Deep Creek Lake covers 3,900 acres in Maryland and drops to 75 feet at its deepest point. It is a reservoir impounded in 1925 and managed by Maryland DNR. Short-term rental posture: Garrett County licensed. Confirm at the municipal level before underwriting rental income.
What stands out
Boating
Skiing
Score breakdown
Water6.3
Recreation6.4
Value6.8
Access6.1
Investment6.8
Each axis is computed by published formula from this lake's own
attributes. How we score.
Water quality grade
Water A
ExcellentClear, low-nutrient water. Typically oligotrophic with high clarity and little seasonal algae.
Water B
GoodHealthy water with moderate clarity. Some seasonal variation, no persistent problems.
Water C
FairProductive water — good fishing, reduced clarity. Algae possible in late summer.
Water D
PoorNutrient-rich or heavily drawn down. Swimmable conditions vary; check before you rely on them.
Computed from measured clarity, trophic state, and drawdown magnitude —
not an opinion. See the formula.
Overall score, 1–10
8.0+
ExceptionalStrong on every axis we measure.
7.0–7.9
StrongClearly above average, usually with one standout axis.
6.0–6.9
SolidA good lake with a trade-off worth understanding.
5.0–5.9
MixedReal strengths and real compromises.
Under 5
CompromisedSomething material — volatility, water quality, or access.
Weighted: water 26% · recreation 22% · investment 20% · value 18% · access 14%.
Fishery
Yellow perchWalleyeSmallmouth bassTrout
On the water
BoatingSkiingFishingSnow sports
Live from DEEP CREEK LAKE NEAR THAYERVILLE, MD.
This is a lake or reservoir station measuring
reservoir elevation on this water body — direct sensor
readings, not estimates.
13.50 deg C
Temperature
2026-08-04
0.78 ft
Gage height
2026-08-04
Gauge history
Daily values from USGS. Loading up to one year.
What the drawdown looks like
Full pool vs winter low · Deep Creek Lake
The dock sits at full-pool elevation. At low pool the waterline retreats
and the reach to navigable water changes. Scale is illustrative; the 8 ft
figure is from published operations for this lake.
Where it is
True shoreline from USGS NHD
15 km²
The outline is this lake's actual boundary from the USGS National Hydrography Dataset,
not an approximation — 575 boundary points. Basemap is USGS topographic
with contours and hydrography. Switch layers at the top right.
Depth profile
Idealized cross-section. Max depth 75 ft,
average 24 ft. Depth at a specific dock depends on local bathymetry —
verify at the property.
Modeled estimates. Market figures are derived from
lake attributes and regional patterns, not from MLS data. Treat them as a starting point, not a comp.
$400,000
Median waterfront
$1,117
Per shoreline foot
+7.9%
Year over year
222
Est. inventory
44
Avg days on market
$275
Est. nightly rate
Rental snapshot
Modeled occupancy41%Booked nights / yr108Gross revenue$35,860Net operating income$15,217Yield on median price3.80%
Prices here are meaningfully lower than the lake an hour north for water that is nearly as clear. Fewer restaurants and services, which is the tradeoff.
Best family lake we found
Steve & Kate P. · Spring 2026
5/5
We looked at six lakes across three states before choosing this one. Sandy bottom in the swim areas, enough marina services, and it never feels crowded outside July.
Great water, know the drawdown
A. Whitfield · Owner on the lake · Fall 2025
4/5
Beautiful clear water and the fishing is genuinely good. Be aware the level drops in the fall and our dock needed a longer walkway than we budgeted for. Not a dealbreaker, just plan for it.
