List of Maryland state parks

This list of Maryland state parks includes the state parks and state battlefields listed in the Maryland Department of Natural Resources's current acreage report.[1] Generally, the Maryland Park Service, a unit of and under the authority of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR), is the governing body for these parks, although some have been turned over to local authorities.

Maryland state parks

Name[2] County Area[1] Estab-
lished
River / lake / other Image Remarks
acres ha
Assateague State Park Worcester 855 acres 346 ha 1956 Atlantic Ocean
Horses in marshland
Barrier island with swimming, beachcombing, sunbathing, surfing and fishing
Big Run State Park Garrett 300 acres 120 ha Savage River Reservoir
River flowing over rocks
Camping, fishing, flat water canoeing, hiking trails, picnicking
Bill Burton Fishing Pier State Park Dorchester, Talbot 24 acres 9.7 ha 1987 Choptank River
Riverscape
Fishing, hiking, cycling
Bohemia River State Park Cecil 466 acres 189 ha 2022 Great Bohemia Creek Hiking, biking, canoeing, kayaking, wildlife viewing, fishing
Calvert Cliffs State Park Calvert 1,311 acres 531 ha 1960s Chesapeake Bay
Cliffs overlooking water
Fossil hunting, hiking trails, fishing, hunting, picnicking, youth group camping, playground, shelters
Casselman River Bridge State Park Garrett 4 acres 1.6 ha 1957 Casselman River
Single-arch stone bridge over river water
Historic bridge; popular fishing location
Chapel Point State Park Charles 821 acres 332 ha 1972 Port Tobacco River
Park signage
Largely undeveloped; features fishing and hunting
Chapman State Park Charles 829 acres 335 ha 1998 Potomac River
Mount Aventine
Home of Mount Aventine; fishing, hunting, hiking trails
Cunningham Falls State Park Frederick 6,157 acres 2,492 ha 1954 Big Hunting Creek
Water coursing over grey rocks
Includes the Catoctin Furnace; features boating, fishing, swimming, playground, trails, hunting, and picnicking
Cypress Branch State Park Kent 314 acres 127 ha 2022 Includes a picnic area near a 3-acre fishing pond
Dans Mountain State Park Allegany 482 acres 195 ha 1970s Olympic-sized swimming pool with waterslide and refreshment stand; fishing, hiking, picnic areas, playground, pavilions
Deep Creek Lake State Park Garrett 1,169 acres 473 ha 2000 Deep Creek Lake
Deep Creek Lake State Park Pier
Boating and fishing on Maryland's largest man-made lake, camping, hunting, hiking trails
Elk Neck State Park Cecil 2,369 acres 959 ha 1936 Chesapeake Bay
Home of Turkey Point Light; beach, picnicking, seasonal convenience store, camping, cabins, nature center, trails for hiking and biking, hunting, various water sports
Fort Frederick State Park Washington 722 acres 292 ha 1922 Potomac River,
Big Pool Lake
Stonewall fortifications
Stone fortification built by colonial Province of Maryland from the French and Indian War (1754-1763); visitors center, picnicking, boating, fishing, hiking, camping
Fort Tonoloway State Park Washington 26 acres 11 ha Undeveloped
Franklin Point State Park Anne Arundel 484 acres 196 ha 1999 Chesapeake Bay Undeveloped
Gambrill State Park Frederick 1,209 acres 489 ha 1934
Pond with trees
Picnicking, hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, fishing pond, camping
Gathland State Park Frederick, Washington 144 acres 58 ha 1949
Stone monument
Former estate of George Alfred Townsend; museum, visitors center, picnicking, hiking on the Appalachian Trail
Greenbrier State Park Frederick, Washington 1,408 acres 570 ha 1964 Greenbrier Lake
Sunset over lake waters
Swimming, fishing, boating, boat rental, camping, camp store, hiking, picnicking, playground, Appalachian Trail
Greenwell State Park St. Mary's 596 acres 241 ha 1971 Patuxent River
Gray barn
Historic Rosedale Manor House; picnicking, swimming, non-motorized boating, hiking, equestrian and cycling trails, fishing, hunting
Gunpowder Falls State Park Baltimore, Harford 15,088 acres 6,106 ha 1959 Gunpowder River,
Dundee Creek
Red barn
Multiple non-contiguous recreational areas: Picnicking, hiking, biking, horseback riding, cross-country skiing, hunting, various water sports
Hallowing Point Waterfront Park Calvert 13 acres 5.3 ha 2017 Patuxent River Opening 2022; on Route 231, on the Calvert County side of the Patuxent River Bridge
Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad State Park Dorchester 17 acres 6.9 ha 2007
Visitors center
Dedicated to the life and work of abolitionist and Underground Railroad activist Harriet Tubman; opened in 2017
Hart-Miller Island State Park Baltimore 244 acres 99 ha 1977 Back River
Chesapeake Bay
Dike, Hart-Miller Island State Park
Accessible only by boat; 3,000-foot (910 m) sandy beach
Herrington Manor State Park Garrett 365 acres 148 ha 1964 Herrington Creek Swimming, non-motorized boating, picnicking, hiking, tennis, volleyball, cabins
Janes Island State Park Somerset 3,160 acres 1,280 ha 1963 Chesapeake Bay
Waterway
Visitors center, conference center, picnicking, cabins, camping, camp store, various water sports
Love Point State Park Queen Anne's 76 acres 31 ha 2007 Chesapeake Bay Undeveloped
Martinak State Park Caroline 105 acres 42 ha 1961 Choptank River,
Watts Creek
Signage and scenery
Fishing, camping, boating, hiking, nature center
Matapeake State Park Queen Anne's 21 acres 8.5 ha 2009 Chesapeake Bay
Bayscape
Beach; leased by Queen Anne's County
Matthew Henson State Park Montgomery 100 acres 40 ha 1989
Elevated pathway
Greenway for hiking and biking
New Germany State Park Garrett 508 acres 206 ha
Lakescape
Swimming, fishing, picnicking, boat launch, boat rental, canoeing, camping, cabins, hiking trail, cross-country skiing, nature center
Newtowne Neck State Park St. Mary's 794 acres 321 ha 2009 Potomac River Newtowne Neck State Park, Maryland, USA Non-motorized boating, hiking, picnicking, fishing
North Point State Park Baltimore 1,328 acres 537 ha 1987 Back River,
Patapsco River,
Chesapeake Bay
Elevated pathway
Former site of the Bay Shore Amusement Park; visitors center, swimming, hiking and biking trails, pier and shore fishing, picnicking
Palmer State Park Harford 590 acres 240 ha 1965 Deer Creek Undeveloped; hiking, fishing, canoeing
Patapsco Valley State Park Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Carroll, Howard 14,296 acres 5,785 ha 1907 Upper Patapsco River
Curving, multi-arched bridge
Hiking, horseback and mountain bike trails, picnicking, canoeing, fishing, camping, historical touring
Patuxent River State Park Howard, Montgomery 6,703 acres 2,713 ha 1963 Patuxent River
Stone building
Hunting, fishing, hiking and horseback riding
Pocomoke River State Park Worcester 916 acres 371 ha 1939 Pocomoke River
Riverscape
Visitors center, swimming pool, biking and hiking trails, boat launch, boat rental, fishing, flat water canoeing, camping, camp store, picnicking
Point Lookout State Park St. Mary's 1,083 acres 438 ha 1963 Chesapeake Bay,
Potomac River
Tall monument
American Civil War prisoner-of-war camp museum/Marshland Nature Center, swimming, picnicking, boat launch, boat rental, camping, cabins, camp store, fishing, canoeing, hiking trails, hunting
Rocks State Park Harford 1,060 acres 430 ha 1949 Deer Creek
Rocky outcroppings
Fishing, hiking, picnicking, wading, canoeing and tubing, bow hunting, rock climbing, repelling
Rocky Gap State Park Allegany 3,119 acres 1,262 ha 1963 Lake Habeeb
Lake Habeeb
Boating, camping, fishing, hiking
Rosaryville State Park Prince George's 1,227 acres 497 ha 1976
Mount Airy Mansion; trails for hiking, biking and equestrians
Sandy Point State Park Anne Arundel 786 acres 318 ha 1948 Chesapeake Bay
Thin peninsula and blue waters
Swimming, fishing, crabbing, boating, picnicking, windsurfing
Sang Run State Park Garrett 264 acres 107 ha 2017 1800s homestead and store
Seneca Creek State Park Montgomery 6,391 acres 2,586 ha 1958 Seneca Creek
Lake with fall foliage
Black Rock Mill, Seneca Schoolhouse; boating, fishing, picnicking, disc golf
Sideling Hill Creek State Park Allegany 514 acres 208 ha 2022 Potomac River Forest land, trails, rare species
Smallwood State Park Charles 984 acres 398 ha 1958 Mattawoman Creek
Brick home
"Smallwood's Retreat" historic site; marina, picnicking, camping, nature trails
South Mountain State Park Frederick, Washington 7,754 acres 3,138 ha
Green vista
Runs the length of South Mountain; Appalachian Trail; contiguous with other national, state and local parks
St. Clement's Island State Park St. Mary's 62 acres 25 ha 1962 Potomac River
Lighthouse and large cross
Only accessible by boat; reconstructed lighthouse, memorial to first Marylanders landing March 25, 1634 (Maryland Day); hiking, picnicking, fishing
St. Mary's River State Park St. Mary's 2,643 acres 1,070 ha 1968 St. Mary's Lake Hiking, horseback and biking trails, picnicking, boat launch, canoeing, fishing, hunting
Susquehanna State Park Cecil, Harford 2,753 acres 1,114 ha 1958 Susquehanna River,
Upper Chesapeake Bay
Wide waterfall through trees
Rock Run Historical Area; fishing, camping, picnicking, boating, hiking trails
Swallow Falls State Park Garrett 257 acres 104 ha 1930s Youghiogheny River
Tumbling waters in winter
Camping, hiking, picnicking, nature programs
Tuckahoe State Park Caroline, Queen Anne's 3,994 acres 1,616 ha 1963 Tuckahoe Creek
Paddlers
Hiking, biking and equestrian trails, canoeing, picnicking, camping, cabins, hunting, archery
Washington Monument State Park Frederick, Washington 191 acres 77 ha 1934
Barrel-shaped stone monument
1827 stone monument to first President George Washington by citizens of nearby Boonsboro; picnicking, hiking on the Appalachian Trail
Wills Mountain State Park Allegany 470 acres 190 ha 1998
Valley vista
Undeveloped
Wolf Den Run State Park Garrett 2,042 acres 826 ha 2018 Three parcels near Kitzmiller
Wye Oak State Park Talbot 29 acres 12 ha 1939
Massive spreading oak tree
Site of celebrated oak tree lost in 2002; picnicking

Maryland state battlefields

Name County Area[1] Estab-
lished
Image Remarks
acres ha
North Point State Battlefield Baltimore 9 acres 3.6 ha 2015 Preserves undeveloped land where War of 1812's Battle of North Point in the larger Battle of Baltimore on September 12, 1814 (Defenders Day) was fought with the invading British Army.
South Mountain State Battlefield Frederick, Washington 2,543 acres 1,029 ha 1984 Civil War historic site of Battle of South Mountain in the Maryland Campaign, September 1862

Maryland natural resources management areas

Name County Area[1] Estab-
lished
River / lake / other Image Remarks
acres ha
Deep Creek Lake Natural Resources Management Area Garrett 3,900 acres 1578.3 ha Deep Creek Lake Boating
Fair Hill Natural Resources Management Area Cecil 5,656 acres 2288.9 ha 1975 Horse riding, camping, hunting
Merkle Natural Resources Management Area and Visitor Center Prince George's 1,670 acres 675.8 ha Chesapeake Bay
Monocacy River Natural Resources Area Frederick 1,800 acres 728.4 ha 1975[3] Monocacy River Hunting, fishing, hiking and horseback riding
Morgan Run Natural Environment Area Carroll 2,000 acres 809.4 ha 1975[4]
Sassafras Natural Resources Management Area Kent 1,200 acres 485.6 Sassafras River, Chesapeake Bay Hiking, mountain biking, birding, horseback riding
Woodmont Natural Resources Management Area Washington 3,425 acres 1,386 ha 1995 c/o Fort Frederick State Park Formerly as Woodmont Rod & Gun Club property
Wye Island Natural Resources Management Area Queen Anne's 2,450 acres 991.5 ha
Youghiogheny Wild River Natural Environmental Area Garrett

Other Maryland state areas

Name County Area[1] Estab-
lished
Image Remarks
acres ha
Helen Avalynne Tawes Garden Anne Arundel 5 acres 2 ha
Jefferson Patterson Park & Museum Calvert 560 acres 226.6 ha 1983[5]
Hiking, exhibits, educational programs
Western Maryland Rail Trail Allegany, Washington 1998
26-mile paved trail from Big Pool to Little Orleans

Former Maryland state parks

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "DNR Lands Acreage Report" (PDF). Maryland Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved October 31, 2024.
  2. ^ "Maryland State Parks, by County". msa.maryland.gov. Retrieved December 29, 2022.
  3. ^ Maryland, Preservation (October 5, 2016). "Live in History: Baxter Farm in the Monacacy National Resources Management Area". Preservation Maryland. Retrieved December 29, 2022.
  4. ^ "Horseback Riding at Morgan Run Environmental Nature Area". hglanham.tripod.com. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  5. ^ "history". MDP, Jefferson Patterson Park and Museum. Retrieved January 2, 2023.