Getting Oriented
Wolf Den Run sits in the far southern end of Garrett County, along the North Branch Potomac River near Kitzmiller, a few miles from the West Virginia line. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources built the park on ground once worked by the Wolf Den Coal Company; the bench-cut terrain visible on several trails traces directly back to that mining. The park opened in August 2019 with the Huckleberry Rocks Area alone, then added the North Hill and Potomac River areas in December 2020, bringing the total to 2,039 acres. The three riding areas don't connect to each other by park trail. Riders move between them on North Hill Road and Coal Haul Road, both county roads that require a separate Garrett County OHV permit.
Trail Overview
More than 50 miles of trail run across the three areas, according to park manager Donald Oates. Huckleberry Rocks, the original section, centers on a 4-mile main loop rated moderate difficulty, plus additional spurs; DNR lists 12.5 miles total there, with 6.5 miles open to full-size vehicles and the remainder marked for machines under 64 inches wide. North Hill has the steepest climbs of the three areas. Potomac River, the newest section, runs along three miles of North Branch Potomac frontage below rock bluffs that rise 900 feet above the water. Most routes follow old mining and logging grades, wide enough for a full-size truck or Jeep on the sections marked for them. The bench-cut mining terrain adds rock and grade obstacles beyond a graded gravel road, and DNR recommends a winch and locker for the harder stretches.
Points of Interest
- Trail 2103, in the Potomac River Area, became Maryland's first trail in the Jeep Badge of Honor program in March 2025. It can be run as a loop with trails 2104 and 2101.
- Short Run and Wolf Den Run, both native brook trout streams, cross the park; non-motorized anglers can fish them outside riding hours.
- The rock bluffs above the Potomac River Area reach 900 feet, with rhododendron and dogwood blooming along the trail each spring.
Where to Camp
Camping is allowed only with a paid permit at the Wolf Den Run Campground, off Upperman Road. ORVs aren't permitted inside the campground itself; riders trailer in and park in the designated gravel lots instead.
Tips for a Safe and Enjoyable Trip
- Reserve before you go. Every rider needs a paid reservation, made online or by phone through the park office (301-334-1272); it isn't sold at the gate.
- Carry a DNR OHV sticker or keep MVA registration current on your vehicle. The park requires one or the other to ride on state land.
- Full-size vehicles need rollover protection, seat belts, a fire extinguisher, and a spark arrestor. ATV, UTV, and dirt bike riders need DOT helmets and eye protection.
- Motorized riding closes entirely for a two-week deer firearms season starting the first Saturday after Thanksgiving. The park stays open for hiking and walk-in hunting during that stretch.
- Cell coverage is thin in parts of all three areas. Ride with at least one other vehicle.
Fuel and Water
Kitzmiller has no gas station. Oakland, the Garrett County seat, has the nearest fuel, food, and lodging beyond the park's own campground. Keyser, West Virginia, across the state line, is the closer option for some riders based out of the Potomac River Area. None of the three riding areas has fuel or a store on site, so fill up before heading in.
Nearby
Savage River State Forest and Potomac-Garrett State Forest, both elsewhere in Garrett County, carry Maryland's older and shorter ORV trail systems: Piney Mountain, Snaggy Mountain, and Wallman/Laurel Run at Potomac-Garrett, and the St. John's Rock trail and rock-crawl area at Savage River. Those trails run on a seasonal permit system rather than Wolf Den Run's year-round reservation model. Deep Creek Lake, Maryland's largest lake, and the resort town built around it are further north in the county for lodging beyond the park's own campground.
