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.

A large and well designed county Park. Accommodating football, baseball, basketball, tennis and…read morepickleball. Large, outdoor acquatic center.

Didn't realize how many different activities there are here at the Cove Point Park. There are…read moretennis courts, playground, baseball field, outdoor basketball court, and many other activities here.

Amazing hiking trails! Trails are pretty accessible for all levels…read more The trail maps need updating as there are some new trails.

It's closed for months to repair a sewage siphon in spring, which is ridiculous. There's a sewage…read morepipe that empties into the waterfall area, but people don't seem to care and they swim, even though you can smell the sewage. The whole place and even the forest is littered with hard lemonade and beer bottles, babies diapers, dog poop and all kinds of food wrappers.

One of my favorite parks in the state…read more Tons of beautiful trails, kayaks for rent, a dog beach, dog park, amphitheater, exercise equipment, butterfly garden, playground, there's something for everyone. There is an entry fee for non AA county residents of $8 and for residents it's maybe $5, cash or card. Lots of parking at all different places. Recommend coming early on nice days to avoid crowds. I have been many times to do many things and we always enjoy coming back!

Glad that we visited this wonderful spot near Annapolis, as it was comforting and beautiful, a…read morepopular place to enjoy outdoor beauty and the Chesapeake Bay! Numerous trails and options throughout, and the park is open from 7 AM until dusk. Among the options are a dog park, art galleries, playgrounds, kayak rentals, ice skating, and picnic areas. I did not get to the Visitors Center, as it closed at 4 PM. We visited the South River Overlook Trail, which was four-tenths of a mile in length, and had benches at the water to fully enjoy and appreciate the spectacular views. There are six other trails, ranging to as much as a mile and one-half in length. An $8 entry fee for automobiles, additional for larger vehicles, and they also offer lifetime senior passes.

My family visited Greenwell State Park for a photography session a few weeks ago. I can't speak…read moremuch to the amenities as we were only there for pictures but the grounds are gorgeous. There are some wooded areas, a few small beaches, and even horses. Highly recommend for a scenic walk or photography.

This is a great spot for fishing, kayaking, hiking and horseback riding. They have a large barn…read morewith several horses there. There are also several trails, though I have heard mixed reviews about their upkeep or the amount of ticks in summer. We went to kayak and couldn't be happier. It has a great launch site and the water and scenery were great. There was plenty of parking as well.

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.

Expensive if live out of St Mary's county it's $30. They do not accept digital payment.read more

My first impression of Elms Beach Park was Abysmal,I am very disappointed by the hygiene standards…read moreof the bathrooms that have shrouded in the park in a very awful scent full of feces.Additionally while not having the best beach,the terrain for the tables are rugged and not the best for a picnic.Aside from the jellyfish and the horrible parking,They charge you 30 dollars for entry and 5 dollars as a seasonal pass.I would strongly reccomend other parks such as point lookout or ect...

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.