Finzel Swamp Preserve

Finzel Swamp Preserve

305 Cranberry Swamp Road, Frostburg, MD 21532
(301) 897-8570

Finzel Swamp Preserve protects a rare habitat in Maryland, being located  in a topographic depression between Big Savage and Little Savage Mountains  This topography is related to a climatological phenomenon, called a “Frost Pocket,” that is more common farther north, and results in cold air being trapped at the site. The result is a rich habitat containing many rare, cold-tolerant plants that are more common farther north. The centerpiece of the preserve is Cranberry Swamp, a relict of the last Ice Age and at least 15,000 years old.

The 326-acres preserve is owned by The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and straddles the county line between Garrett and Allegany Counties. The American larch trees (Larix laricina) that occur here are unusual in Maryland, in fact constituting one of only two known stands in the state. Other northern plants that occur in Finzel Preserve include alder and red spruce. You can read more about the plant communities at Finzel in the Nature Conservancy’s Visitor Guide. The unusual plants in the swamp host an interesting set of breeding birds, including Alder Flycatcher and Northern Waterthrush.

From the parking area, take the obvious trail heading east to Cranberry Swamp. The trail and a series of boardwalks will carry you over the swamp and through rich wetland shrub vegetation. The trail is usually dry but waterproof footwear is recommended, just in case. The trail continues past the swamp, crossing from Garrett County into Allegany County, arriving at a pond set amid an old scrubby field. The trail circles the pond and then will bring you back to the main trail to the parking area. If you’re an eBirder or a county lister, be sure to note that the parking area and the start of the trail through the swamp are in Garrett County, while the pond and old field are in Allegany County.

For first-time visitors to Finzel Swamp, we highly recommend downloading and following the Nature Conservancy’s Finzel Swamp Audio Tour, which will help you understand the special habitats found here. Another good resource is the MD Department of Natural Resource’s Guide to Finzel Swamp Natural Area.

The Nature Conservancy has been engaged in a long-term restoration project at Finzel Swamp, aimed at restoring natural water flow through the swamp and improving conditions for the American larch trees. You can read about the restoration project in an in-depth article in The Guardian.

Birdlife:

There are two eBird hotspots for Finzel Swamp:

• Finzel Swamp Preserve is for the Garrett County portion of the preserve, with 199+ species
• Finzel Swamp – Field and Pond is for the Allegany County portion of the preserve, with 187+ species.

The combined list from these two hotspots has 205+ species.

Note that there is an eBird hotspot called Finzel Radio Tower Hawkwatch (48+ species); this is not located in Finzel Swamp Preserve, but is instead located a couple miles south on the roadside at a big curve on US Route 40/National Pike, near where it almost meets US Route 68.

Finzel Swamp is a good place to see Sora and Virginia Rails, which are often found just past the third bridge on the boardwalk trail through the swamp. Occasionally, American Bitterns have been seen and Common Gallinule has occurred in spring. There is also an opportunity for singing Sedge Wrens in spring.

Breeding birds of interest include Ruffed Grouse, Alder Flycatcher, Veery, Northern Waterthrush, and Swamp Sparrow.

Finzel is an outstanding place to look for migrating warblers in spring and fall, with 35 species reported. In addition to the migrant warblers, breeding warblers that have been confirmed at Finzel include Northern Waterthrush, Golden-winged, Nashville, Common Yellowthroat, Hooded, Blackburnian, Yellow, and Black-throated Green.

The sparrow selection is also outstanding, with each season bringing interesting possibilities: American Trees Sparrows in winter; Fox Sparrows and White-crowned Sparrows in fall and spring migration; Lincoln’s Sparrows in fall; maybe a few Vesper Sparrows in late summer, and maybe some Savannah or Henslow’s Sparrows in summer; breeding Swamp Sparrows and Eastern Towhees, both present over a long span from March through November or December.

Wheelchair Access: 

While the boardwalks/bridges can accommodate wheelchairs, the boardwalks are interspersed with natural-surfaced trails that are uneven and often muddy and soft. Wheelchairs are not recommended.

Although not available at Finzel Swamp, an all-terrain wheelchair – an amazing resource – is available for FREE loan, one day at a time, to mobility-impaired folks who would like to explore other natural-surface trails in Garrett County. The wheelchair is available thanks to a grant secured by Garrett Trails, Inc., a non-profit that promotes development and use of trails in Garrett County, and the Garrett County Lions Club, located near McHenry, MD. The chair is non-motorized and you must have someone to help you on steeper slopes. It disassembles and folds to fit in your car. You can read about how to borrow the wheelchair on the Garrett Trails wheelchair webpage, and view videos showing how to use it. Use of the loaner all-terrain chair is restricted to trails specified by Garrett Trails that are listed on the wheelchair webpage. Read more about Garrett Trails, Inc. under Special Features below.

Pet Policy:

Pets are not permitted in Finzel Swamp. No exceptions.

Special Designations:

• Finzel Swamp is the focal point of the Finzel Swamp Important Bird Area (IBA), as designated by the National Audubon Society. For more information on this IBA, please see https://www.audubon.org/important-bird-areas/finzel-swamp.
• Finzel Swamp is also classified as a State Natural Area by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources; see http://dnr.maryland.gov/wildlife/Pages/NaturalAreas/Western/Finzel-Swamp.aspx.

Special Features:

• The Nature Conservancy has established a geocache at Finzel Swamp; the hints to find the “Feeling Frosty” geocache location provide an opportunity to learn about the natural history of the site.
• Garrett Trails is a nonprofit, volunteer organization dedicated to the development of high-quality, sustainable trails that provide access to Garrett County’s historic, municipal, and natural areas. The organization grew out of a task force that was appointed by the County Commissioners in 1998 to work with the Chamber of Commerce on a county-wide trail plan. The organization was formally incorporated as a stand-alone non-profit in 2008. The Garrett Trails website includes descriptions and maps of hiking/biking trails throughout the county, including some that are not in our Birder’s Guide but that may be interesting to explore.

Local MOS Chapter:

The local chapter of the Maryland Ornithological Society is the Allegany & Garrett Counties Bird Club, which hosts field trips in the region and meetings with informative presentations, all free and open to the public.

Multimedia:

The Nature Conservancy has provided a free, downloadable audio tour with informative segments keyed to 25 stops on the trail. The audio tour covers a full range of plants and animals found at Finzel, as well as geology and the effects of humans on the landscape. Download the audio tour map and the audio segments to your cell phone before you go.

Parking:

Gravel lot at the end of the Cranberry Swamp Road. Be cautious when driving to the Preserve; the roads may be covered with water or snow and it is possible to slide off the road.

Directions:

Take I-70 west to 1-68 at Hancock. Continue on I-68 about 50 miles to Exit 29. Turn right at the end of the exit ramp, heading north toward Finzel on MD Route 546 (the section of road heading south is called Beall School Road; the northbound portion is Finzel Road, which is the road you want), and drive north about 1.8 miles. Just past a ballfield, turn right onto Cranberry Swamp Road and bear left at the fork. Parking for the preserve is on the left.

Nearby Sites:

Garrett County: Broadford Lake ■ Carey Run MOS Sanctuary ■ Caroline W. Wilson MOS Sanctuary ■ Cunningham Swamp Wildlife Management Area ■ Herrington Manor State Park ■ Loch Lynn Heights Wetland Trail ■ Mt. Nebo Wildlife Management Area ■ Piney Reservoir ■ Robbins MOS Sanctuary at Red Run ■  Swallow Falls State Park ■ Youghiogheny River Reservoir

Habitats:

Bottomland Deciduous ForestsConifersHedgerowsUpland Deciduous Forests Old Fields, Shrubby Meadows Forested SwampFreshwater Marsh or FloodplainFreshwater Pond, Lake, or ReservoirRivers & Streams

Features:

BoardwalkFree - No Entry Fee at Any TimeHiking/Walking TrailsNative Plant Garden or Meadow/Pollinator PlantsParkingWater View

Type:

Audubon Important Bird AreasState Natural Areas & Wildlands