Tucked into the rugged hills of Garrett County, Sang Run State Park sits along the upper Youghiogheny River — one of the premier whitewater destinations in the Mid-Atlantic. At 264 acres, the park is compact but punches well above its weight, serving as a launch point for thrilling Class IV and V rapids that draw paddlers from across the eastern seaboard.

The Upper Yough run is the main attraction here. From late spring through fall, guided rafting trips and experienced kayakers tackle nearly 10 miles of continuous whitewater through a remote, hemlock-shaded gorge. It’s not for beginners — this stretch is genuinely challenging — but commercial outfitters based nearby offer guided trips that make it accessible to adventurous first-timers with reasonable fitness.

Beyond the river, the park’s forested terrain offers hiking and fishing along the Youghiogheny’s banks, where smallmouth bass and trout hold in the deeper pools. The surrounding Garrett County landscape is Western Maryland at its best: rolling Appalachian ridges, cooler summer temperatures than the rest of the state, and fall foliage that rivals New England.

The best window for whitewater runs is May through October, when scheduled dam releases from Deep Creek Lake keep water levels reliable. Summer weekends book up fast with outfitters, so plan ahead.

Sang Run is a park built around one extraordinary river. If you’re chasing whitewater in Maryland, this is where you come. Everything else — the quiet woods, the mountain air, the cold water — is a bonus.

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