By Max Chalkley
Tuckahoe State Park is a calm, natural, and beautiful environment with adventure around every corner. With 20 miles of hiking trails and a 63-acre lake for water-based recreation, there is no shortage of good times to be had at Tuckahoe.
There is something for every nature lover here. With day camps and canoe trips, to Scales and Tails presentations for the family. Enjoy a wonderland of a playground that is made out of recycled tires. As you walk the trails, learn about the history and see the park’s mystery.
History
Packed with history from railroads, steamships, and towns now abandoned, one who may go for a day hike can leave knowing the area’s rich history. A gristmill was once established on the creek, and a town was built around the mill. Steamships from Baltimore would bring goods to the town of Hillsboro, which is a short way from the park itself and would return to the Western shore with grain from the mill. The Stream Valley was also a notable route on the Underground Railroad. The town around the mill has since been abandoned and reclaimed by the surrounding nature. If you walk the trails, you may be able to see the skeletal remains of a farmhouse now overgrown with thick vines and ivy.
The area became a state park when the State of Maryland began purchasing property in the area in the 1960s. The State planned to dam the creek and create a 300-acre lake that would provide numerous recreational activities and opportunities for the people in the area and create a draw to the park itself. But a National Champion Overcup Oak Tree was discovered in the area that would have been the lake bed, so the plan was reworked to create the 63-acre lake that you can canoe and fish on today.
Trails
There are many different trails to hike on any given day, and you could hike over 20 miles. There is an adventure in every trail. One, for example, has a car embedded in the ground. There is a legend and mystique around the car since it has not been undetermined where it came from or how it came to be planted in the earth. An adventure like this enhances the park and makes it a must-see for any avid hiker. Hiking in the summer is made easier by a pine tree canopy that can sometimes make you feel like you are walking in a rainforest. Any given spot is perfect to stop and look around, listening to the forest’s life while you watch the sun peak through leaves and shine upon mossy logs.
Campground
With plenty of tables, no matter how big your party may be, and enough grills for everyone to have a good End of Summer barbeque, the campground is a perfect get-together destination. Bathrooms are only a short walk away, creating a much-appreciated convenience. Close by, there is a playground made almost entirely of recycled tires. This park is legendary to Queen Anne’s County kids and is a terrific adventure spot. If you feel up to it, you can bring the tackle box and catch some mighty fine Carp and Perch. And if you need a little getaway, there are cabins that are available for rent.
Tuckahoe is truly a one-of-a-kind sanctuary tucked away on the Eastern Shore, with nature that can be reminiscent of our country’s finest National Parks and limitless recreational activities. Tuckahoe State Park is a natural wonderland perfect for the end of Summer fun.
Name – Tuckahoe State Park
Address – 13070 Crouse Mill Road, Queen Anne, MD 21657
Phone – 410-820-1668
Website – https://dnr.maryland.gov/publiclands/Pages/eastern/tuckahoe.aspx
Admission – FREE
Hours – Sunrise to sunset
Pets – Dogs are welcome on a leash
Restrooms – proper restroom facility
Notes – certain areas of the park are accessible such as the campground, but the trails are not wheelchair accessible.