The Pocomoke River - Primeval, and just 3 hours from DC

Trip Overview

One of the East Coast's paddling gems is just a few hours from Baltimore, Philly or DC, on the Maryland Eastern Shore. The Pocomoke River winds through 60+ miles of pristine cypress swamp with hardly a blot of humanity visible from your boat. For a half-day paddle, we launched at Porters Crossing, 5 miles above Snow Hill, Maryland. The first 3 miles are narrow, winding, the bank being just inches above the water, dotted with thousands of cypress knees. As the Pocomoke widens, the majestic trees grow right from its middle. We saw egrets and herons, cormorants, kingfishers, eagles, and maybe 3 or 4 other species. Turtles lined up on logs like they were waiting for the bus. The next day, to take advantage of an incoming tide, we launched in Nassawango Creek at Red House Road, just west of Snow Hill. Paddling down the creek took us through the Nature Conservancy's largest Maryland Eastern Shore holding. We continued north on the Pocomoke after the creek's mouth, putting in 11 miles and ending at Porters Crossing. The Pocomoke River Canoe Company helped with transport services. There were no portages required once we were afloat.