Queen Anne’s County offers the Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center, the Wye Island Natural Resources Management area, above, as well as the impressive 6.5 mile Cross Kent Island Trail, starting at the Chesapeake Heritage and Visitor Center at Kent Narrows. (Photo courtesy Chesapeake Bay Program)
After the snow has thawed, there’s an opportunity to break out of hibernation for both the critters and the humans alike.
Pack some snacks and hit one of the great local trails in the area.
Whether you prefer catching glimpses of wildlife or a like a bit of people watching too, there are happy trails ahead.
Caroline County has several options to choose from. Tuckahoe State Park has walking and hiking trails, as well as mountain bike trails.
There’s also a disc golf course; you’ll need to bring your own supplies or see if a friend or neighbor has some discs you can borrow. If you haven’t been in a while, Tuckahoe’s tire park has had a few features taken out, but there is still lots of climbing and running fun to be had. Have a picnic and hit the nearby trailhead.
Have horses? Tuckahoe Equestrian Center is non-profit located within the park, offering 15 miles of equestrian trails as well as other special events for members and non-members.
Tuckahoe State Park and nearby Martinak State Park in Denton both offer fishing and when it gets nice out in May through October, kayak and canoe ramps and rentals.
Want to unwind for a few days close to home? Both parks also offer camping and camping cabins.
If getting out in nature is one of your family’s goals this year, attempt the Tuckahoe State Park challenge which includes not only Tuckahoe and Martinak, but Wye Oak and Sassafras Natural Resources Management Area. Visit each spot and answer questions about your journey for a prize. Information can be found on their website.
Bordering Tuckahoe State Park is the non-profit Adkins Arboretum.
Entrance is free due to member support, but still plan on starting in their visitor’s center to get set up for a self guided audio tour about the plants and ecology, or one focusing on “Nature’s Role in the Flight to Freedom,” where historians Anthony Cohen and Dr. Kate Clifford Larson discuss nature’s role in the Underground Railroad. The visitor center also has a curated collection of nature based gifts and books for all the nature lovers, young and old, and even hard to shop for.
From there, you can trek off on five miles of trails that will take you through the woods, meadows and wetlands to see a variety of wildlife.
Browse their website or ask in the visitor center to see what’s in bloom and what might be happening before you go.
Exploring with kids? Several trails are stroller and wagon friendly.
Head towards the First Light Village, a nature-based children’s playground with wigwams and stumps to hop on.
Take time to peek over the bridges to spot turtles, frogs and other wildlife.
Stop by Emily’s Play Kitchen to whip up a mud pie and end with a picnic at the “gnome home.”
Looking for the company of other nature lovers? Keep an eye out for the many guided walks on a variety of topics, art shows, native plant shows and other programming.
In Talbot County, Pickering Creek, which is operated by the Chesapeake Audubon Society, has four miles of trails offering some excellent birding platforms and blinds the further you travel.
If you are looking for birds that are native yet hard to find with their habitat dwindling, Pickering would be an excellent choice. Visit in the spring to see the wood ducks take their first jump out of their nesting box.
Wanting to learn more in a group? They also offer educational walks and programming, like the upcoming “Flight of the Timberdoodle” walk or walks featuring their new Mossy Woods Trail.
Some trails are more handicap and stroller-friendly than others, so check your route before you go.
You’ll also want to leave your pets and bike at home as Pickering works to preserve the natural habitat as much as possible.
The St. Michaels/Oxford trail is also worth a stop, whether you plan on hitting all 29 miles of the bike trail, watching for wildlife, visiting the playgrounds or maybe even a quick walk to get ice cream and oysters in town afterwards!
Queen Anne’s County offers the Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center, the Wye Island Natural Resources Management area, and the impressive 6.5-mile Cross Kent Island Trail, which starts at at the Chesapeake Heritage and Visitor Center at Kent Narrows.
Park at designated spots to use the paved trail for roller blading, biking and scooters. Make a mini-trip by joining the trail at Queen Anne’s County Library, make a stop at the dog park and play at Love Point Park.
For the skaters in your life, there’s a new skate park across from the Industrial Park.
For a beach jaunt on unpaved trails, park at Terrapin Park and enjoy a quick walk to the beach overlooking the Bay Bridge. Look for Bald Eagles at the nature overlooks.
Dorchester County has Sailwinds Park and Bill Burton Fishing Pier in Cambridge.
Visit the playground, walk down to the beach and then see what the big catches are down on the ½ mile pier on the Dorchester side.
For a historical hike, the 10,000-square-foot Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Visitor Center in Church Hill is a can’t-miss to learn about Tubman’s life and work and other local history. Afterward, walk the trails and visit the meditation garden.
Other gems in Dorchester are the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge and the Izaak Walton League’s Bolingbroke Park.
No matter if the chill hangs out for a few more weeks or if spring heads our way early, a fresh air adventure on the Shore is always a good way to spend a day!
