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Hunting Creek Lake

Thurmont, Maryland — Frederick County.

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41Surface acres
1Public access sites

Surface area: The USGS National Hydrography Dataset outline (NHD Permanent ID 53331962).

Nearest airports

The closest airport with scheduled passenger flights to Hunting Creek Lake, plus larger airports within about 150 miles:

Compare car rentals near this lake

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Airports with scheduled airline service from OurAirports (large and medium airports); larger airports are FAA large, medium and small hubs by FAA CY2025 enplanements ("major airport" = FAA large hub). Distances are straight-line from the lake's center, not driving distance; road routes are longer.

Location & fast facts

Where Hunting Creek Lake is in Maryland

The red circle marks Hunting Creek Lake.

Fast facts

About Hunting Creek Lake

  • County: Frederick
  • Nearest city: Thurmont (about 1.5 mi from the lake)
  • Mapped as: Lake or pond (USGS National Hydrography Dataset)
  • Distance: about 15 mi from Frederick and 51 mi from Baltimore, straight-line (not driving distance)

Towns and counties: U.S. Census Bureau boundaries overlaid on the USGS lake outline (Maryland: incorporated places touching the lake, otherwise the nearest one).

Fishing in Maryland

Official Maryland DNR pages. Rules and fees change; check before you go.

Good for & watch for

Good for

  • Boating. 1 public trailer launch listed (see access)
  • Swimming. 1 public beach or swim spot on the map (details)
  • Camping. 33 campgrounds within 15 mi (list)

Watch for

  • Non-native/invasive species. Brittle waternymph recorded. Clean, drain and dry your boat and gear.
  • Boat traffic. A public trailer launch means motorboats share the water; expect more traffic on summer weekends.
  • No lifeguard listed. None of our sources lists a staffed lifeguard. Swim at your own risk and watch children closely.

Built only from the data on this page: official access lists, OpenStreetMap beaches and trails, campground listings, state and USGS invasive-species records. We don't rate crowds or water quality.

Lake map

Hunting Creek Lake shoreline, boat launches & beaches

Boat ramp (Boat launch)1Beach (unnamed on OpenStreetMap) (Beach)20.1 mileN

Numbers on the map match the list at rightbelow.

Boat launchBeach
  1. 1Boat ramp
    Boat launch
  2. 2Beach (unnamed on OpenStreetMap)
    Beach

Shoreline: USGS National Hydrography Dataset (NHD Waterbody, Permanent ID 53331962), public domain. State outline: U.S. Census Bureau TIGERweb. Points: OpenStreetMap boat ramps (no statewide agency ramp layer used) and OpenStreetMap boat ramps (ODbL). Interactive map: Leaflet with © OpenStreetMap contributors. Not for navigation.

Campgrounds near Hunting Creek Lake

We found 33 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles of Hunting Creek Lake, 11 of them within 5 miles. Distances are straight-line from the nearest point on the shoreline, so driving distance is longer.

14 more within 15 miles

All campgrounds & RV parks in Maryland

Green tent icons on the lake map mark campgrounds near the shore, and the interactive map shows the closest 12. Amenities are listed only where a source records them; call or check the campground's website before you go, since seasons and rates change every year.

Campground data: Recreation.gov (RIDB) · OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Pulled Oct 12, 2026.

Conditions right now

Air temperature & conditions (nearest NWS station)Loading…
Fetching the latest National Weather Service observation…

Live from the National Weather Service API for the lake's coordinates (39.6259, -77.4599). The nearest station may be several miles away. NWS forecast for Hunting Creek Lake. No live water-temperature sensor is shown because we haven't found a public one for this lake.

Sun, moon & best fishing times

Sun & moon at Hunting Creek Lake

Best fishing times

Major periodMinor periodDaylight

    Based on solunar theory, an estimate. Major periods (about 2 hours) center on when the moon is directly overhead or underfoot; minor periods (about 1 hour) center on moonrise and moonset. The 0–100 activity score rises during those periods and gets a boost near sunrise and sunset and around the new and full moon. Weather, water temperature and pressure often matter more. Sun and moon times are calculated in your browser from the lake's coordinates with standard astronomy formulas, shown in ET (America/New_York), and accurate to within a few minutes.

    Boat launches & access sites

    1 public access site listed, 1 with a boat ramp or trailer launch.

    SiteTownOwnerTypeParkingFeeUsesMap
    Boat ramp——Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating39.6246, -77.4615

    OpenStreetMap boat ramps (no statewide agency ramp layer used) and OpenStreetMap boat ramps (ODbL)

    Fees, hours and rules change; confirm with the site owner before you go.

    Public beaches

    On OpenStreetMap: 1 beach or swimming spot on the shore of Hunting Creek Lake not marked private, residents-only or members-only.

    BeachTypeAccessDirections
    Beach (unnamed on OpenStreetMap)BeachAccess not tagged; check posted rules; lifeguards (seasonal)Get directions

    Beaches: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), within about 150 m (500 ft) of the lake outline. A mapped beach is not a guarantee that swimming is allowed, supervised or safe; some town beaches need a resident sticker even when the map doesn't say so. Check posted rules and water-quality advisories before you swim.

    Non-native/invasive species

    Reported on or near Hunting Creek Lake

    Clean, Drain, Dry. Remove plants and mud, drain all water, and dry your boat, trailer and gear before moving to another water.

    USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species database

    USGS records matched to this water by location (within about 150 m of the outline) or by the place name in the record. A record shows a sighting was reported; it doesn't prove the species is still there. As of Oct 10, 2026.

    Contact & official info

    Questions about Hunting Creek Lake

    How big is Hunting Creek Lake?

    Hunting Creek Lake covers about 41 acres in Thurmont, Maryland (Frederick County).

    Is there a public boat launch on Hunting Creek Lake?

    Yes. 1 public trailer launch is listed: Boat ramp. Check posted fees and parking rules.

    Can you swim in Hunting Creek Lake?

    OpenStreetMap shows 1 public beach or swimming spot on the shore. None of our sources lists a lifeguard, so swim at your own risk and follow posted rules.

    Are there campgrounds near Hunting Creek Lake?

    Yes. We list 33 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles, 11 of them within 5 miles.

    What towns are on Hunting Creek Lake?

    Hunting Creek Lake touches Thurmont in Frederick County, Maryland.

    Share a tip or fishing report

    Know Hunting Creek Lake? Tell us about the launch, parking, where they're biting or anything a first-time visitor should know. Tips go privately to the LakeRipple editor; nothing is posted automatically. Helpful tips may be featured on this page (we'll use your first name only if you give one).

    Lakes & ponds nearby

    Straight-line distance between lake centers. All Maryland lakes & ponds · All waters in Thurmont