Gunpowder Falls State Park
Notice: Gunpowder Falls State Park - Hammerman Area: OPEN — details
- Status
- Open (per official listing)Daily 8 a.m. – sunset
- Entrance fee
- $5 per person ($7 nonresident)Annual pass available
- Day-use reservations
- Required at certain times
- Dogs
- Dogs allowed
- Camping
- Yes
- Official site
- dnr.maryland.gov(410) 592-2897
Official page last checked Oct 29, 2026. How we keep this current
Current alerts 1
Closure Gunpowder Falls State Park - Hammerman Area: OPENThe Dundee Creek Marina Store is closed for the season. Please purchase supplies before coming to the marina. The boat launches are available.
Posted by the park. Official alert
Overview
Gunpowder Falls State Park is a 987-acre park in Baltimore County, about 13 miles west of Bel Air.
The official site lists about 120 miles of trails.
Hours
Park, gate, office and facility hours are listed separately because they often differ. Alerts above override normal hours.
| Facility | Days | Hours | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park | Not stated | 8 a.m. – sunset | — |
Official wording
8 a.m. to sunset
Hammerman Area Day-use Admission Fee, Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day: Weekends and holidays: Maryland residents $5/person; out-of-state residents $7/person Weekdays: Maryland residents $3/person; out-of-state residents $5/person Day after Labor Day through the Friday before Memorial Day weekend: Maryland residents $3/vehicle; out-of-state residents $5/vehicle Day Use reservations required on weekends and holidays from Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day. An additional surcharge applies.
Source: official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Times are local to the park (America/New York).
Fees and passes
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Weekends and holidays: Maryland residents (resident) | $5 · person |
| Weekends and holidays: Maryland residents (nonresident) | $7 · person |
| Weekdays: Maryland residents (resident) | $3 · person |
| Weekdays: Maryland residents (nonresident) | $5 · person |
| Day after Labor Day through the Friday before Memorial Day weekend: Maryland residents (resident) | $3 · vehicle |
| Day after Labor Day through the Friday before Memorial Day weekend: Maryland residents (nonresident) | $5 · vehicle |
| Youth group campsites | Free · child |
| Charge: (Base rate does not include transaction or other applicable fees) | $200 |
| Charge: (Base rate does not include transaction or other applicable fees) | $196.75 |
| Boat Launch Charges: Maryland residents (resident) | $10 · vehicle |
| Boat Launch Charges: Maryland residents (nonresident) | $12 · vehicle |
Official wording
Hours of Operations: 8 a.m. to sunset Hammerman Area Day-use Admission Fee: Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day • Weekends and holidays: Maryland residents $5/person; out-of-state residents $7/person • Weekdays: Maryland residents $3/person; out-of-state residents $5/person Day after Labor Day through the Friday before Memorial Day weekend: • Maryland residents $3/vehicle; out-of-state residents $5/vehicle Day Use reservations required on weekends and holidays from Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day. An additional surcharge applies. Camping: Charges: (Base rate does not include transaction or other applicable fees) • Youth group campsites: $0 with the Maryland Park Service youth group pass (required) Dates: • Camp Wood: year-round • Camp Cone: year-round Mill Pond Cottage: For reservations, please call the park office at 410-592-2897 Capacity: 8 people (two bedrooms, full kitchen, one and one-half bathrooms, as well as many additional amenities) Charge: (Base rate does not include transaction or other applicable fees) $200 Dates: Year-round, two-night minimum stay required Shelters: Capacity: 100 Charge: (Base rate does not include transaction or other applicable fees) $196.75 Dates: • Mon Apr 1, 2024 - Fri Nov 1, 2024 • Tue Apr 1, 2025 - Fri Oct 31, 2025 Boat Launch Charges: • Maryland residents $10/vehicle; out-of-state residents $12/vehicle • Marina launch closed December through March
Maryland park passes
- Maryland State Park and Trail Passport (annual) — $75 resident / $100 non-resident. Unlimited day-use entry for everyone in the vehicle (up to 10 people), unlimited boat launching, 10% concession discount Details
- Golden Age Pass (62+) — $10 processing fee, lifetime. Free day-use entry, half-price camping Sun–Thu, waived boat launch fees Details
- Universal Disability Pass. Free lifetime entrance to DNR public lands for holder + one person Details
- Youth Group Pass. Youth-group day use (not peak weekends) and youth group camping; valid two years Details
From the Maryland state guide. Confirm which passes this park accepts.
Reservations
- Day use
- Required at certain times
- Booking system
- Maryland State Park Reservation Service (parkreservations.maryland.gov); day use via parkdayuse.maryland.gov
- Phone
- 888-432-2267
Day-Use Reservations are required at Gunpowder Falls State Park’s Hammerman Beach Area through Labor Day.
We link to the official booking system rather than showing live availability, which changes minute to minute.
Pets
Dogs allowed
Pets are allowed in Gunpowder Falls State Park in the following areas as long as they are leashed and curbed: • Pets are allowed in all undeveloped areas. • Pets are allowed in Dundee Creek Marina area. • Pets are allowed in Hammerman area (except for sandy portion of swimming beach area from Memorial Day Weekend until after Labor Day). The GEC area of Gunpowder Falls State Park is a great place to enjoy hiking the trails, walking your dog or bird-watching. Please note that dogs must be kept on a leash at all times. Hikers, joggers, bicyclists, horseback riders and pets on leashes are welcome. What is your pet policy Leashed pets are permitted in all park areas except beaches #1-3 and #5 at the Hammerman Area (Memorial Day to Labor Day) and the sandy shoreline of North Point State Park. The complete Maryland Park Service pet policy can be found here. Hikers, pets on leashes and horseback riders are welcome on all of the central area trails.
Service animals are generally permitted where pets are not. Check with the park for specific areas.
Camping
- Youth group campsites: $0 with the Maryland Park Service youth group pass (required)
Dates:
- Camp Wood: year-round
- Camp Cone: year-round
Mill Pond Cottage:
For reservations, please call the park office at 410-592-2897
Capacity:
8 people (two bedrooms, full kitchen, one and one-half bathrooms, as well as many additional amenities)
$200
Dates:
Year-round, two-night minimum stay required
From the official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Site counts and prices can change; confirm when booking.
Things to do
Swimming
Gunpowder features more than 120 miles of multi-use trails, protected state wildlands, historic sites, fishing, kayaking, canoeing and a swimming beach and marina. • Pets are allowed in Hammerman area (except for sandy portion of swimming beach area from Memorial Day Weekend until after Labor Day). As Gunpowder’s premier day-use park, the Hammerman Area features a 1,500 foot beach and swimming area on the banks of the Gunpowder River. Plus, the swimming beach, beach bathhouse and day-use pavilions are accessible for all. Digging in search of buried relics or treasures, the removal of any prehistoric or historic artifacts, and the use of metal detectors outside of the sandy Hammerman Area swimming beach is strictly prohibited without a permit from the Office of Archaeology, Maryland Historical Trust, Department of Planning.
Getting there
- Address
- 2813 Jerusalem Road
Kingsville, MD 21087 - Nearest town
- Bel Air — about 13 mi west (straight line)
- Coordinates
- 39.4797, -76.5706 (from Wikidata)
- Phone
- (410) 592-2897
- gunpowderfalls.statepark@maryland.gov
Nearby state parks
Sources and freshness
- Maryland State Parks — park page — last checked Oct 29, 2026
- Maryland Park Service 'Find a State Park' directory (SharePoint HTML, links to /publiclands/Pages/{region}/{park}.aspx)
- Wikidata
- USGS PAD-US 4.1 (boundary and acreage)
“Last checked” is when our system last read the official source. No change has been detected since this page was first published. Hours, fees and rules can change without notice — confirm with the park before you go. Methodology