Big Run State Park
Rate this placeLast Updated: December 5, 2025
Big Run State Park is a 400-acre park located in the state of Maryland.
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Summary
The park features a variety of activities for visitors, including hiking, fishing, and camping. The park is known for its scenic views of the surrounding mountains, forests, and creeks.
One of the main attractions of Big Run State Park is the hiking trails. The park offers trails of varying difficulty levels, ranging from easy strolls to more challenging hikes. Visitors can explore the scenic woodlands, creeks, and mountain views.
Another popular activity at the park is fishing. Big Run State Park is home to a variety of fish species, including trout, bass, and catfish. The park has catch-and-release and catch-and-keep fishing areas, and visitors can also rent fishing equipment.
The park also offers camping facilities, including campsites and cabins. Visitors can enjoy the peace and quiet of the park, while also being close to the many attractions of the surrounding area.
Interesting facts about Big Run State Park include that it was originally part of a larger land grant to George Washington, and that it was once used as a logging camp. The park is also home to a variety of wildlife, including deer, black bears, and wild turkeys.
The best time of year to visit Big Run State Park is during the spring or fall, when the weather is mild and the park is less crowded. The park is open year-round, however, and each season offers its own unique beauty and activities.
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Park & Land Designation Reference
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
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