Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge

WOW what a location. There is SO MUCH Information here. My favorite was learning about the sitka deer. They look like the white tail deer we have in Michigan but they are similar to the white tail deer but closer related to the elk family and have a white bottoms not just a white tail like the deer. Small in size. Today on our drive here we thought we had seen deer but deer bed down in the rain and these were running about. Now after this refuge and learning about the sitka we are sure that is what we had seen. This place offers a paved auto tour. There is a $3.00 entrance fee to drive the tour. Not everyone has a fee but this one does and it's posted when you come in. The visitor center was open until 4:30pm today so we just made it and received our stamp. Even though they also provide volunteers for Eastern Neck (weekend only) they did not have the stamp for the passport book so that was disappointing. No worries there was a lot to enjoy and be thankful for at this stop. Definitely a good display of many educational opportunities.

This is such a special place to admire nature, waters, and animal and bird life. Anddd you might sight a few bald eagles! My friend and I enjoyed the driving tour as well as the walking trails. Beware it can get muddy and watery in some areas but definitely worth it. When driving take caution, we saw a friendly turtle crossing . Would definitely come back in all seasons and try to catch sunset or sunrise! I know you will get some great shots!

Such a beautiful area! Have taken my family and friends to visit and got to see so many birds, turtles, and beautiful sites. A few little places to walk where you can experience the calm and peace of this beautiful location. It's definitely a recommended place to kayak, explore, and enjoy with friends and family.

The Visitor Center is one of the best that I have visited, great displays and viewing area. The Staff are incredibly friendly and helpful. The Staff member at front desk was very knowledgeable, and she was happy to share. Make sure to inquire about a cancelation stamp for your Park Book. They have (2) and both are nice. Plenty of literature and maps available. The Wildlife drive is amazing, never seen so many Bald Eagles in one area. Plenty of viewing stops and plenty of things to see. The route is easy and brings you out by Harriet Tubman's National Historic Site (don't miss out), you circle back to Visitor Center or do loop again. Got a lot of great wildlife pictures including Eagles, Tundra Swans, several duck species, Herons, Gulls etc. Definitely will be back !!!

To all the birders out there - you should seriously consider a spring migration visit here!! The trails were just bursting with bird activity! And they even have bird blinds scattered around as well! You'll be absolutely surrounded by birdsong on all the trails - it was incredible- I added videos so check them out! Even if you're not a birder this is a fantastic place for wildlife! Large water birds like herons and osprey are easily spotted and just everywhere - not to mention the muskrats! There are numerous hiking trails - well maintained and well marked. And it's almost all flat so the hiking is super easy. Lots of parking and port-a-potties as well. There's a "wildlife drive" that takes you through the whole refuge so you don't have to hike - but I highly recommend it Bc it was so lovely! It's $3 to enter...seems like it's the honor system - the entrance was unmanned and had the box and envelopes for you to put your payment in. There's a visitor center outside the refuge but it was closed when I visited. The GPS takes you to the visitor center but the actual refuge is down further - but it's pretty obvious how to get there on the GPS - it was easy to find.

What a peaceful place. We drove the wildlife drive and stopped so we could hike. It was so quiet, relaxing, and peaceful. The other hikers were so friendly, everyone was excited to be there. The forests made for shady hikes and the open marsh had great blue heron, egrets, and even vultures. We didn't see bald eagles here today but they did fly over the cabin we rented. I do recommend this place, it was easy to drive and we took our dog on the hikes. For birding, try kayaking or canoeing bc it might get you closer to the waterfowl. The vast marsh was striking - reminded me of the Everglades and the Okavango. In retrospect, I wish we had gone at dusk instead of the middle of the day. Nevertheless, I am so glad we made the trip, it is a very special place.

If you want to check out an amazing spot on the Eastern Shore...this is the place - you will see birds and wildlife galore! And if you are looking to mediate, pull your car over and just stop...listen...breathe...relax - you are at a wildlife refuge - you are surrounded by the sounds, smells, and scenery of majesty!!!

[Coronavirus review] If you're looking for a place to be socially isolated, this will do. The visitor center and the Harriet Tubman site are closed, but the scenery is wide open (as of this writing anyway). It does bear keeping in mind the difference between park and wildlife refuge, as this is definitely the latter. The main attraction is a paved road that runs through part of the sanctuary, with a couple of stops for trails and viewing platforms. You can walk the road itself, but the trails are fairly minimal (and notably the first one is closed a good part of the year to give the bald eagles their privacy). I did catch some muskrats lazily paddling between their homes from a viewing platform. I was not particularly bothered by bugs at the time of year I was visiting, but I would definitely be thinking about some serious bug spray and protective clothing if I came back. Maple Dam road-which runs along the eastern side of the park-was fairly well inundated with water when I tried driving it, and frankly the roads inside and outside of the park around here don't inspire a ton of confidence as they are slowly swallowed up by the surrounding swamp. I bet the area has more to offer when its buildings are open, but even during the shutdown it's an interesting site.

What an incredibly beautiful spot! We travelled down to Blackwater to spend the day. Most of the area we explored was off of the Wildlife Drive, which is a relatively short circular road that runs through the park. There's apparently a bit more to the park accessible by bike or car on the far side, but we didn't get to that. The wildlife drive is a fun little drive, though you should prepared to take it very slow (we averaged about 10 MPH), and watch out for bikes and pedestrians (as well as other cars, some of which will just randomly pull over, despite not being a pull-over). There are quite a few trails off of it, which are short and easy hikes. There are also a couple of good look-outs, which provide excellent spots to look over the marsh and see wildlife. We were there for only a couple of minutes before spotting a bald eagle. Couple of pro-tips: The nearest place to get a bite to eat is going to be back in Cambridge, and a bit into Cambridge -- about 30 minutes away. Pack a lunch. There's a lot of small pools of still water, which are a haven for breeding insects: bug spray is a must. I'm pretty tolerant of them, and usually hike without, but I missed it today. Stop and check out those still pools of water! We saw lots of small turtles, frogs, and more by checking out roadside ditches and semi-permanent pools. Not to mention the amazing variety of wildflowers right around them.

This is a beautiful way to experience Maryland's Eastern Shore, so we took our West Coast relatives here in September and they loved it! We started at the Harrier Tubman center and finished with a picnic and auto tour of the refuge. We saw turtles, deer, herons, and more - what a gem.

A beautiful place to visit. The bald eagle enclave is just inside the park. The birds sing endlessly and the park is quiet.

Bottom Line: A quick drive that gives a glimpse into the Eastern Shore's wildlife. We did the scenic wildlife drive and I thought it would be like the Chesapeake Bay version of an African safari, you know, deer walking along the car and bald eagles landing on the hood. But, drats, it wasn't. Just kidding, I wasn't really expecting that but I get emotional just thinking about seeing bald eagles so that would have been amazing. Of course if you are really serious of spotting wildlife then the best thing to do is to park and start hiking. The scenic drive is just a few dollars payable at the entrance on the honor system. What you'll see will certainly depend on the season. We did the drive in the fall which was nice because the leaves were off the trees so there was greater visibility. However, we didn't see much beyond a few birds and squirrels.

We rented a place nearby and this was one of the places we were able to visit. A nice big place. We saw turtles in the water,many different kinds of birds in the trees and flying around. Very peaceful during the weekdays.

Sunset Bike Ride on Wildlife Drive ($3) ‍‍: - Whoa . This place was gorgeous! We loved biking this easy and beautiful 8 mile trail in Cambridge, MD. There is a small fee to ride this trail. They use the self-service honor system since there isn't an actual attendant on-site (see photo). The trail is 4 miles and is designated for driving (one way) and bike riding (8 miles round trip). The cars on the trail drove very slow to take in the sites. They often stopped their car to observe wildlife and take pics. No need to worry about traffic on this scenic ride. It was absolutely stunning. The pics don't do it any justice . It almost felt like we weren't in Maryland any more. We saw so many birds including eagles, foxes, rabbits, deer, turtles etc. There is also a bird watching station so be sure to bring your binoculars. There is not much shade on this trail so it may be best to do a sunrise or sunset ride during hot days. This was an absolutely gorgeous sunset ride.

Was ok...didn't see any birds that can't be seen in the general area. Drive was ok. Tried to hike H.Taubman Trail and was attacked by deer flies even after amply spraying 25% deet. We didn't make it more than 30feet into the trail and had to turn around. This is really more of a drive than hike...after reading all the great reviews, we were a little disappointed. The visitor center person was very helpful though.

We went there three days ago and *loved* it. There are more than *27,000 acres* (mostly comprised of tidal marshes) and several freshwater ponds. We saw lots of ducks and geese, often in beautiful formations. There are multiple viewing points, of which one has a short boardwalk and it was the nicest viewpoint of all. It would have been even more wonderful if we could have gone there a few weeks later, as the foliage would be more beautiful - but it was still lovely and also very peaceful. Amazingly, admission is only $3/car (via cash, at the entrance).

This is one of the great outdoor areas in Maryland. Wonderful to visit in all seasons.

I attended the 2018 Eagle Festival. It was my first time in the refuge. Though the weather was cold and ended in snow and sleet, it was worth the drive and experience. The refuge is amazing. I participated in both tours, the Eagle Prowl and the Wildlife Drive. The tour guides for both tours were very informative and engaging. Other events/exhibits such as the trained dogs looking for nutria were interesting. I'd love to see the refuge in the spring/summer. I'd most definitely visit again. This is a must see if in the Cambridge / Eastern Shore area.

This is still closed due to Covid 19. There is no notice of when they might be reopening. The Wildlife loop drive is open but the restrooms are closed for our safety? The portable toilet, located at the beginning of the drive, was literally full to the the toilet seat! It hadn't been emptied since August 7. It was August 22. The Wildlife loop drive also was full of invasive species that the Refuge seems to be doing nothing about. We won't be back.

Documenting our road trip through Delaware and Maryland :) This place was really cool! Lots of interesting birds, and binoculars at some stations to watch them. There's a scenic drive on a paved road, a self-payment $3 entrance fee, and some cool marsh trails to explore. The trails are quick (.25-.5 miles mostly, though there is a longer one) and beautiful! Would recommend :) It's interesting driving through there too, since you see marshland/water on both sides of the road ^^

visitor center only open weekends. no maps stocked. beautiful spot for birdwatching. hiking and driving trails are open and maintained. not crowded.

Wonderful snapshot of eastern shore wildlife. We came here to bike, believing from the webiste that there were 20- and 25-mile "biking loops" on the refuge. However, after chatting with the visitor center staff, we learned that the biking loops were actually just local roads. These roads are curvy country roads with no shoulders and a lot of fast-driving pickup trucks barrelling around. We opted out of the road biking. Instead, we did a couple of passes on the "Wildlife Drive" on our bikes. This route runs along the Blackwater river and is absolutely beautiful. We saw egrets, herons, ducks, a ton of turtles, and a bald eagle. Impeccibly cared-for site, friendly staff, and beautiful wildlife.

Scenic wildlife refuge. Started at the visitor center where you can stroll through the garden with butterflies and humming birds. Next drove down the paved wildlife drive (about 3 miles). We did the two "hikes" which are essentially a loop on flat ground through the forest 0.25-0.5 mile each. Would recommend skipping those or just going through them quickly as there wasn't much to see. Best part was parking the car on the side of the scenic route and getting out to explore and take in the scenery. Saw multiple birds, particularly between markers 7 and 8. A nice quick day trip if you're already on the eastern shore.

Talk about a hidden diamond, we were there today and it was only because we decided not to make a long day commute to DC from the Hyatt. This place looks like it is really happening in the spring when the migratory birds are here and nesting. We still saw at least 5 blue herons, a couple of bald eagles, a osprey, and a slew of small turtles. For the entire drive through the reserve we saw exactly four cars and two were fire and ranger. This place has the highest concentration of bald eagles on the East Coast nesting outside of Florida. I'm not into birding but color me impressed with the natural beauty and the quantity of avians.

Maybe it was the beautifully clear day in December, but Blackwater was the highlight of our trip to Maryland. We saw snow geese, Canadian geese, an eagle in flight and a heron (who was kind enough to stand still so we could take a picture). The visitor center is brand new and well designed for viewing and learning. Plenty of easy parking, excellent upstairs display and free telescopes to look out onto the marshland and watch the birds. We didn't take the extra wildlife loop but will next time. Blackwater was a stop on the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Tour we were doing as a self directed audio drive which is also amazing. Might also mention that the small gift shop contained quality items, no junk. Bring food with you as there is nothing nearby and lots of hiking can work up an appetite. This is a day!

Beautiful wildlife refuge. Worth the drive for a day trip from Baltimore on the Eastern Shore. Bring your binoculars and some water - you can drive the wildlife drive, but you'll see a lot more (a LOT more) if you walk instead. It's about a 9 mile round trip hike, you can do part of all (then drive it when you're done) I can't even count the number of bald eagles I've seen at Blackwater, there are always some here if you look hard enough. The park has both freshwater and brackish waterways and wetlands, swamps and forests. It's something like $3 to get in for a vehicle, well worth it. You'll see lots of shorebirds, including migrating species in great number and birds which are hard to see anywhere else. There are rare mammal species and other wildlife as well. The nature center is new and full of interesting information, go upstairs for a nice view of the preserve.

We toured this wildlife refuge on our motorcycles and found it to be a great visit. We came down MD Rt-16 to Golden Hill Road from Cambridge and did the 25 mile loop around the Refuge before going down the Wildlife Drive (it costs $3.00 to do this short drive, but it's worth it). We stopped at the visitor center last (not the best order, but it worked). The visitor center is well worth the stop with a live camera feed of the bald eagle's nest. The 25 mile look was very good and would be a great bicycling route. See their web page for a PDF map. While I'm not much into birds, it was fascinating to see so many in a small (28,00 acres) area! Well worth the stop!

Blackwater Refuge was so beautiful (yes, even in the winter when we went) I have never been to anything like this that we could drive right through but still be in the middle of all of the nature. We even saw a beaver crossing the road. We were by ourselves pretty much the whole time and could pull over and get out anytime we pleased. Well worth the $3 per car to visit!

This is a wonderful place. The information center has a fantastic little store filled with items that would make great gifts. There's a nice long road you can drive along to view the wildlife and the scenery. There are even trails to walk. All in all, it's a good place to spend an afternoon.

Can't believe Blackwater doesn't have reviews yet.... it is incredible. We drove here from the metro DC area specifically to check this place out, and it was well worth it. Totally off the beaten path, they have a 6.5 mile wildlife drive you can take for $3 (honor system) that is nothing short of spectacular. We saw an Eastern King Snake, endangered Delmarva fox squirrel, Bald Eagles, Ospreys, fish swimming at the surface near a pipe, muskrat, nutria, gaggles of geese, herds of swans, paddlings of ducks, turtles, toads, it was unreal! WELL worth a side trip if you're staying anywhere on the Eastern shore. We made a (long) day trip out of this by stopping in Annapolis, St. Michael's, Easton, Tilghman Island, and Cambridge on our way down and back for food, microbrews, and shopping, and had a great time. Our only regret was not staying at a local B&B and making a full weekend out of it.