Over 41 million acres are connected through the waters that flow to and through Chesapeake Bay. The National Park Service strives to connect people to the opportunities and adventures throughout the watershed. Inspiring stewardship across this vast region supports recreation, business, tourism, learning, and a thriving natural resource for all to enjoy.

A view of docks and boats in the waterside town of Cape Charles VA

Cape Charles

A family walks along the beach searching for fossils at Calvert Cliffs.

Calvert Cliffs

A series of waterfalls and rocky conditions show the fall line on the Potomac River

Great Falls

At sunset, a boater returns to the docks used by working watermen at Tangier Island.

Tangier Island

Four youngsters paddle kayaks on calm waters of the Susquehanna River

Kayak Kids

Chesapeake Bay

All Park Hours above refers to the core hours the Chesapeake Bay Program Office is open. This program office manages the National Park Service's responsibilities under the Chesapeake Bay Initiative and the Chesapeake Gateways & Water Trails Network. 

The office core hours are from 9 am to 4 pm Monday through Friday. The office is closed on federal holidays. Quite frequently, the office is open for business at least one hour earlier and one hour later than core hours.

NPS Chesapeake Bay Office Hours

Self-Guided Tours - Walking

Suitable for all ages; some sites may include stairs or uneven surfaces.

Time varies depending on how many sites visitors explore along the route.

The walking tour itself is free. However, admission fees may apply at individual buildings or museums along the route when they are open to the public.

Hand holding smartphone showing a map of the Maryland State House in front of its dome

Historic Annapolis Walking Tour

<p data-end="579" data-start="250">Stroll through centuries of history on a self-guided walking tour of downtown Annapolis, Maryland, a Chesapeake Gateways Network Experience. Much like Boston’s Freedom Trail, this route weaves together significant places that tell the city’s story as a center of political, cultural, and maritime life along the Chesapeake Bay.</p> <p data-end="1281" data-start="581">The walk begins at City Dock, where waterborne commerce once connected Annapolis to the wider Bay and beyond. From there, the route leads to notable sites such as the Maryland State House, where the Continental Congress met, and the U.S. Naval Academy’s historic John Barry Gate, linking the city to the nation’s maritime legacy. Along the way, visitors encounter homes of free and enslaved African Americans, including the Butler and Maynard Burgess Houses, as well as landmarks of faith and community such as St. Anne’s Church and Asbury United Methodist Church. The Banneker-Douglass-Tubman Museum highlights the enduring story of African American heritage and activism in the Chesapeake region.</p> <p data-end="1700" data-start="1283">The walking tour can be followed at your own pace using your mobile device and the <a href="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/digital/nps-apps.htm">NPS App</a>, guiding you through Annapolis’s streets, churches, gardens, and public squares that reflect the diverse stories of the people who shaped the city and the Bay. The tour itself is free, though some museums and buildings may require admission when open. To learn more, explore the App or visit the <a href="https://nps.gov/chesapeake">Chesapeake Gateways website</a>.</p>

Pets are welcome along outdoor portions of the route but are not permitted inside most public buildings.

Explore Annapolis on a self-guided walking tour that highlights centuries of history along the Chesapeake Bay. Visit the Maryland State House, the U.S. Naval Academy’s John Barry Gate, historic churches, homes of free and enslaved African Americans, and the Banneker-Douglass-Tubman Museum. This walk offers a meaningful way to connect with the city’s political, cultural, and maritime heritage.

Explore Historic Annapolis on Foot

African American Heritage

American Revolution

Architecture and Building

Colonization and Settlement

Enslavement

Maritime

Military

Monuments and Memorials

Presidents

Religion and Spirituality

Schools and Education

Social Movements

Urban America

Wars and Conflicts

American Revolutionary War

War of 1812

Women's History

Paddling

People kayaking in the inner harbor of Baltimore City

Paddle the Baltimore Blueway

<h2>Trail Overview</h2> <p dir="ltr">The Baltimore Blueway is a network of water trails and public access points for non-motorized craft that connects cultural, historic, and natural sites throughout the Baltimore waterfront, promoting an exciting new way to experience the city. </p>   <p dir="ltr">Choose from 30 miles of trails in the Inner Harbor, Outer Harbor, Middle Branch, and Patapsco River. Imagine yourself gliding alongside historic ships, seeing the skyline from the water, and paddling around Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine. Take a selfie with Mr. Trash Wheel or immerse yourself in nature surrounded by wetlands and wildlife. Nowhere else in the Chesapeake Bay can you find such a diverse range of awe-inspiring paddling experiences within a 3-mile radius.</p>   <h2>History</h2> <meta charset="utf-8" /><b>European Contact & Indigenous People of America</b> <p><meta charset="utf-8" />In 1608, Captain John Smith traveled 210 miles from Jamestown to the uppermost northern reaches of the Chesapeake Bay, leading the first European expedition to the Patapsco River. The name "Patapsco" is derived from pota-psk-ut, which translates to "backwater" or "tide covered with froth" in the Algonquian dialect.</p> <br /> <meta charset="utf-8" /><b>Founding of Baltimore </b> <p dir="ltr">In 1730, Baltimore was established on the north side of the Inner Basin of the Patapsco River. This area is known today as the Inner Harbor.</p> <p dir="ltr">After Baltimore's founding, the waterfront developed into dry docks, warehouses, ship chandlers, and various industries.</p>  <br /> <b id="docs-internal-guid-2aa740ea-7fff-8588-1147-521dd1d5f109">The War of 1812 </b> <p dir="ltr">After crushing the Americans at Bladensburg and invading the nation’s capital, the British targeted Baltimore. If they could capture the city---the third largest in the United States and a commercial and shipbuilding hub---they could likely bring the war to an end. Military and civilians, including free and enslaved African Americans, rallied to fend off the British.</p> <p dir="ltr">On September 12-14, 1814, the British attacked by land from North Point and by water at Fort McHenry on the Patapsco River. The impressive American defenses and the failure to capture Fort McHenry forced the British to withdraw, essentially ending the Chesapeake Campaign of 1814. The Battle of Baltimore inspired Francis Scott Key to write the words that would become America's national anthem.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>The site is now <a href="https://www.nps.gov/fomc/index.htm">Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine</a>.</em></p> <p dir="ltr"> </p> <blockquote> <div><em>The Baltimore Blueway is managed by <a href="https://www.waterfrontpartnership.org/">Waterfront Partnership of Baltimore</a>. Learn more about the water trails at: <a href="http://baltimoreblueway.org">baltimoreblueway.org</a></em></div> </blockquote> <br />  

Choose from 30 miles of trails in the Inner Harbor, Outer Harbor, Middle Branch, and Patapsco River. Imagine yourself gliding alongside historic ships, seeing the skyline from the water, and paddling around Fort McHenry. Take a selfie with Mr. Trash Wheel or immerse yourself in nature surrounded by wetlands and wildlife. Nowhere else in the Chesapeake Bay can you find such a diverse range of awe-inspiring paddling experiences within a 3-mile radius.

River and Riparian

Water Trails

Colonial/European Contact Conflicts

A color photograph of a man on a blue kayak next to an old sunken ship.

Mallows Bay Potomac Paddle

<h4>Overview</h4> Perhaps no other body of water in America has defined our country quite like the Potomac River. From the American Indian communities who first called this region home to the American Revolution, the Civil War, and industrial progress into the 21st century, the Potomac is truly “the Nation’s River.”<br /> <br /> The Potomac River is the second-largest tributary to the Chesapeake Bay. Dozens of small, vibrant rivers and streams flow through forests, farms, towns, and rural communities, coming together to form the Potomac. The river provides a critical link to the Bay; before roads crisscrossed the landscape, the Potomac transported trade goods and travelers to the Chesapeake and the world beyond.  <br /> <br /> To learn paddling opportunities and trip ideas, visit the <a href="https://www.paddlethepotomac.com/">Paddle the Potomac website</a>.  <h4>History</h4> <strong>Indigenous People of America</strong><br /> In the 17th century, the Piscataway people lived in the Potomac River watershed as well as on the western coast of the Chesapeake Bay from what is now St. Mary’s City north to Baltimore. Their ancestors had arrived in the area around 9,500 B.C.E and their descendants still live in the area today — several descendent Tribes are recognized by the state of Maryland. The principal leader of the Piscataway people was known as the Tayac.<br /> <br /> The Tribe’s first contact with Europeans was when Captain John Smith ventured into their territory in 1608. Pressure from European colonization caused people in towns along the Potomac to leave their traditional lands. Some merged with other tribes and retreated to locations that the English had not yet touched. <br /> <br /> Later, in the early 1900s, a Piscataway man named Philip Sheridan Procter became an activist for Indigenous People of America cultural revival after returning from battle in World War I France. Among his accomplishments was the preservation of the Moyaone archeological site, which today is a National Historic Landmark protected by the National Park Service under <a href="https://www.nps.gov/pisc/index.htm">Piscataway Park</a>. Proctor, who became known as Turkey Tayac, is buried in the park.<br /> <br /> <strong>War of 1812</strong><br /> In the late summer of 1814, the British sailed the lower Potomac River as a diversionary feint to keep the American forces guessing their intent (another feint sailed up the Chesapeake Bay while the main contingent of the Royal Navy proceeded up the Patuxent River and landed forces at Benedict). The purpose of the Potomac River feint was to capture <a href="https://www.nps.gov/fowa/index.htm">Fort Washington</a> and provide a means of evacuation for the invading land forces should they need assistance.<br /> <br /> The Potomac feint was riddled with bad luck as the hastily-prepared crews made their 120-mile passage up the winding, shoal-filled river. The ships anchored off Maryland Point on August 24, the same day that Ross and Cockburn completed their land march and burned Washington. Upon seeing the red glow from the flames in Washington and believing that the goal of capturing the capital had been met, the Potomac squadron made the command decision to proceed on its own. On August 26, the squadron passed Mount Vernon and came into view of Fort Washington, just 12 miles from Washington, D.C., and 6 miles from Alexandria, VA.<br /> <br /> The British attempted to attack the fort but the Americans blew it up themselves as ordered by the commanding officer, leaving the capital and the City of Alexandria undefended. The British squadron arrived in Alexandria and occupied the town from August 28 through September 3. During that time, the town capitulated and provided the squadron all its tobacco, grain, cotton, and flour.<br /> <br /> Word came that Americans were building batteries along the Potomac to contest the squadron's downriver return. The British encountered American batteries at Indian Head but the British squadron was able to make it safely to the open waters of the bay by September 9 with seven warships and the booty from Alexandria.

Beginning at Jennings Randolph Lake to the mouth of the Potomac, you may choose to paddle the 355 miles to the Chesapeake Bay or take a single or multi-day trip; all will give you a different view of the ways that previous residents used the river and its banks for their livelihood, transportation and recreation.

Paddle the Potomac River

Native American Heritage

A person paddles an orange kayak on a river with trees in the background.

Patuxent River paddling

<h2>River and Trail Overview</h2> The Patuxent River Water Trail offers visitors the opportunity to paddle the river, camp along its banks and visit its numerous parks, historic sites, sanctuaries and wildlife areas. The 110 mile-long river is unique in that it is the longest river that flows entirely within the state of Maryland.<br /> <br /> From its source at Parrs Ridge in Carroll County to Drum Point on the Chesapeake Bay, the Patuxent River is known for its treasured resources and natural beauty. Dense woodlands buffer the upper reaches while farmlands dominate the southern part creating scenic vistas and a serene rural environment. Archaeological and cultural resources tell the story of 10,000 years of human habitation. <h2>History</h2> <strong>Indigenous People of America</strong><br /> On his <em>Map of Virginia</em>, Captain John Smith recorded fifteen towns, as well as two Chief’s towns along the Patuxent River. The Chief’s towns were Pawtuxent and Acquintanacsuck. Further upriver than Smith reached was another important town called Mattapaneint.<br /> <br /> On August 9, 1608, John Smith and crew sailed to the Patuxent River. The next day, they sailed upstream and spent the night at Pawtuxent. Likely accompanied by a guide, the crew headed further upriver and spent the night before turning around. On the return trip, they stopped at Acquintanacsuck before heading to Opanient near the mouth of the river to depart from their guide and camp until the next morning. During these stopovers, the Indigenous People and Smith would trade, eat together, and exchange information.<br /> <br /> Decades later, English colonists had forced many Indigenous people out of towns like Pawtuxent and Opanient. The 1674 Proceedings of the General Assembly of Maryland recorded that, "the Mattapnay & Patuxon Indians doe Continue upon the Land on which they now live...Billingsle, having formerly Purchased it of the said Indians...” This property, which was owned by a man named Major John Billingsley, is now known as Billingsley’s Point. It is located just North of Jug Bay and Patuxent River Park, which interprets the region’s Indigenous People's heritage. <br /> <br /> <strong>War of 1812</strong><br /> The lower Patuxent flows through Southern Maryland, which was a dangerous place to live in the hot summer of 1814. British raiding parties traveled the river and swept through the countryside, terrorizing civilians and taking provisions for British troops gathering in the area.  <br /> <br /> Citizens of Southern Maryland suffered more raids and skirmishes than residents anywhere else in the Chesapeake region. British attacks continued “like drum beats up and down the river” throughout the summer leaving panic, horror, and destruction in their wake.  These actions caused many inhabitants to oppose the war. Some prohibited American forces from stationing at their farms, knowing the militia could not provide security. <br /> <br /> The river was also the site of the <a href="https://www.nps.gov/stsp/learn/historyculture/battles-of-st-leonard-creek.htm">largest naval engagement in Maryland</a>, which took place at the confluence of the Patuxent and St. Leonard Creek in June 1814. Americans prevailed in a series of skirmishes June 8-10, but the British ultimately trapped them in the creek. This first battle had little effect. On June 26, U.S. land units gave support from nearby heights. Following intense fighting in the Second Battle of St. Leonard Creek, the Chesapeake Flotilla escaped up the Patuxent. The British pursued and on August 22 the Americans scuttled their own fleet to keep it out of enemy hands.   <h2>Learn more</h2> The Patuxent River Water Trail is managed by the <a href="https://paxriverkeeper.org/">Patuxent Riverkeeper</a>. Learn more about the river trail at: <a href="https://patuxentwatertrail.org/">https://patuxentwatertrail.org</a>.

The Patuxent River Water Trail offers visitors the opportunity to paddle the river, camp along its banks and visit its numerous parks, historic sites, sanctuaries and wildlife areas. The 110 mile-long river is unique in that it is the longest river that flows entirely within the state of Maryland.

Paddle the Patuxent River Water Trail

Two people paddle a canoe with two other canoes in the background.

Anacostia Water Trail image

<h2>Trail Overview</h2> The Anacostia Water Trail covers a nine-mile stretch of the Anacostia River, running from Bladensburg, Maryland, through Washington, DC, to its juncture with the Potomac River about two miles south of Capitol Hill. Along this trail, the character of the river varies remarkably. Upstream you’ll find forests, wetlands, and wildlife that seem amazingly removed from the city. Downstream are hubs of riverfront recreation, with community parks, restaurants, and sporting events.<br /> <br /> The trail is managed by the <a href="https://www.anacostiaws.org/">Anacostia Watershed Association</a>. Public boat lanches are located at several points along the trail, including at the north end of Anacostia Park (off of Anacostia Drive SE, and at <a href="http://outdoors.pgparks.com/3256/Bladensburg-Waterfront-Park">Bladensburg Waterfront Park</a> (4601 Annapolis Rd, Bladensburg, MD 20710). <a href="https://www.anacostiaws.org/events-and-recreation/recreation-in-our-watershed/anacostia-water-trail.html">Learn more</a> about the trail.  <h2>History</h2> <strong>Indigenous People of America</strong><br /> People lived on the banks of the Anacostia as early as 9,500 B.C.E. During the 17th century, the Indigenous towns recorded by Captain John Smith at the intersection of the Anacostia and the Potomac Rivers were Namoraughquend, Assaomeck, and Namassingakent. These towns were located just below the Potomac’s Great Falls. Every spring, people gathered at the river's edge, eagerly awaiting the return of migratory fish from the Chesapeake Bay. <br /> <br /> The town of Nacotchtank was the largest in the area, and its location at the conflux of the two rivers and in the transition from upland to tidewater made it a major crossroads for travel and trading between distant tribes. Nacotchtank was inhabited by the Nacotchtank people, who are also known as the Anacostans – the origin of the name Anacostia we use today.<br /> <br /> This area is part of the ancestral homeland of the Piscataway people. Their descendants still live here, same as members of the Piscataway Conoy Tribe & Sub-Tribes, the Piscataway Nation, and other Tribal organizations.<br /> <br /> <strong>War of 1812</strong><br /> The Battle of Bladensburg on August 24, 1814, ended in defeat for the United States and allowed the British to invade Washington, D.C. Once the Americans realized the British route of advance, there was little time to prepare. They hastily established lines of defense near the port town of Bladensburg, where the British would cross the Eastern Branch of the Potomac (known today as the Anacostia).<br /> <br /> The poorly trained and ill-equipped American militia, though superior in number, were no match for the seasoned British army. That night, as buildings in Washington burned and the victors ravaged the White House, news of the rout at Bladensburg spread throughout the countryside.<br /> <br />  

Discover the natural abundance of the Anacostia River as it threads through the heart of Washington, DC. Watch birds on Kingman Island or dock at the National Arboretum and roam the forest. The Anacostia River corridor has lots of options for outdoor fun and the Anacostia Water Trail can help you find them.

Be aware of the tides! Before launching your boat, check for when low and high tide is expected.

Paddle the Anacostia Water Trail

The lagoon water trail loop is 2.5 miles in length. 

A rusty old metal ship with a large letter D sits half sunk in a waterway.

Dutch Gap Conservation Area sunken ships

<p>Paddle the Lagoon Water Trail at Dutch Gap Conservation area to see an unexpected sight. Beside the wading herons you'll find other strange forms - the sunken remains of several wooden barges.<br /> <br /> These abandoned barges are remnants of the mining industry. They were once used to haul large quanities of sand and gravel along the James River. The vessel pictured here with the large D is a tugboat that would have guided larger ships on their journey. </p> <h3>How to Paddle the Lagoon Water Trail</h3> <p><br /> The Lagoon Water Trail will take paddlers in kayaks and canoes past this sunken "Graveyard" of ships. The easiest way to reach the trail with your boat is to park at the Henricus Visitor Center and portage to Sycamore Dock. Follow the map and instructions printed here: <a href="https://www.chesterfield.gov/DocumentCenter/View/2400/Tidal-LagoonTrail-Map-and-Information-PDF">Lagoon Water Trail (PDF)</a>. After launching, make a right into the James River until you reach a smaller channel on your right that takes you into the lagoon. Once inside the lagoon, make a left and go past Egret Island, where you will find the ships. <br /> <br /> Along this trail are multiple buoy markers and docks to help you find your way. The Lagoon Trail continues in a loop that takes you back to the channel where you entered. </p> <h3><br /> More About Dutch Gap Conservation Area </h3> <p><br /> <a href="https://www.chesterfield.gov/DutchGap">Dutch Gap Conservation Area</a> is a wooded area in Chesterfield County, Virginia that surrounds Henricus, the second successful English settlement in Virginia. Prior to English settlement, it was opposite the Indigenous town of Arrohateck. The site is nestled against the banks of the James River and consists of 810-acres of woodlands and wetlands. Dutch Gap received in name in 1611 when Sir Thomas Dale attempted to shorten river travel around a meander of the James River by cutting a new channel through the river.<br /> <br /> Today, the conservation area offers activities and opportunities for visitors looking for a way to enjoy an outing on the idyllic James River. The site protects natural resources, including a blue heron rookery in the marsh, and offers observation blinds and walking trails for viewing wildlife.<br /> <br /> Ammenities include:</p> <ul> <li> <p>3 picnic shelters</p> </li> <li> <p>Fishing access</p> </li> <li> <p><a href="https://www.chesterfield.gov/Facilities/Facility/Details/-398">Kayak and canoe access</a></p> </li> <li> <p>Observation blind</p> </li> <li> <p>Restrooms</p> </li> <li> <p>Walking trails (5.8 miles)</p> </li> </ul>

Dutch Gap Conservation Area is a wooded area in Chesterfield County, Virginia that surrounds Henricus, the second successful English settlement in Virginia. Paddle the Lagoon Water Trail to view abandoned barges, relics of the river's industrial past.

The Henricus Visitor Center is open Wednesday-Sunday from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. 

Paddle to Sunken Ships at Dutch Gap Conservation Area

Fish

Explorers and Expeditions

Forests and Woodlands

Deciduous Forests

Mining

Ships and Shipwrecks

Natural Sounds

Trails

Watersheds

Wetlands

Marshes

Paddling at Northumberand Point

<p>The Susquehanna River is the longest river in the Eastern United States and the 16th longest in the country at 444 miles long. The Susquehanna forms from two branches that meet in Sunbury, Pennsylvania. The North Branch comes from Cooperstown, New York and the West Branch that rises from the borough of Carrolltown, Pennsylvania.</p> <p>The river has played a very important role throughout American history from colonial times, through the industrial revolution, to today. Through the early 19th century, the West Branch Susquehanna provided the main canoe route that connects the Susquehanna and Ohio valleys.</p> <p>With the start of the industrial revolution, many factories sprung up around the banks of the River to make use of its moving water to power mills and coal machinery. It also made transportation of raw and manufactured easier and more convenient.</p> <p>The Susquehanna has played an important role in the transportation history of the United States. Prior to the construction of the Port Deposit Bridge in 1818, the only way to cross the north, south barrier was by ferry. The earliest dams were constructed to help ferry companies in times of low water so they continue to operate.</p> <p>Canals where constructed in the 1820s and 30s to help with navigations and to bypass rapids. The canals required more dams so sufficient water could be provided for their use. As industry improved, bridges replaceds ferries, and railroads replaced canals.</p> <p>The railroads were generally constructed over where canals used to be, running along the water. Today, most of the canals have been filled in, but you can still see remnants of a few throughout the river.<br />  </p> <h3>The River</h3> <ul> <li>The main stem of the Susquehanna River stretches 444 miles from Cooperstown, New York to where it empties into the Chesapeake Bay at Havre de Grace, Maryland. The Western Branch of the Susquehanna is 242 miles long, winding from Carrolltown, Pennsylvania, to where it empties into the main body of the Susquehanna in Sunbury, Pennsylvania.</li> <li>An average rush of 18 million gallons of freshwater empties at the river's mouth at Havre de Grace every minute, supplying roughly half of the freshwater to the Chesapeake Bay.</li> <li>The Susquehanna River flows through five ridges with four of them being in the Poconos and one being in the Blue Mountains. The ridges from north to south are Manhantango Mountain, Berry Mountain, Peters Mountain, Second Mountain, and Blue Mountain.</li> </ul> <h3>The Watershed</h3> <ul> <li>The Susquehanna River watershed ‒ the area of land that drains to the river ‒ covers 27,100 square miles across three states (New York, Pennsylvania, and Maryland).</li> <li>The Susquehanna River Basin contains approximately 49,000 miles of waterways, all emptying into the Susquehanna and into the Bay.</li> <li>Over 6.1 million people receive their drinking water from the Susquehanna River Basin.</li> </ul> <h3>Learn More</h3> <p>The Suquehanna River Water Trail is managed by various organizations throughout Pennsylvania. To learn more about the trail and its paddle trips, visit these sites:</p> <p style="margin-left: 40px;">General - <a href="https://susquehannagreenway.org/explore-susquehanna-greenway">Susquehanna Greenway</a><br /> General / Lower Branch - <a href="https://susqnha.org/">Susquehanna National Heritage Area</a></p> <ul> <li style="margin-left: 40px;"><a href="https://susqnha.org/explore-2/maps-guides/">Maps, guides, and apps</a></li> </ul> <div style="margin-left: 40px;">Middle Branch - <a href="https://www.susquehannarivertrail.org/">Susquehanna River Trail Association</a><br /> West Branch - <a href="https://susquehannagreenway.org/west-branch-water-trail-map-guide">Susquehanna Greenway</a> </div> <p style="margin-left: 40px;">North Branch - <a href="https://www.emheritage.org/">Endless Mountains Heritage Region</a> </p> <ul> <li style="margin-left: 40px;"><a href="https://www.emheritage.org/north-branch-susquehanna-river-water-trail/">North Branch Water Trail Map</a></li> <li style="margin-left: 40px;"><a href="https://www.emheritage.org/heritage-map/">Heritage Area Map</a></li> </ul>

The Susquehanna River is the longest river in the Eastern United States and the 16th longest in the country at 444 miles long. The Susquehanna forms from two branches that meet in Sunbury, Pennsylvania. The North Branch comes from Cooperstown, New York and the West Branch that rises from the borough of Carrolltown, Pennsylvania.

Paddle the Susquehanna

Woman on a yellow kayak paddles among lotus blossoms

Paddle the Sassafras River Water Trail

<h2>About the River and Trail</h2> Over 20 miles long, the Sassafras River traces the shores of Maryland’s Cecil and Kent counties before reaching its confluence with the Chesapeake Bay between Howell Point and Grove Point.  The tributary begins near the town of Sassafras, where the heavily wooded corridor features shallow water and the average width is only around 20 feet.  After passing under the Route 301 Bridge, the river widens and the landscape transitions from woodland to farmland with a few residential communities interspersed along the way. <br /> <br /> The twin ports of Georgetown and Fredericktown dominate the scenery downriver of the Route 213 Bridge, with both communities serving as busy centers for recreational boating.  Between Turner’s Creek and the mouth of the Sassafras, dramatic cliffs line both sides of the river.  The forested cliffs provide ideal habitat for nesting bald eagles, and the birds can often be spotted soaring overhead. <br /> <br /> Despite its relatively small size, the Sassafras is a popular destination for powerboats, paddle craft, and workboats.  As such, it can be especially busy on weekends from May through October.  For paddlers seeking peace and quiet, the Sassafras offers numerous creeks whose shallow waters are accessible by only the smallest vessels. <h2>History</h2> <em>European Contact </em><br /> Captain John Smith arrived at the Sassafras River on August 1, 1608. He quickly met warriors from a group of people he called the Tockwogh. This name referred to a town that was located in what is now Kent County, Maryland.<br /> <br /> The Tockwogh spoke an Algonquin language that was different from the Powhatan dialect that Smith understood. Thankfully, one of the Tockwogh men spoke both languages and was able to translate. After being taken to their walled town, Smith noticed that they had iron and brass tools. The Tockwogh informed him that they had gotten these tools from their Northern neighbors, the Susquehannock. They agreed to arrange a meeting between Smith and the Susquehannock. Smith and his men explored the Elk and Susquehanna rivers while a few Tockwogh men traveled to contact the Susquehannock.<br /> <br /> The Susquehannock leaders agreed to a meeting and sailed downstream in a fleet of canoes with sixty men and loads of gifts and things to trade. Smith, five Susquehannock leaders, and two interpreters met aboard the shallop and sailed across to the Sassafras River and Tockwogh. That night there was a dance and feast. John Smith performed an Anglican prayer service, and the Susquehannock sang a song of theirs in return. Smith departed on August 8.<br /> <br /> <em>War of 1812</em><br /> From opposite sides of the Sassafras River, local militia fired at British raiders who were advancing toward Fredericktown and Georgetown. The militia fought only briefly before retreating, but the towns paid dearly. On May 6, 1813, British forces reduced much of Fredericktown to ashes; then crossed to Georgetown, setting much of it aflame as well. Catharine "Kitty" Knight reportedly persuaded the British commander to save her house and that of an elderly neighbor, two of the ten or so houses that survived the sacking of Georgetown. <h2>Learn more</h2> The Sassafras River Water Trail is managed by <a href="https://sultanaeducation.org/">Sultana Education Foundation</a>. To learn more about the trail and its paddle trips, visit: <a href="https://www.paddlethesassafras.com/">https://www.paddlethesassafras.com</a>.

The Sassafras River Water Trail is a 22 mile-long route located in the Upper region of the Chesapeake Bay. The river trail offers several options for paddle trips in beautiful landscapes that are rich in history.

Exceptional birding and fishing. Your experience and equipment should be adequate for the experience. 

Depending on wind, weather, tides and your experience, ability and equipment. 

a curving concrete pathway and green border along water with a sloping kayak launch

One can certainly ride a bicycle between Leonardtown and Colton's Point, especially via backroads. However, with a new state park between the two points and an outfitter in the area, one might also consider an overnight paddling trip. Weather, wind and tides, as well as your experience, are factors in a decision to attempt this trip. Make sure you check with locals, file a float plan and use a boat and gear appropriate for open water. While in the area, you shoud also consider a half-day paddling trip on <a href="https://www.nps.gov/pohe/planyourvisit/mcintosh_run_trail.htm">MacIntosh Run</a>, an intimate experience through thick forest opening onto Breton Bay. 

Paddle approximately 12 miles from Leonardtown to Colton's Point via kayak or canoe, stopping at Newtowne Neck State Park. The trip is mostly on Breton Bay, but joins the Potomac and the mouth of St. Clement's Bay near Colton's Point.

Chesapeake Bay

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Fees & Passes

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Things To Do

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Explore Historic Annapolis on Foot

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Paddle the Baltimore Blueway

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Paddle the Potomac River

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Paddle the Patuxent River Water Trail

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Paddle the Anacostia Water Trail

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Paddle to Sunken Ships at Dutch Gap Conservation Area

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