No. 4 Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary

Ratings

Unusual:
Cost: ($5, unless there's no one to collect it)
Distance: (Car; 23.2 miles)
Kidability:
Season: Spring, Summer, Fall
Physical Difficulty: Easy.
Website: http://www.jugbay.org/
Location: Anne Arundel County (Map)

Summary

Jug Bay is one of the largest freshwater marsh tidal wetlands on the East Cost. Its a beautfiful site where you can spend as little as a half hour and see some great views, or half a day. Beware that its only open certain days and times, and the signage to get there is less than ideal. If you like Jug Bay and want to make a day of it, consider crossing the river and going to the Patuxent River Park on the opposite side. Alternatively, on another weekend try another great locale on the 52 list -- Huntley Meadows Park outside of Alexandria.

Description

Although Jug Bay is a little hard to find due to the less than ideal signage it is worth the trip. When you drive up to the parking lot and visitors center it looks at first glance that there might not be much there. A short ways beyond the visitor center, however, are some dirt trails that lead to some great vistas.

The first trail of note goes to the "Marsh Boardwalk." The trial leads you to great vistas of the tidal marsh, down the side of a hill to the marsh itself, and then along a boardwalk that goes along perhaps a 1/4 mile of the marsh. The views are beautiful and the marsh (and trail) are teaming with life.

If you are in the mood for more walking or hiking, taket the Otter Point Trail about a 1/4 mile south where it intersects with the Railroad Bed Trail and turn right. The Railroad Bed Trail takes you straight out, and across, the wetlands until you come upon the Patuxent River. Although you are walking through the middle of the wetlands, its actually not that scenic as trees have grown up on both sides of the trails. There are several observation decks, or boardwalks, along the way that lead out to observation decks or experimental stations for NOAA that provide interesting views. The real "gem" on this walk is at the end of the trail when it opens up to the Patuxent River. Although this may not be that exciting for everyone its also a remarkably "straight" trail which can create some good pictures.


Although Jug Bay is worth going to by itself, if you're looking for another adventure, Patuxent River Park is a short drive (again, watch out for the lack of signage or the short drive will, as it did for us, turn into a long drive).

Patuxent is an enormous park. If you're up for hiking, there are trails a plenty. If you have a kayak/canoe, you can put into the Patuxent river. If you are looking for something a little less physical, on Sundays they open up about 4 miles of the park to a driving tour. Although most of the path is on pavement, the pavement turns into a car-sized boardwalk bridge, and, ultimately a dirt path when you get to teh Mekle Wildlife Preserve. Although the tour is only 4 miles, driving pretty much straight through may take up to 30 minutes due to the terrain.



Although the car trip does not have many good views, there are interesting historical posts along the way that explain the history of the area (which included the first African American owned airfield). Its also a good way to see wildlife if you are looking. When we went we saw deer, a fox, several osperey (below) and a bald eagle (last picture below).

(Osperey Merkle Sanctuary)

(Bald Eagle over Jug Bay)