Maryland State & National Parks: Unique Places to Explore

1. Assateague Island

Assateague Island is a 37-mile long barrier island located off the eastern coast of the Delmarva Peninsula shared between Maryland and Virginia, is 48,000 acres of unique, wonderfully preserved coastal wilderness.

A short drive from major metropolitan centers, the island is a popular destination for a quiet weekend of relaxation or exploring an environment mostly left untouched by humans. Assateague Island is world-known for its wild ponies that roam the wide stretches of beach, and the island is also world of wide bays, lush marshes, secluded coves, and spectacular beaches.

It’s a great destination if you feel the need for a bit of solitude surrounded by magnificent nature, or if you want to go kayaking, hiking, crabbing, clamming, swimming or just wading in the shallows.

Assateague Island, Maryland

2. Calvert Cliffs State Park

Calvert Cliffs State Park is a day-use public recreation area in Lusby, Calvert County, Maryland.

The park was developed to protect 24 miles of cliffs on the eastern side of the Calvert Peninsula on Chesapeake Bay, extending from Chesapeake Beach to Drum Point. The cliffs were formed almost 20 million years ago when most of Maryland was covered by a shallow sea.

Eventually, the sea receded and exposed the cliffs, which slowly began to erode. The park is a popular place for people who enjoy spending their day on the sandy beach, hunting for unique fossils, playing in the recycled tire playground, exploring a freshwater and tidal marshland, fishing, and hiking.

10540 H G Trueman Rd, Lusby, MD 20657, Phone: 443-975-4360

3. Catoctin Mountain Park

Catoctin Mountain Park is located in north-central Maryland in the forested Catoctin Mountain Ridge of the Blue Ridge Mountains, part of the Appalachian Mountains System.

The eight-square-mile park has 25 miles of hiking trails that run along sparkling streams, taking you near to the remnants of old farms, an abandoned moonshine still, a sawmill, and through lush forest, allowing you to enjoy breathtaking views of the Monocacy Valley.

In the winter, the park is popular for cross-country skiing and in the summer for fishing, hiking, horseback riding, rock climbing, and orienteering. Park rangers organize a range of activities out of the Owens Creek Campground Amphitheater.

14707 Park Central Rd, Thurmont, MD 21788, Phone: 301-663-9388

4. Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historic Park

The Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historic Park is located near Hagerstown, in the District of Columbia and was established in 1961 to preserve the remains of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal along with its original structures.

The 184.5-mile long canal and the original towpath trail stretch along the Potomac River between Georgetown, Washington, D.C., and Cumberland, Maryland. The canal operated from 1831 until 1924 and was used to transport coal from the Allegheny Mountains. The fascinating 19th-century feat of engineering that was locally known as “The Grand Old Ditch” has today a trail that follows the old towpath.

The whole area has become a popular center of outdoor activity, especially for hiking, biking, bird watching, and mule-drawn barge rides.

1850 Dual Hwy, Suite 100, Hagerstown, MD 21740-6620

5. Elk Neck State Park

Elk Neck State Park, a popular public recreation area located near the town of North East between Chesapeake Bay and the Elk River, is close to the tip of Elk Neck Peninsula.

The park has 2,188 acres of sandy beaches, lush marshlands, and densely forested bluffs on the peninsula formed by the Elk River, North East River, and Chesapeake Bay. Hiking trails that wind through the park are surrounded by rich plant and animal life.

The most popular is the trail that leads to the fascinating historic Turkey Point Lighthouse. The trail offers spectacular views of the Chesapeake Bay and the Elk River.

The park has 27 camping units and has small cabins that can be rented in the summer. There are also camping shelters throughout the park. There are several spots along the river that are suitable for swimming. Fishing and kayaking are also popular.

4395 Turkey Point Rd, North East, MD 21901, Phone: 410-287-5333

6. Fort Foote Park

Fort Foote was an American Civil War-era fort constructed in 1863 on top of Rozier's Bluff overlooking the Potomac River. It was built to add to the ring of fortifications around Washington, D.C. by guarding the Potomac River approach to the city. The fort was used from 1863 to 1878 when it was was abandoned, though it was used briefly during the First and Second World Wars.

Today a popular outdoor recreation area, Fort Foote Park still has two of the guns that protected Washington, together with the remains of the fort's earthworks. It is considered the region’s best preserved Civil War fort. The National Park Service has cleared paths around the fort ruins so visitors can explore the area and get the sense of the not-so-distant history of their nation’s capital.

8915 Fort Foote Rd, Fort Washington, MD, Phone: 301-763-4600

7. Fort Frederick State Park

Fort Frederick State Park was created to protect Fort Frederick, a unique stone fort built in 1756 to defend Maryland’s frontier during the French and Indian War. The 585-acre park includes the fort’s fully restored stone wall and two barracks. The fort, barracks, Civilian Conservation Corps Museum, and Visitor Center all contain a range of historic exhibits from the fort and the period of history it represents. The fort barracks are open to the visitors seven days a week between Memorial Day and Labor Day. On weekends in the spring and fall staff and volunteers dress in period clothing and demonstrate daily life in the area in the 18th century. The park borders the Chesapeake Bay and the Potomac River. Ohio Canal passes through the park. The park has a boat launch, campsites, a playground, a large pavilion, and a picnic area. Fishing, canoeing, and hiking are popular activities in the park.

11100 Fort Frederick Rd, Big Pool, MD 21711

8. Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine

Fort McHenry is a historical coastal pentagonal fort located in the Locust Point neighborhood of Baltimore, Maryland. The fort is located at the entrance to the Baltimore harbor and was built on the site of an older fort. The fort earned its place in history for its role in successfully defending Baltimore Harbor from an attack by the British navy during the War of 1812.

The heroic defense of the fort by only 1,000 American soldiers inspired Francis Scott Key to compose "The Star Spangled Banner.” Fort McHenry is open to the public and offers a range of programs and special events that celebrate the park's history.

Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine, 2400 E Fort Ave, Baltimore, MD 21230

9. Fort Washington Park

Fort Washington is located near the town of Fort Washington, Maryland and was for a long time the only fort protecting Washington D.C. The original fort was completed in 1809 and overlooked the Potomac River. During the War of 1812 during an advance by the British, the fort was destroyed by its own garrison. The current fort was built in 1824 from stone, with a straight cannon shot down the Potomac River. The fort was completely remodeled in the 1840s and in the 1890s and was turned over in 1946 to the U.S. Department of the Interior. Fort Washington Park has expansive grounds with hiking and biking trails and a scenic area for picnicking and fishing. There is a small museum, and occasionally park rangers organize historic re-enactments.

13551 Fort Washington Rd, Fort Washington, MD 20744

10. Gambrill State Park

Gambrill State Park is a popular public recreation area near the town of Frederick, Maryland on Catoctin Mountain. The lovely mountain park is known for its spectacular views of the surrounding area from several stone overlooks that were built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s. The park road crosses Catoctin Mountain and reaches the trailhead, the campground, and the High Knob part of the park. The park has two distinct areas: the Rock Run area with a picnic area, a campground, and a small pond and the High Knob area, which also has a picnic area, three picnic shelters, three stone overlooks, and a stone lodge called the Tea Room. The overlooks provide magnificent views of the Frederick and Middletown valleys.

riding.8602 Gambrill Park Road, Frederick MD 21702, Phone: 301-271-7574