19 Amazing Things To Do in Deep Creek MD in Winter (Updated for 2023)
Looking for Things To Do in Deep Creek MD in Winter?
Deep Creek Lake in Western Maryland is a fun destination to go to all year round, but especially during the wintertime. It is actually one of the best locations in Maryland to enjoy winter activities.
With over 69 miles of shoreline and over 3,900 acres in total, there are tons of activities in Deep Creek for a fun winter vacation. It is on our list of some of the best places to visit within 4 hours of Baltimore.
Here are all the fun things to do in Deep Creek MD in winter to make your trip here incredible and memorable!
Best Things To Do in Deep Creek Maryland in Winter
Here are some of the best things to do in Deep Creek MD in winter to enjoy all that this beautiful place has to offer.
1. Skiing and Snowboarding
Deep Creek Lake area is one of the only places to go skiing in Maryland! At Wisp ski Resort, you will find 33 ski slopes and over 137 acres of terrain that are perfect for skiing or snowboarding.
You can rent some skis from a few locations around the lake, or you can bring your own. There are areas for all levels of skiers. Choose from beginners, intermediate, or expert levels and enjoy the incredible slopes at Deep Creek!
If this is your first time skiing, try taking a ski lesson at Wisp Resort.
2. Cross-Country Skiing at ski resorts or trails
If you love skiing, try going cross-country skiing too! There are many great parks here that offer trails perfect for cross-country skiing during the winter.
Trails range from moderate to challenging, and you can rent all the equipment you need here too! You can also ski at good trails like Herrington Manor State Park, Deep Creek lake state park, Blackborne farm, and New Germany State Park.
You can also visit some of the best lakes in Maryland for vacation, some of these are set up for cross-country skiing.
3. Ice Skating
During the winter months, one of the many things to do in Deep Creek in winter is to enjoy skating on the ice. Wisp Resort offers an outdoor ice skating rink that is temperature-controlled and perfect for all levels of skaters.
4. Sledding and Tubbing
Another one of the best things to do at Deep Creek MD is to go sledding or snow tubbing! There is a special tubbing park where you won’t have to walk back up the hill after you finish tubbing. Simply ride up the conveyor belt and slide down again!
Wisp Resort will provide both the sleds and tubes for your experience, you just have to show up, making it an easy winter activity to enjoy. There are 12 groomed lanes that are 750 feet long for an awesome sledding or tubbing experience.
You can also go sled riding at Blackwater Falls State park which is just within an hour of deep Creek lake.
This is a perfect activity to do with your kids who are four years old and older!
5. Snowshoeing and Hiking
If there is plenty of snow, why not go snowshoeing? It is a fun way to hike and walk around in all the beautiful snow. Depending on the weather, you can go on a nice, easy, and slow walk or a challenging hike in the middle of snowfall.
The Nordic Trails at Wisp Resort has trails perfect for snowshoeing, and they even offer snowshoe rentals if you want to go out exploring on your own.
You can also go on a guided snowshoe tour where you will see what waterfalls, rivers, and nature looks like during the wintertime.
If there isn’t much snow, you might not need snowshoes to go hiking and can explore more of what Deep Creek Lake offers. Check out some of the best hikes in Deep creek Maryland.
Swallow Falls and Muddy Creek Falls are the main waterfalls around Deep Creek that are stunning to see, with and without snow.
Swallow Falls is generally very easy to hike but might get a bit difficult in the snow. Muddy Creek Falls is 53 feet tall and is in Swallow Falls State Park as well. You can see both through the 1-and-a-half-mile loop trail at the park.
6. Sleigh Ride
You cannot go to Deep Creek in the wintertime and not go on a sleigh ride! These sleigh rides are some of the best things to do in Deep Creek MD during winter months, especially with your kids.
Children love riding in a real sleigh driven by a horse in the snow, and at Deep Creek, you can do just that. From November to February, when the weather permits, hop on the sleigh and enjoy a magical snow ride. You can also enjoy some sleigh rides at pleasant valley dream rides.
This is one of the best ways to bring in holiday cheer and joy, especially if you go on the sleigh ride with your kids. Children under five years old are free!
7. Glassblowing Tour
Want to see what glassblowing looks like? At Mountain Lake Park, Simon Pearce Glassblowing allows you to go and see the glassblowers as they design and work.
This is an incredible experience, and it is absolutely free to do! From 10:00 am to 2:00 pm every day, you can go and tour the store and see a live glassblowing event. You can also grab some stunning glass-blown artwork as well.
8. Ice Fishing
If you love fishing, try going ice fishing at Deep Creek Lake! This is one of the most popular ice fishing destinations in Maryland, and it is quite a fun experience, especially if it is your first time.
You might be able to catch some trout, northern pike, bass, or bluegill during your fishing trip. The ice will be thicker during January or February, making it the ideal time to go ice fishing.
It is pretty similar to regular fishing but requires a few extra pieces of equipment. Always wear a life vest, as you never know with ice safety. Bring an ice pick if you can, and wear waterproof boots. You might also want to bring something to sit on while you wait for your fish!
For fishing lovers, there are lots of great fishing charters in MD.
9. Go to the Spa
Get pampered at a spa retreat after a long cold day of winter sports. If you are on vacation, you will definitely want to go to the spa at least once during your trip.
Just a few minutes away, you will find Massage at the Lake. Choose from a variety of massages, including a deep tissue massage, warm stone massage, or a therapeutic massage. They even offer couples’ massages!
More Deep Creek Lake related fun experiences to check out
10. Deep Creek Axe Throwing Co.
Go axe throwing on the weekends at Deep Creek Axe Throwing Co. This place is only open on Saturday and Sunday from September to May and is a fun break from all the snow activities during the winter months.
One session gets you an hour of axe throwing. Make it a competition and see who can get the most points and celebrate the winner afterward with dinner. Children eight years old and older are allowed as well, so make it a family adventure!
11. Garrett 8 Cinemas
If you want to get away from the snow, head over to Garrett 8 Cinemas and snuggle up to your loved one while watching a movie.
For under $10 per person, you can have a fun night out with the family! You will find both new shows and older ones at this theater.
12. Shopping
There are tons of shopping opportunities close to Deep Creek Lake! From handmade creations to souvenirs, groceries, boutiques, and more, you will find exactly what you are looking for. You can even go antique shopping!
You will find the Market Square Shopping Center in McHenry at the top of the lake. For some unique gift ideas, head to Marsh Hill Mercantile, Bear creek traders, High mountain sports etc.
Take a look at the shops and spend a few hours picking out some unique souvenirs to help remember your trip.
13. Mountain Coaster
During the winter, Wisp Resort still has its Mountain Coaster open, and it is a fun adventure to do at least once during your stay in Deep Creek. It combines the adrenaline rush of a roller coaster with a fun alpine slide.
You get to control your own speed with handheld brakes on either side of your cart. During the slower part of the ride, enjoy the stunning view of Deep Creek Lake. This Mountain Coaster also has lots of twists, turns, dips, and rolls to make a fun and exciting adventure.
Right now, the coaster is closed, but hopefully, it will open up soon!
14. Deep Creek Lake Discovery Center
The Deep Creek Lake Discovery Center is made just for kids. It allows them to learn about nature and the park’s history with hands-on exhibits to make learning fun!
Here you can touch a black bear paw print, look at the water in Deep Creek Lake under a microscope, learn about fossils, and learn all about Maryland’s nature and wildlife. There are also programs specific to each month as well!
This center is mainly run by volunteers, and the best part is that it is absolutely free to enjoy! Head over here with your kids for some hands-on fun one day during your trip to Deek Creek.
15. Deep Creek Fun Zone
At the Deep Creek Fun Zone, you will find plenty of attractions to keep the entire family busy and having tons of fun. There are both indoor and outdoor activities at this fun zone, but the outdoor ones will be closed due to the weather. It’s definitely a fun indoor activity for the whole family.
You can choose from a wide variety of arcade games inside to play, which would be fun for older kids. Get an all-day pass for unlimited fun or get a card with some points and earn tickets to get a reward.
Inside the Deep Creek Fun Zone, you can also go bowling or play laser tag! They recently expanded their laser tag arena, so it is fully updated and bigger than before!
Spend a few hours playing inside out of the rain, and grab some food at their restaurant before heading back in the snow. Choose from salads, pizzas, sandwiches, flatbread, and some cheesy fries!
During the winter months, Santa will even come and make an appearance here! This is also one of the top things to do indoors with Kids while in Maryland.
16. Deep Creek Mini Ninja Factory
Also at the Deep Creek Fun Zone is the Mini Ninja Factory. Here you can test your ninja skills with two different tracks to race on, each with different difficulty.
Put on your athletic shoes and get ready to move, as you only have a ten-minute time slot! If you fall down but still have time left, you can go again and again.
Obstacle course 1 has:
- Devils Bridge
- Floating Poles
- Ladders
- Trapeze to Cargo Net Bag
Obstacle course 2 has:
- Tilting Ladders
- Cheese Walls
- Jungle Swings
- Inverted Cargo Crawl
This is a fun activity that the entire family can compete in to see who has the fastest time. Children must be five years old and 48 inches to compete.
The Ninja Mini Factory is open during the same business hours as the Fun Zone.
17. Visit the Deep Creek Lavender Farm
The Deep Creek Lavender Farm is only open a few days during the winter season, but it is well worth the visit! It is only open on the following days:
- November 25th
- November 26th
- December 10th
During those days, stop by the lavender farm and get some fresh farm lavender goodies for the holiday season. Then, enjoy some time on the farm to relax in the rocking chairs and enjoy the view.
Check out some more lavender farms in Maryland!
18. Go to Museums
There are two museums that show the history of Deep Creek Lake that you can visit during your stay. These museums are located in Oakland, Maryland and are run by the Garrett County Historical Society.
One museum is all about the history of transportation, while the other focuses on the history of the town. If you love learning about history, stop by either of these for an interesting afternoon of learning!
19. Firefly Farms
Enjoy sampling some award winning goat cheese at Firefly farms in nearby accident and a ton of amazing food.
FAQs on Things To Do in Deep Creek MD in Winter
Does Deep Creek have snow?
You will find plenty of cold days during the winter at Deep Creek, along with lots and lots of snow. On average, it gets 100 inches of snow every year, which makes it the perfect winter destination if you want to play in the snow!
Is Deep Creek kid-friendly?
There are plenty of great things to do in Deep Creek MD for your kids! From snow tubing to ice skating, hiking, sleigh rides, and more, the entire family will love a trip to Deep Creek!
Does Deep Creek Lake freeze?
Yes, Deep Creek Lake in Maryland can freeze during the colder winter months, especially in its shallower areas and in particularly cold years.
When the lake freezes over, it opens up a whole new range of activities and opportunities for outdoor enthusiasts to enjoy the winter wonderland.
Some activities are Ice fishing, Ice skating, Ice hockey, Ice sailing, winter photography and more!
Is Deep Creek Lake worth visiting?
Yes Deep creek lake is definitely worth visiting! A year-round destination, Deep Creek Lake is popular for boating, fishing, and swimming during the summer months. Autumn brings a spectacular show of fall foliage that invigorates the senses, while winter transforms the area into a snow-drenched haven for skiing and snowboarding.
Guests can enjoy a wide array of Deep creek lake restaurants and cuisines. Whether you’re an outdoor enthusiast or someone who loves a good view, Deep Creek Lake is a destination you won’t want to miss.
Final thoughts on Things To Do in Deep Creek MD in Winter
There are many exciting things to do during the winter at Deep Creek, Maryland. These are just some of the best things to do in Deep Creek MD in winter, but there are plenty more as well, depending on what you like to do.
In the summer time, you could definitely enjoy some water fun as Deep creek lake is a great place to go kayaking in Maryland. Head over here for some fun in the snow and for a very relaxing vacation with the family or on your own!
