details checked by Deep Creek Times in October 2026. Fees and hours can change; confirm with the managing agency.
