Wander into the loblolly pine
woodlands of Blackwater National
Wildlife Refuge and you may
spy an endangered Delmarva fox squirrel foraging in the woods.
Bald eagles also breed at Blackwater, and up to 50,000 waterfowl can
descend on
the refuge's freshwater marshes during spring and fall migrations
Rising sea levels are threatening the marshlands, and refuge managers
fear that the marsh will vanish entirely within the
next
thirty years. Other preserves located on or adjacent to the
Chesapeake Bay, including
Eastern Neck, Chincoteague and Assateague Island National
Seashore, are also endangered by the sea changes.
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EXPLORING BLACKWATER: You can
explore Blackwater by car, by
bicycle, by foot or by canoe. The boardwalk of the Marsh Edge
trail is wheelchair friendly and leads to a cattail marsh. The
Woods Trail takes hikers through the loblolly pine
woodlands inhabited by the Delmarva
fox squirrel. Three marked
canoe trails
varying in length from 2.8 to 8 miles guide paddlers through saltwater
or freshwater marshes. For more information on the paddling
trails, visit Friends
of
Blackwater .
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BEST
TIMES TO VISIT FOR WILDLIFE OBSERVATION: Spring and late fall, but
winter can also be interesting.
WHERE TO STAY: Camping is not allowed at the refuge, but you can
find a list of nearby campgrounds, bed and breakfasts, vacation homes
and motels at this link:
Dorchester
County Lodging
DIRECTIONS:
Take Route 50 to Cambridge, Maryland.
Turn south on Route 16. At Church Creek, turn left on Route 335
and remain on 335 for 4 miles. Turn left at Key Wallace Drive
and follow the drive for 1.5 miles to the Visitor Center.
OFFICIAL
WEBSITE: USFW
- Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge
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