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    Flag Ponds Nature Park

    4.4 (46 reviews)
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    Priscilla Y.

    Flag Ponds Nature Park is a nice little sandy escape without having to drive all the way to the eastern shore. It's not a pond, but more of a secluded beach on the Chesapeake Bay. It's quite lovely! The few times I've been here, it was never crowded. It's about a 10 minute hike from the parking lots to the beach area. There are also hiking trails, but I've never checked those out. This is a great place to go to search for shark teeth. My friends and I found over thirty. Remember to bring some sifters, if you do! Also bring beach umbrellas and chairs! There are no lifeguards around so don't do anything stupid in the water. There are clean bathrooms and a rinse off area right by the entrance of the beach. It's a dog friendly park. You will need to keep your furry friends are on a leash. Entry fee: $6 per car.

    Jazz M.

    Living in the DMV we're always looking for toddler-friendly alternatives, and I think with Flag Ponds Nature Park we may have just hit the jackpot. My wife and kids (3 & 1 Year's old) made the relatively short 1 hr drive from DC... some pointers to ensure you have good experience: 1. Get there no later than 10 AM, especially on weekends since your ability to enter is dependent on whether or not you get to park your car. And space is limited. An alternative is to show up after 3 PM when parking spots are often available. Parking is $8 2. The beach itself doesn't ever get crowded due to the limiting factor of the small no. of parking spots...so when you get in, you are guaranteed a good experience on a sparsely "crowded" beach 3. It a bit of a walk from the parking lot to the beach. Takes about 10-15 mins to get to there. So if you have kids or elderly folks with you, there's an option to drop them off very close to the beach before parking in the lot, which is a bit of a climb 4. No lifeguard....but overall the water is very calm with almost no waves. The water is only about 2-3 feet in depth for quite a ways out. 5. There's a restroom by the parking lot and another one close to the beach and includes an outdoor shower to rinse off. But beware the bugs around there...bug spray could be helpful by the restroom area. No such problem by the beach 6. There's no shade to be found at the beach, so be sure to bring a tent or something similar to help you cool off during the summer months 7. If you're interested in looking for shark teeth and sea glass...this is the very best place to do it! But it's easiest if you bring a softer with you. I found several smaller shark teeth, but one guy sifting through the sand actually found a massive tooth of a great white!! (There's a chart on the beach by which you can identify the species of shark that the teeth belonged to) I've attached a picture of shark teeth I found there!! All in all we had a fantastic time.

    John B.

    This is a fairly sizable, unique, and impressive park. There isn't much better you could do without crossing the Bay Bridge. The titular ponds are apparently new formations; while the rest of the world is sinking into the oceans, here, land has expanded outwards. From the parking lot, one walks downhill towards the beach through a verdant, paved trail. Most people are here for the beach, but other trails lead to the older ponds, which are now completely inland. There are some interesting views, but bring your bug repellent. The beach itself is much larger than nearby Calvert Cliffs. What appears to be an offshore sandbar breaks the waves, and while wildlife was evident, jellyfish seemed rare. The more littoral ponds intermingle with the bay itself, and there's plenty of shoreline. The water is overall relatively calm and safe, but there's no lifeguards, so watch the kiddies. The main beach is bordered on one side by cliffs, but the other extends for some distance. Past a fence, signs indicate you can no longer swim, walk upshore, or do anything other than stick to the coastline. Which conveniently is exactly what I wanted to do anyway. There are also decent amenities. An elevated building holds restrooms and sand showers before the boardwalk leading to the beach, all of which were quite functional and clean. A pier looks out over the water, and boardwalks through the swampy areas include a wildlife blind. A few exhibits on the history of watermen and on the area pop up periodically. The website warns of crowds on summer weekends. Even on a Friday, their parking lot was close to capacity. I'd get there early. That being said, the parking will fill before the beach itself does by a long shot, meaning that if you get into the park, you'll at least have some sand to work with. You do have to pay, and it's in-county rather than in-state. If you are in-county, I'd think a relatively inexpensive season pass would be the way to go. Even as a Washingtonian, I half think it might have been worth it myself. It's off route 4, so you could drive here straight from the White House if you wanted to. And wouldn't you rather be at the beach?

    Content
    Iulia G.

    I love nature walks and this park was just a great way to spend one Saturday when nothing else seemed to excite me. About an hour and a half away from my place in Fairfax, this hidden strip along the beach was worth the drive. After we parked, my friend and I walked about half a mile through green woods and finally made it to the beach. The beach is very quiet and relaxing. We saw quite a few families and everyone looking for fossilized shark teeth :) If you're looking to get away from the craziness of the city and enjoy some meditation time, this is the right place for you! They do have entrance fees (as per their website): April - October: $4.00 for in-county residents, $6.00 for non residents November - March: $3.00 in-county resident or non resident. Walk-in/Bike: $2 person

    Annette S.

    Great place for families. Better than expected. My family and I were here aug 25 for a day visit. We read the other reviews and arrived before 10 so parking was not an issue. Note that cost of parking is $8 and must be paid in cash (cc not accepted). The bathrooms were well maintained. There is one near the parking lot and then another along the walk at the handicap parking. Be prepared it is quite a walk but worth it. Now the beach. I liked that the waves were mild. Great for young children. Great for tubes. My boys also loved that along the walk there were dips of shallow water where fish were swimming. Not crowded and clear of trash. Didn't notice seaweed or other stuff floating around. My tip is bring cash for parking, don't over pack bc of the walk. If you do a stroller make sure it's got the big wheels (noticed ppl struggling with the umbrella strollers on gravel walk to beach and on sand), carry backpack in lieu of shoulder packs and get there early. Upon exiting park around 1pm, there was a line of cars waiting for parking bc there were no spaces available. We had a great time and plan to visit again soon.

    The walk towards the beach
    Ever P.

    Great hidden beach. Its very picturesque and quiet, not alot of people everywhere which I loved. It is a hike to reach the beach so I suggest not to carry to much and there are alot of little jellyfish. Other than that it was beautiful.

    Happy with this find.
    Alicia S.

    We stumbled upon this park after only hearing rave reviews about calvert cliffs. We were more than pleasantly surprised. We made two separate trips to this park and had a wonderful experience each time. We were able to find multiple sharks teeth with just the naked eye (no equipment needed). The beach does get crowded but there is more than enough room for everyone. There are bathrooms and an outdoor shower right off the beach to rinse the sand off before returning to your car. The Duncan's pond trail is also a must. It was short with a beautiful boardwalk through the pond.

    She sells seashells by the seashore
    Michelle W.

    This park is Ahhhhhmazing!!! It's beautiful and lots on beautiful little mini sandy islands you can walk from. The only thing is a mini flow of water you can take your shoes off and and walk through We went there and they had the girls who were with the 'Autism' group (can't remember the name off hand) and my son was in love!!! He has autism too and was very happy on the calm beach water We had a great time the staff was awesome and so nice and my son left his phone on the brag and they wanted to come help us , great staff we loved the place

    Nice park
    Hungry I.

    This is a state park so you will have to pay an entrance fee. That said I feel it is worth it. This is a great park. There is a short .5 mile walk to the beach (closer parking available for handicap) Make sure to bring a small net, bucket & the like to "hunt" crabs and dig for fossils. If you forget your tools/toys there is a small bunch of public use toys right at the entrance to the beach. There is also a fishing pier in case you want to try your hand at that. Dogs are allowed but must be leashed. PLEASE NOTE: This is not a typical beach. Meaning that unlike like high tourist areas that pay for vehicles to 'comb' the beach for trash etc. this place did not seem to have that and given the location I doubt it ever wood. That is not to say that the beach is dirty, but there was some tiny bits of trash here and there and lots of natural debris. I would recommend aqua socks (especially for the kiddos). Also given the tide level there may be more or less of the tiny "ponds". (you will know what I mean when you get there)

    Coral, sting ray plate, and shark tooth
    Linh D.

    I was looking for a pet friendly beach to bring our dog and stumbled upon this beach! I love that we can take our dog here year round (since it's a park and not a beach, so dogs can even come in the summer!). Best part is that it's only an hour away from the DMV area. The park has a capacity limit and we arrived on a Saturday morning at around 11 AM and got in just fine! (Unlike Sandy Point, where I arrived once at 7AM and was still denied access because it was so crowded). Since I'm a VA resident, I had to pay a fee of $8 per car. The staff was really friendly and asked us if it was our first time there so they can hand out rules and guidelines. The guideline says that the fee is good for an all day pass access to the park, but your re-entry is not guaranteed if you leave. We didn't leave so it wasn't an issue for us. The staff will tell you where to park and there are clear signs that points to you the direction of the beach. From the parking lot, it's about a 7-10 minute walk to the beach through a marked path. You can bring food and beach stuff, but dogs have to be on the leash at all times, even while swimming. Before getting to the sandy area, there are nice, clean restrooms for you to change and even an outdoor shower to rinse off afterwards! I suggest bringing bug repellent if you're prone to mosquito bites since there are a lot of them at this area of the park. But once you get to the sandy area, there weren't any bugs at all! I wouldn't say the water is clear, pretty much similar to the clarity at a lake or Ocean City beach, but the water was very calm and clean. You might see some small seaweed while swimming, but that's natural and it's a park anyway. There are a ton of shells near the shore and a lot of people were looking for shark teeth! I found my first one here too! I even found a ray plate! Because of the shells, getting into the water can be sharp on the feet at first, but once you're about three feet in, you'll feel nice soft sand at the bottom. There are a few people here, but not a lot to the point where you don't get private space, which I really appreciated! Overall, I really enjoyed out weekend getaway here and will be back!

    Shark Teeth!!!!

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    4 years ago

    Not really a business. It is a nature park good for the whole family. Nice way to spend 1-4 hours enjoying nature.

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    Nice place to walk the trails with your dog or spend time at the beach swimming or hunting sharks teeth.

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    8 years ago

    Great small park . Took the cub scouts there to do beach clean up . Has walking trails and a beach on the bay.

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    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - Flag Ponds Nature Park

    Review Highlights - Flag Ponds Nature Park

    I found several smaller shark teeth, but one guy sifting through the sand actually found a massive tooth of a great white!!

    Mentioned in 6 reviews

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    People searched for Parks 275 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

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    Myrtle Point Park

    Myrtle Point Park

    3.3(6 reviews)
    8.7 mi

    This little spot has a bit of beach territory which looks out across the Patuxent to the rather…read morespectacular bridge nearby, as well as some trails. The trails were thickly wooded and wide but unevenly surfaced. The beaches are pretty, but modest. It's nice that there's a public space here, but if you really want a beach, Elms Beach is better (no idea why my review for that place blew up). If you want a place to eat by the riverside, Greenwell is prettier. If you want to views of the river and the bridge, Solomons Island is better. So this place is fine to stop if you're around, but it's not great for anything. They charge admission only on peak days (weekends and holidays starting in May, according to the website), at which point they charge a lot. I wouldn't pay it, but if I was in the area I would stop by now and then.

    Locked all visitors inside the park against our will over an hour before close & refused to unlock…read moreand let us leave. Still waiting now- going on two hours in a line of cars and calling the police. Park is supposed to close at 8. Completely irresponsible to lock the only entrance out at 6:45 when there are still nearly 30 people inside trying to get out. This is completely illegal and messed up. Loved how beautiful this park was but will never be back. Somebody else managed to get through to the police and they suggested leaving cars here and walking but couldn't guarantee our vehicles wouldn't be impounded. The walk home would be many hours on a dark highway at night- not an option, there are elderly people and a pregnant woman in the car ahead of me. Do not come here- you may be held against your will.

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    Myrtle Point Park
    Myrtle Point Park
    Myrtle Point Park

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    Calvert Cliffs State Park - Limón the dog had a blast leading the humans to the beach.

    Calvert Cliffs State Park

    4.2(87 reviews)
    3.8 mi

    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.

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    Calvert Cliffs State Park
    Calvert Cliffs State Park
    Calvert Cliffs State Park

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    Jefferson Patterson Park & Museum - Inside the house

    Jefferson Patterson Park & Museum

    4.1(8 reviews)
    4.1 mi

    08/03/25 My wife and…read moreI decided to take a drive through the county and stop at Jefferson Patterson Park. She had never been before, and while I had driven through, I'd never really explored it. We parked and walked up to the main house -- what a house! We just missed the last full tour of the day but were able to explore the first floor. Each room was beautifully set to its period with notes explaining the history. The kitchen stood out with its size, multiple stoves, and even an elevator nearby that had been installed for Mr. Patterson. Outside, the flower gardens were beautiful. Nearby we could see the old pool area -- the pool itself has been filled in, but the pool house and outline remain. From there, we walked down to the water, passing an active archaeological site marked for future digs. At the shoreline, there's a pier where boaters can dock to use the beach or walk up to the house. Another historic structure sits by the water, though it's slowly being overtaken by the elements. We also visited the area where the college is growing oysters, with plenty of them visible at the creek pier. The property has many trails to walk or bike, and they're even building a new large facility on-site. The park also hosts special events like the balloon festival and more. It was a great visit, and we're looking forward to returning to explore more trails, either walking or biking.

    Becky gave us a fascinating, insightful, educational tour. My husband enjoyed riding around the…read moreIndian Village and King's Reach next to the Patuxent River. Jefferson Patterson Park is a unique timeline for this area of our country. This is must-see for anyone interested in archaeology, plantation life, Indian settlements, the 1930's through the present day and history. Highly recommend spending time with knowledgeable and enthusiastic Becky.

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    Jefferson Patterson Park & Museum - Inside

    Inside

    Jefferson Patterson Park & Museum - Archeology digs

    Archeology digs

    Jefferson Patterson Park & Museum

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    Hughlett Point Natural Preserve

    Hughlett Point Natural Preserve

    4.9(8 reviews)
    49.3 mi

    On the map, this was indistinguishable from nearby Dameron Marsh. Upon arriving, I was surprised by…read morewhat I found here. A short boardwalk leads to a genuine beach, one of the larger and nicer ones I've ever seen on the Chesapeake. Don't get me wrong, nobody's surfing on the little waves the bay generates, but it's still got a nice beach aesthetic and a good view. Several cautions are warranted, including the obvious risks of biting insects (not so much on the beach, but definitely on the inland track) and jellyfish. But I was surprised when a local told me that some of the marshy areas and the stream where a lagoon flows into the bay are prone to developing quicksand, to the point where people can get seriously stuck. (Unlike in movies, quicksand is not likely to drown you on its own but I still would not want to step in it). So watch out for that and bring some bug spray. Plant and animal life was abundant, and between the forest, the marsh, and the beach, there was a variety of scenery. So little of the bay is open to the public and preserved in this way. And this is not a park per se, and so unlike most state parks, this is free to enter. The parking area is small, and signage says they do not allow parking outside the lines, so visitation will be limited simply by space. But if you see a space open there, I'd take it.

    This park is fantastic. There are only 11 parking spaces, so access is limited. The trail through…read morethe woods is beautiful. Some of the trail is raised wooden platforms. The beach is amazing. It is rustic and beautiful with marshlands and wildlife. There are two hiking options. One is interior and goes in the woods. The other is beachfront. Both trails are great. There is one point where there is a small inland marshy lake. It is usually connected to the bay. The water here is usually flowing in or out depending on the tide. Be very careful trying to cross because the sand is soft and you could get stuck. It is remote, so you might not easily get help. The wildlife in this area is great. Sometimes I have seen hundreds of flapping rays just off shore. Birds, fish you never know. Fo and enjoy this special treasure.

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    Hughlett Point Natural Preserve
    Hughlett Point Natural Preserve
    Hughlett Point Natural Preserve

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    Flag Ponds Nature Park - parks - Updated June 2026

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