Janes State Park in Maryland

Trip Overview

Janes State Park is located in Crisfield Maryland. It has over 30 miles of marked paddle tails that traverse a Chesapeake Bay salt marsh. It is easy to paddle as the paddle trails are marked and the Ranger also provides maps. You can take any of the many trails and paddle from two hours to 7 hours observing the local flora and fauna.

The best time of year, in my opinion is fall when you may see some of the migrating birds. Regardless of the time of year you can expect to see beautiful vistas, egrets, herons of all types, snails, crabs including the beautiful blue crab, many fish, osprey, and many other animals and birds. Most of all you can enjoy the quiet of the beautiful marshes.

At best bet is to kayak out to the Tangier sound and the beach, and then when youre ready take any one of the trails back to the dock. You can camp or rent a cabin at the Park and you can also rent canoes and kayaks or take your own as we did. Bring plenty of bug spray, on the water the bugs leave you alone but as soon as you hit land the bugs rule.

The beauty and solitude is marred only a little along the brown trail where the sounds of the generator from the local hospital can be heard. One does wonder what they were thinking when they put the generator on the water side of the hospital. Oh well, you will soon pass the hospital and the silence will return.

This has got to be one of the best kept secrets on the east coast. We passed one other kayak along the way.

Accommodations:

Dock to put in, Rental Boats, Ranger Station, Small gift shop, Camping, Cabins

Fees:

If you are going into the backcountry and primitive backcountry camping requires a permit. Not sure about other fees, the cost to park at the boat ramp is $7.00 and most of the time it is an honor system.

Directions:

From Baltimore or Washington take Rt. 50 to Salisbury. Take Rt. 13 south and then Rt. 557 to Rt. 413 South to the Park. From Philadelphia take Rt. 95 South to Rt. 13 south and follow above directions, From the South, follow directions from Rt. 13.

Contact:

Janes State Park 410-968-1565