Deep Creek Boat Tours: Pontoon Rentals, Lake Rules, Seasons And Where To Stay

Deep Creek Boat Tours By The Numbers

Pontoon boat cruising on open water at Deep Creek Lake

Rental pontoon boats tied to a wooden dock on Deep Creek Lake on a bright morning

Pontoon boat cruising open water at Deep Creek Lake with forested hills behind

Rental pontoon boats tied along a wooden dock on a calm lake morning

3,900 acres

Lake Area · Maryland's largest impoundment, at a full pool elevation of 2,462 feet

13 miles

Length · north end at McHenry Cove to the quiet southern coves below the Glendale Bridge

69 miles

Shoreline · DNR figure; the Chamber's fast-facts page rounds to 65 miles

About 75 ft

Deepest Water · near the dam, with an average depth of about 25 feet

26 ft / 30 ft

Boat Length Limit · 26 feet overall on the lake, 30 feet for pontoons; no PWC 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on summer weekends and holidays

100 ft

No-Wake Distance · from shore, bridges, piers and docks, except when starting a tow

$3 / $5

State Park Day Use · $3 per Maryland resident, $5 per non-resident per person Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day; per vehicle the rest of the year

$34

Guided Pontoon Tour · adult fare on the Wisp concession's 2026 State Park tours; children 12 and under $19

Deep Creek Boat Tours Month By Month

Tours And RentalsClosed: Rentals closed; the lake can freezeClosed: Rentals closed; the lake can freezeClosed: Rentals closedClosed: Rentals closed; check Wisp for early toursOpens from mid to late MayOpenPeak, weekend PWC quiet hours applyPeak, weekend PWC quiet hours applyOpenEnds: Lake Life closed 15 OctoberClosed for the seasonClosed for the season

Limited or winter
Starting or ending
Open
Peak
Not named
This month

January

Tours And Rentals: Closed: Rentals closed; the lake can freeze Fishing: Ice fishing if the lake freezes Lake And Land: Docks out Boating Notes: Wisp ski season runs to about 14 March 2027.

February

Tours And Rentals: Closed: Rentals closed; the lake can freeze Fishing: Ice fishing if the lake freezes Lake And Land: Docks out Boating Notes: Ice thickness is not certified by DNR.

March

Tours And Rentals: Closed: Rentals closed Fishing: Walleye closed to harvest 1 March to 15 April Lake And Land: Docks out until 1 April Boating Notes: State Park launch open weather permitting.

April

Tours And Rentals: Closed: Rentals closed; check Wisp for early tours Fishing: Walleye closed to harvest until 15 April; trout stocked Lake And Land: Docks go in from 1 April Boating Notes: Public dock removal and installation dates follow DNR.

May

Tours And Rentals: Opens from mid to late May Fishing: Open water Lake And Land: Full pool 2,462 ft Boating Notes: Memorial Day weekend starts the PWC rule.

June

Tours And Rentals: Open Fishing: Open water Lake And Land: Full pool Boating Notes: Longest daylight for the 9 AM to 5 PM rentals.

July

Tours And Rentals: Peak, weekend PWC quiet hours apply Fishing: Open water Lake And Land: Full pool Boating Notes: Book rentals and rooms early.

August

Tours And Rentals: Peak, weekend PWC quiet hours apply Fishing: Open water Lake And Land: Full pool Boating Notes: Book rentals and rooms early.

September

Tours And Rentals: Open Fishing: Open water Lake And Land: Full pool Boating Notes: Quieter lake; Bill's Marine season ends near the month's close.

October

Tours And Rentals: Ends: Lake Life closed 15 October Fishing: Fall trout stocking began first week of October 2026 Lake And Land: Peak foliage mid-October Boating Notes: Lake Life season ended October 15, 2026.

November

Tours And Rentals: Closed for the season Fishing: Open water Lake And Land: Docks out from 30 November Boating Notes: Dock removal and lowered lake level.

December

Tours And Rentals: Closed for the season Fishing: Ice fishing possible late December Lake And Land: Docks out Boating Notes: Snowmobile season at the State Park begins 15 December.

Open The Full Table

Month	Tours And Rentals	Fishing	Lake And Land	Boating Notes
January	Closed: Rentals closed; the lake can freeze	Ice fishing if the lake freezes	Docks out	Wisp ski season runs to about 14 March 2027.
February	Closed: Rentals closed; the lake can freeze	Ice fishing if the lake freezes	Docks out	Ice thickness is not certified by DNR.
March	Closed: Rentals closed	Walleye closed to harvest 1 March to 15 April	Docks out until 1 April	State Park launch open weather permitting.
April	Closed: Rentals closed; check Wisp for early tours	Walleye closed to harvest until 15 April; trout stocked	Docks go in from 1 April	Public dock removal and installation dates follow DNR.
May	Opens from mid to late May	Open water	Full pool 2,462 ft	Memorial Day weekend starts the PWC rule.
June	Open	Open water	Full pool	Longest daylight for the 9 AM to 5 PM rentals.
July	Peak, weekend PWC quiet hours apply	Open water	Full pool	Book rentals and rooms early.
August	Peak, weekend PWC quiet hours apply	Open water	Full pool	Book rentals and rooms early.
September	Open	Open water	Full pool	Quieter lake; Bill's Marine season ends near the month's close.
October	Ends: Lake Life closed 15 October	Fall trout stocking began first week of October 2026	Peak foliage mid-October	Lake Life season ended October 15, 2026.
November	Closed for the season	Open water	Docks out from 30 November	Dock removal and lowered lake level.
December	Closed for the season	Ice fishing possible late December	Docks out	Snowmobile season at the State Park begins 15 December.

Snow-covered shoreline and partially frozen cove at Deep Creek Lake in winter — Winter

Boats anchored in a quiet cove on Deep Creek Lake with tree covered hills at the shoreline — Spring

Pontoon boat anchored near a swim area with green tree-lined shores in bright summer sun at Deep Creek Lake — Summer

A wide lake at golden hour with autumn hillsides on both shores and no boats visible — Autumn

Pontoon Tour, Pontoon Rental, Paddle Or Jet Ski: Which Fits

	Guided Pontoon Tour	Pontoon Rental	Kayak Or Paddleboard	Jet Ski
Typical price	$34 to $37 per adult, $16 to $19 per child; $349 to $385 private	About $450 to $650 a day depending on horsepower (2027 listings), about $524 and up at Lake Life	$19 an hour or $34 for two hours at the State Park beach; delivered rentals from $35	Hourly, half-day and full-day rates at Funtime Watersports; current rates not printed here
Length	1 to 1.5 hours	Full day, about 9 AM to 5 PM	1 to 2 hours or a day	Hour, half day or full day
Who drives	A captain	You; a Maryland boating safety certificate is required if you were born on or after 1 July 1972	You	You; operator must be 16 or older and carry the certificate if born on or after 1 July 1972
Group size	Private tours up to 12 or 13	Up to 14 passengers on larger pontoons	One or two	One craft at a time
Lake rules to know	No driving rules for guests	30 ft pontoon limit, 100 ft no-wake, no night skiing	Stay clear of wakes; life jackets included with delivered rentals	No PWC 11 AM to 4 PM on summer weekends and holidays; 6 knots near shore
Booking	Reservations required (Wisp, High Mountain Sports)	Reservations required in season	Online or walk-up at the beach	Reservations recommended

Where Deep Creek Boat Tours Launch

Loading the map. Every place is also listed below.

Map tiles and place names: © OpenStreetMap contributors

McHenry (Lake North End)North Cove
Wisp ResortNorth Cove · 0.9 miles from McHenry (Lake North End) in a straight line
Lake Life Boat Rentals, McHenryNorth Cove · 0.2 miles from McHenry (Lake North End) in a straight line
Deep Creek Lake Boats, McHenryNorth Cove · 0.2 miles from McHenry (Lake North End) in a straight line
Deep Creek Lake State ParkMain Basin · 4.3 miles from McHenry (Lake North End) in a straight line
Thayerville (Deep Creek Lake Bridge)Main Basin · 4.2 miles from McHenry (Lake North End) in a straight line
Funtime Watersports, ThayervilleMain Basin · 3.6 miles from McHenry (Lake North End) in a straight line
Glendale ShoresSouth Lake · 4.2 miles from McHenry (Lake North End) in a straight line
Deep Creek DamSouth Lake · 4.0 miles from McHenry (Lake North End) in a straight line
OaklandOakland And Falls · 11 miles from McHenry (Lake North End) in a straight line
Swallow Falls State ParkOakland And Falls · 5.6 miles from McHenry (Lake North End) in a straight line

Where To Stay For Deep Creek Boat Tours

Mountain lake at golden hour with a pontoon boat cruising past a forested point

resort

Wisp Resort

McHenry, north end of the lake

Check rates

Pontoon boats moored along a wooded shoreline of a mountain lake in morning light

midscale

The Lodge at Wisp Resort

McHenry, north end of the lake

Check rates

Rental pontoon boats tied along a dock at a lake marina

midscale

LakeFront Lodge

McHenry

Check rates

Deep Creek Boat Tours FAQ

Pontoon boat cruising calm open water on Deep Creek Lake with forested hills behind it

When does the boat rental season end on the lake?

Closing dates vary by operator, so it pays to check the listing before you plan a fall trip. Bill's Marine Service ended its rental season on 28 September 2026.

Where can I rent a pontoon, kayak or paddleboard?

Pontoon rentals on Deep Creek Lake are available from Lake Life Boat Rentals and Deep Creek Lake Boats, both on Deep Creek Drive in McHenry, and from Funtime Watersports in Thayerville. For kayaks, paddleboards and tubes, the State Park beach concession run by Wisp Resort Lake Adventures rents them on site, while Deep Creek Paddle Co delivers kayaks and paddleboards to you.

Do I need boating experience to rent here?

Rentals on the lake suit vacationers without certificates. Under Maryland rules, anyone born on or after 1 July 1972 needs a boating safety education certificate to operate a numbered vessel, but renters of motorized boats (other than personal watercraft) read a safety sheet and receive a 10-day temporary certificate instead.

How long are the pontoon boat tours?

The state park tours run on a set schedule from the Discovery Center Dock. In the 2026 rates, a 1.5-hour tour departs at 9:00 a.m., and shorter 1-hour outings leave at 11:30, 1:30 and 3:30.

Can I rent kayaks and tubes without a tour?

Yes. The Wisp Resort lake concession rents kayaks, paddleboards and tubes outright, no guide required, alongside its pontoon offerings.

Where do the tours and rentals leave from?

The state park concession bases itself at the Discovery Center Dock, and that is where scheduled pontoon tours start. Rental fleets with their own marinas, such as Bill's Marine Service, use their own docks around the lake.