This is a fun state park to visit! There is a beautiful area by the water that is great for walking.read more

I'm staying in the lovely guest house in the scenic Riverside Belle Idle and couldn't be more…read morepleased. The view from the bay window is phenomenal, the space large and comfortable. We've had trails to wander, seen wildlife, and could even go crabbing, pots provided (both kinds, to catch and cook!). The park is serene and so beautiful with the estuary, river, beachy, and woodsy biomes to observe.

This is a lovely short trail. Parts of it is a raised wooden walkway. It's almost completely…read morelevel. At the end there is a raised wooden platform with beautiful views of the bay. If you never been, you should go. It's about one of the easiest trails you can do.

Dameron Marsh is located along the Chesapeake Bay in Kilmarnock, Virginia. The preserve in…read moreNorthumberland County is an excellent place to see marshland birds, local flora and fauna, and various wildlife. Managed by Virginia's Department of Conservation and Recreation, it is a must see in the Northern Neck / Northern Neck Heritage Area.

This park is near the end of the Delmarva Peninsula. It has a beach, albeit not a huge one as…read morecliffs with private homes are visible in either direction. The site is notable for some abandoned ships offshore that look like interesting ruins to tour by boat. I experienced no great difficulty getting in and this is one of a finite number of parks on the bay side of the Eastern shore, so it is a good place to check out.

Beautiful park with many trails to pick from. Benches available throughout the park. Trails well…read morekept and flat. Great for birding!

Hickory Hollow Natural Area Preserve offers various trees, ravines, swampland, and wetland…read more Additionally, you have an abundance of birds, wildlife, fauna & flora. The preserve has well marked trails and a small parking area. Arrowed signs and color code on trees help visitors verify/match desired trail with coordinating trail names. Throughout the trails and at the parking area, are informational signs and wildlife listings. Once at the swamp, there is a seating area so you can sit and enjoy the surroundings. Enjoy a day of exploring.

Nice close by place for walk in the woods. Great that folks set it aside. Well cared for. Close in…read moreand peaceful.

This is definitely a park for a more experienced hiker. The park is well maintained in some areas…read moreand not in others. Was quite difficult to consistently make out the trail markings and follow along with maps. It also feels quite isolated so would reccomend going with someone. The entry ride into the park is quite long, narrow and only accommodates one car at a time. It is also gravel so its important to drive at a moderate speed. Most of the trails are gravel/dirt and there is a lot of greenery to admire. They also have multiple docks available for fishing or to admire the water. I went in the month of May '25 and there were a lot of ticks around, so be mindful and be sure to check yourself after your walk/hike.

A beautiful place to see wildlife, and to recharge in nature. Open every day of the year, and free!read more

We had a very nice stay. The fossil beach area was pretty cool, the beach area on the other side…read moreand stairs to get there was a nice walk, and the historical aspect of the park as a whole is great. Worth a stay if in the area.

We arrived a day early and with the exception of the totally clueless young girl staffing the main…read moreentrance booth the staff at the visitors center were kind, knowledgeable and super efficient. They quickly assigned us pull through hook up site A06. Our site and fire pit were super clean as were the bathroom facilities which even had a nice laundry room. The view from the visitor center is breathtaking and the surrounding trails well manicured. Fossils Beach was a high point with an easy hiking level. Our camp host in A1 was very friendly and cleaned every site as it was vacated. I'd highly recommend this State Park gem while visiting VA.

We randomly dropped by Calvert Cliffs park for an easy hike with our dog. The park is about…read more1.25-1.5 hours from the Silver Spring area...of course, this depends on DMV traffic, which is always unpredictable. The cost for entry for MD residents was five bucks per car. The park has free parking, but it appeared to be limited. For our trip, we managed to find a spot in the last parking area. So, I do not know if they close the park once the parking lots become full. We visited on a Sunday afternoon in early May, so I would imagine that the parking situation might be a bit more intense during the summer months. For our first visit, we hiked the easy Red trail, which is about 1.8 miles to the beach area. Also, the majority of the red trail was well-shaded so folks should not have too much of a problem with direct sun until hitting the beach. I thought this trail was pretty easy, and almost anyone from multiple age groups could complete this hike. The beach is a bit on the smaller side; however, we did not venture too far from the point where you complete the hike. So, maybe there are more spots on the beach. We though that the park was very dog-friendly. Although the park is dog-friendly, please keep your furry friends on a leash especially since families with young children use the Red trail. A couple of tips: -The park is trash-free so whatever you bring to park, you will have to dispose of it once you leave the park. I wished that the park had a few trash receptacles at the beginning and end of the trails. But I get that having these receptacles might result in visitors overfilling the receptacles with waste and/or the local wildlife eating things that they should not. -Although I'm not 100% sure, I think the entrance fee is cash only.

My son has been really into fossils lately so we went on a hike to the beach. Had a great time!…read more When you arrive, there will be a cash box to pay in. Parking wad easy! There are restrooms to use before going on your hike! Also a playground which was a huge bonus. We hiked the red trail which was 1.8 miles to the beach. Easy to find and walk! There were benches to sit and rest along the trail. I saw some families with strollers which was cool! Tons of wildlife on the walk! We saw snakes, bull frogs, turtles, cardinals, butterflies and eagles. When we arrived to the beach it was amazing! There was a big box with tons of toys to use to dig to find fossils. Loved all the educational information too. We laid down a blanket, pulled out the toys and had such a fun afternoon! Very very peaceful hike and location.

As much as I like Southern Maryland, realistically, if you drive down from DC or Baltimore or…read morethereabouts thinking that the very last tip of land reaching out into the Chesapeake is going to be a great place to visit, you're likely to be disappointed. The site has a lighthouse in classic Maryland style, but it's rarely open. There are some places where you can get in the water, but many where you cannot. The conditions out here can be a little rough, either from too much wind or, immediately inland, fetid swampiness. The history of the place as a Civil War penal colony is interesting. There's some placards and such, but not an enormous amount of actual stuff to do when I've visited. It should be noted that while these are not part of the park, visitors will see a memorial to the site's many lost inhabitants and a separate Confederate memorial as they drive up. For locals, getting a pass may be worthwhile. For those visiting the area, there are a lot of prettier and more interesting sites you'd be passing on the way here.

Loved this state park--such an unexpected surprise! Unfortunately, no ghost sightings inside the…read morepark, but plenty of eerie vibes and fascinating history to make up for it. From the Civil War hospital grounds to the old lighthouse, the stories practically come alive as you explore. The views of the Chesapeake Bay are stunning, and the trails are peaceful, with just enough of a spooky undertone to keep things interesting. Lots of historical plaques to spark your curiosity, SOOO - If you're into history, lore, and maybe catching a glimpse of the paranormal (or just a beautiful sunset), Point Lookout should definitely be on your list!

It's been a long time since last on the Noland Trail and I really enjoyed my two hour, six mile…read morehike. I started at Lions Bridge where there is limited parking. Much more availability of parking is at the Mariners Museum. The Noland Trail is not on public land, it's private and donated for public use. The trails snakes around the James River with beautiful scenery of woods and water. The trails snakes around is well marked. Every bridge has a marker, there are a lot of them. What impressed me the most was the trail is engineered. There is a massive amount of drainage to keep it dry. The elevations have wood ties to help with climbing. It's the most engineered trail I've ever hiked. You have options with length, but it's approximately 5-6 miles. There are no trash cans, or restrooms. However, the Mariners Museum has both and they welcome hikers. When talking to several friends about the Noland Trail they are unaware of its existence. Don't snooze on this trail and enjoy with the warmer weather.

The Noland Trail is one of my favorite spots to bike! I love soaking in all the views, the scenery…read moreis peaceful, and there's always something new to see. The trail is really well maintained, with a nice variety of hills, twists, and turns that keep the ride interesting without being too intense. There's plenty of parking and multiple entrances, which makes access super easy no matter where you're coming from. And don't be surprised if you spot some wildlife along the way. Whether you're biking, walking, or just looking to unwind outdoors, the Noland Trail is a gem!