Hiking, Cycling, and Canoeing in Maryland: A Family Guide, Second Edition

From Assateague to Swallow Falls, from the Susquehanna River Trail to Rock Creek Park, Maryland offers residents and visitors a wealth of recreational opportunities in a remarkable variety of natural settings. Bryan MacKay's Hiking, Cycling, and Canoeing in Maryland has been the essential guide to outdoor recreation in the state's parks, preserves, and waterways for more than a decade. A lifelong resident of Maryland, MacKay combines in this book his love of outdoor activities and his knowledge of the places, plants, and animals of the region. For each of the 23 walks, 16 bicycle rides, and 19 canoe trips, he includes general information on the natural history and ecology of the site and a short essay that focuses on a topic of special interest -- a particular plant or animal or an important conservation issue. Along with maps and detailed directions for each outing, the book also features beautiful pen-and-ink drawings by Sandy Glover of the Irvine Natural Science Center. The second edition provides updated information on the Capital Crescent Trail, North Point State Park (Black Marsh), Soldiers Delight Natural Environmental Area, and the Susquehanna River Trail, as well as current contact information for all parks and preserves. Contents......Page 6 Preface......Page 8 Acknowledgments......Page 12 Outdoor Activities with Kids......Page 14 WALKING & HIKING......Page 20 Walking and Hiking with Kids......Page 24 North Beach, Assateague Island National Seashore......Page 28 Nassawango Creek Preserve: Paul Leifer Trail and Furnace Town......Page 39 Calvert Cliffs State Park......Page 47 Flag Ponds Nature Park......Page 54 Elk Neck State Park......Page 61 Susquehanna River Trail......Page 67 North Point State Park (Black Marsh)......Page 75 Great Falls Tavern Walk and Billy Goat Trail......Page 82 Lake Roland Trail......Page 94 Oregon Ridge Park......Page 102 Soldiers Delight Natural Environmental Area......Page 110 Patapsco Valley State Park: McKeldin Area......Page 119 Gunpowder South Trail......Page 126 Little Bennett Regional Park......Page 133 Sugarloaf Mountain......Page 140 Harpers Ferry and the C & O Canal Towpath......Page 146 Blue Ridge Duo......Page 156 The Appalachian Trail......Page 164 Rocky Gap State Park......Page 174 Swallow Falls State Park......Page 181 Cranesville Swamp Preserve......Page 189 CYCLING......Page 198 Cycling with Kids......Page 202 Assateague Island Bike Trail......Page 205 Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge......Page 216 Point Lookout State Park......Page 225 Quiet Waters Park......Page 233 The Baltimore and Annapolis Trail......Page 240 Patuxent Research Refuge......Page 247 Rock Creek Trail......Page 254 The Capital Crescent Trail......Page 268 The National Arboretum......Page 275 Patapsco Valley State Park: Avalon–Orange Grove Area......Page 281 The Northern Central Trail......Page 288 Antietam National Battlefield......Page 296 Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge......Page 304 The Mount Vernon Trail......Page 316 Gettysburg National Military Park......Page 326 CANOEING......Page 338 Canoeing with Kids......Page 342 Corkers Creek......Page 348 Nassawango Creek......Page 356 Pocomoke River......Page 363 Janes Island......Page 371 Watts Creek......Page 378 Kings Creek......Page 384 Tuckahoe Creek......Page 394 Nanjemoy Creek......Page 403 Mataponi Creek......Page 410 Gunpowder Delta......Page 418 Otter Point Creek......Page 425 Potomac River: Overview......Page 432 Potomac River: Dam Number 4 Cave......Page 438 Potomac River: Fort Frederick......Page 446 Potomac River: Paw Paw Bends......Page 454 Monocacy River......Page 462 Upper Gunpowder River......Page 469 Virginia Canal......Page 477 Middle Youghiogheny River......Page 484 C......Page 492 L......Page 493 S......Page 494 X......Page 495 C......Page 496 N......Page 497 W......Page 498 Y......Page 499 Contents 6 Preface 8 Acknowledgments 12 Outdoor Activities with Kids 14 WALKING & HIKING 20 Walking and Hiking with Kids 24 North Beach, Assateague Island National Seashore 28 Nassawango Creek Preserve: Paul Leifer Trail and Furnace Town 39 Calvert Cliffs State Park 47 Flag Ponds Nature Park 54 Elk Neck State Park 61 Susquehanna River Trail 67 North Point State Park (Black Marsh) 75 Great Falls Tavern Walk and Billy Goat Trail 82 Lake Roland Trail 94 Oregon Ridge Park 102 Soldiers Delight Natural Environmental Area 110 Patapsco Valley State Park: McKeldin Area 119 Gunpowder South Trail 126 Little Bennett Regional Park 133 Sugarloaf Mountain 140 Harpers Ferry and the C & O Canal Towpath 146 Blue Ridge Duo 156 The Appalachian Trail 164 Rocky Gap State Park 174 Swallow Falls State Park 181 Cranesville Swamp Preserve 189 CYCLING 198 Cycling with Kids 202 Assateague Island Bike Trail 205 Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge 216 Point Lookout State Park 225 Quiet Waters Park 233 The Baltimore and Annapolis Trail 240 Patuxent Research Refuge 247 Rock Creek Trail 254 The Capital Crescent Trail 268 The National Arboretum 275 Patapsco Valley State Park: Avalon–Orange Grove Area 281 The Northern Central Trail 288 Antietam National Battlefield 296 Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge 304 The Mount Vernon Trail 316 Gettysburg National Military Park 326 CANOEING 338 Canoeing with Kids 342 Corkers Creek 348 Nassawango Creek 356 Pocomoke River 363 Janes Island 371 Watts Creek 378 Kings Creek 384 Tuckahoe Creek 394 Nanjemoy Creek 403 Mataponi Creek 410 Gunpowder Delta 418 Otter Point Creek 425 Potomac River: Overview 432 Potomac River: Dam Number 4 Cave 438 Potomac River: Fort Frederick 446 Potomac River: Paw Paw Bends 454 Monocacy River 462 Upper Gunpowder River 469 Virginia Canal 477 Middle Youghiogheny River 484 Glossary 492 A 492 B 492 C 492 D 493 E 493 F 493 H 493 K 493 L 493 M 494 O 494 P 494 R 494 S 494 V 495 W 495 X 495 Index 496 A 496 B 496 C 496 D 497 E 497 F 497 G 497 H 497 I 497 J 497 K 497 L 497 M 497 N 497 O 498 P 498 Q 498 R 498 S 498 T 498 V 498 W 498 Y 499

This appealing book is a guide to family-oriented outdoor recreation in Maryland's parks, preserves, and waterways - featuring locations throughout the state chosen for exceptional scenic beauty and interesting natural beauty.

Bryan MacKay provides detailed descriptions of 23 walks, 16 bicycle rides, and 19 canoe trips, all of which are suitable for families with children and for people new to these outdoor activities. A lifelong resident of Maryland, MacKay combines in this book his love of outdoor recreation with his knowledge of the places, plants, and animals of Maryland. For each trip, he includes general information on the natural history and ecology of the site, along with a short essays that focuses on a topic of special interest - a particular plant or animal or an important conversation issue. Along with maps and detailed directions for each outing, the book also features pen-and-ink drawings by Sandy Glover of the Irvine Natural Science Center.

Whether it's hiking in Patapsco Valley to search for wild orchids, or cycling through Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge to see bald eagles, or canoeing the Gunpower Delta to consider the natural history of Chesapeake Bay, MacKay's well-planned adventures - wonderfully described, with practical advice and interesting information from an expert guide - offer perfect introductions to outdoor recreation in the land of pleasant living.