![]() ![]() It’s worth it, however, given the abundance of wildlife, including beavers, river otters, foxes, and an amazing array of bird life. Located inside the 1,310-acre North Point State Park, the Black Marsh Trail Loop is a flat, 2-mile, lightly trafficked loop good for all skill levels, but as with the Hammerman Area’s White Trail, it can get wet, particularly after some rain. Caution: Trails here can get muddy after a rain so best to wear boots or old shoes. The White Trail also links to a pair of short spurs, the Red Trail and Orange Trail, both of which are well marked. Flat and often used for bird watching-check Marshy Point’s “osprey cam” before you go-the trail also allows dogs on leash. The White Trail, a 2-mile, lightly trafficked, out-and-back trail located close to the water near the Dundee Marina, is good for all skill levels. The 1,500-foot beach on the banks of the wide Gunpowder River, which flows into the Chesapeake Bay, is the most popular open-water swimming experience around. The Hammerman Area at Gunpowder Falls State Park is a terrific, close, diverse recreational destination for city dwellers. With locations from Kent Island to Bel Air, Bike Doctor shops also provide cycle tune-ups and trade-ins. Closer to home, Annapolis Canoe and Kayak sells and rents both solo and tandem options, plus car racks, life jackets, and safety gear, while Baltimore’s Eastern Watersports offers everything from kayaks and paddleboards to snorkeling and scuba gear, with rentals, lessons, and even SUP yoga classes. In Southern Maryland, the Patuxent Adventure Center in Solomons features kid, road, mountain, and electric bikes, plus expert repair services and an aquatic arm for vessel sales and weekly group paddle events. On the Eastern Shore, Easton Cycle & Sport is a one-stop shop for canoes, kayaks, standup paddleboards, and bicycles, plus rentals, while On The Rivet in Cambridge has new and used wheels, fishing kayaks, and beach cruiser rentals. Whether you’re a first-time paddler in search of a beginner’s kayak or a veteran cyclist looking to tune up your ride, locally-owned outfitters speckle the Chesapeake for every outdoor need. Janes Island’s water trail system, with seven color-coded trails ranging from 1.25 to 12.5 miles, was included on the American Canoe Association’s inaugural list of North America's best paddle trails. Swimming is allowed on the Tangiers Sound side of the park, and solo and tandem kayaks and canoes are available for rent via the on-site store through October. It remains a natural haven for wildlife, tranquil vistas, and some of the most stunning sunsets. The seemingly untouched Janes Island State Park-with more 2,900 acres of saltmarsh, 30-plus miles of marked water trails, and quiet, pristine beaches-still feels remote and wild. Among the many attractions at Tuckahoe is the Adkins Arboretum, which encompasses 500 acres of the state park’s land and nearly three miles of not-to-be missed walkways leading through tagged native tree and shrub species. ![]() It can also be paired with Pee Wee’s Trail for a 9.2-mile loop. The longest trail here, the Tuckahoe Valley Trail, is 4.5 miles and rated intermediate-but mostly because of its length out-and-back. Tuckahoe State Park boasts some of the best hiking, biking, and equestrian opportunities on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, in addition to offering mountain bikes for rent during the spring, summer, and fall. Check the Blackwater’s website for information on the 9-mile Purple and 7.6-mile Orange Trails at this natural treasure.ĬREEK PADDLING. ![]() Nearby Shorter’s Wharf provides a place to launch a kayak or canoe as well. Parking is available at the visitor center. But the best ride is the 25-mile circular route on the quiet roads immediately surrounding the refuge’s brackish tidal marsh, where there’s a good chance of spotting more unlikely birds like blue-winged teal or egrets. The Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge in Dorchester County offers several pedaling options, short 4- or 7-mile loops, as well as a 20 mile country jaunt. While not marked, its few turns are easy to follow after printing or downloading a map from, which highlights five other local rides, ranging from 26 to 38 miles, from area farmlands to the “Chesapeake Views” down to Tilghman Island. This on-road trek mostly tracks Routes 333 and 370 and can also be accessed from the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum. This classic, 33-mile Eastern Shore ride loops between Easton and Oxford, passes several quaint towns, and includes a trip on the historic Oxford-Bellevue Ferry, which began operations in 1683. ![]()
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