Maryland Expands Public Lands at Fastest Pace in Decades

The state's Department of Natural Resources highlighted six public land projects that open previously inaccessible or overlooked places to visitors.

Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in National Parks

Gouache-painted editorial illustration of a winding footpath climbing a wooded ridge toward an open cliff edge in warm ochre and sage tones. — Maryland's Department of Natural Resources says the state has added public lands at its fastest pace in decades, opening six projects to visitors. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Maryland's public lands have expanded over the past four years at a pace not seen since before the 1970s, the state Department of Natural Resources said on November 5, 2026. Recent projects include the Savage Highlands State Park, Freedman's State Park, and the Wetipquin Creek State Park.

Why it matters

The expansion opens places that were privately owned, inaccessible, or overlooked to public recreation and history. It also brings properties with histories beyond recreation into public park use, broadening who can visit them.

The Department of Natural Resources cites four years of public land growth at a pace not seen since before the 1970s, measured against the state's prior decades of acquisitions. Work remains unfinished at Wills Mountain and Holly Beach Farm, and the timing of their full opening is not yet set.

The players

Maryland Department of Natural Resources

The state agency responsible for managing Maryland's parks, forests, and other public lands, including the recent expansion projects.

The details

The state is building an entrance road and trails to cliff tops at Wills Mountain, a site long largely out of reach to the public. Savage Highlands State Park, a former luxury retreat in Western Maryland, is surrounded by the 50,000-acre Savage River State Forest, while a cemetery holding remains of enslaved workers at Catoctin Furnace was incorporated into Cunningham Falls State Park in February.

February 2026: Cemetery at Catoctin Furnace incorporated into Cunningham Falls State Park.
November 5, 2026: Maryland Department of Natural Resources highlighted six public land projects.
2027: More public land openings are expected.

Seasonal Patterns

The current four-year expansion matches the acquisition pace Maryland last recorded before the 1970s, returning the state to a rate of public land growth it had not reached since that era. The growth reflects a multi-decade pattern in which the state has periodically added large holdings in bursts rather than in steady increments.

Visitors planning trips to Maryland's newly opened parks should check whether each site is currently accessible, since Wills Mountain and Holly Beach Farm still require work. Some properties are already open, so trips to those sites can be planned now.

The takeaway

Maryland's expanding public lands make previously private or inaccessible places available for outdoor recreation and history. Check each park's current status before visiting, as some openings are still in progress.