Welcome to Savage River State Forest. Savage River State Forest is approximately 55,185 acres in size and is situated in the northeastern quadrant of Garrett County in Western Maryland. It is a second growth mixed hardwood forest dominated by oak species, sugar and red maple, black cherry, hickory and ash. Savage River State Forest has been intensively managed over the last nine decades. Forest harvests and grooming operations are undertaken to thin overstocked stands, to effectively deal with public concerns, to harvest mature or disease/dying trees, to improve habitat for certain wildlife species, to assist and provide for certain research needs, to address aesthetic concerns and to increase the proportion of age/height diversity of forested stands.

Savage River State Forest visitors can enjoy hiking, biking, boat/canoeing, ORV trail riding, firewood cutting, fishing, hunting, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing and primitive camping. Savage River also has a public shooting range which is open 365 days a year from sunrise to sunset. (Call office to check for occasional closures.) Many areas of the forest have been designated as State Wildlands, ensuring the preservation of unique natural resources. Forest regulations are posted throughout the State Forest on bulletin boards. A kiosk located outside the headquarters can be visited 24 hours a day to obtain self-registration firewood cutting permits, self-registration camping permits, self-registration yearly shooting range permits and general information. Additional information and brochures can be obtained by calling the forest headquarters at 301-895-5759.