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List of Maryland state parks facts for kids

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This list of Maryland state parks includes the state parks and state battlefields listed in the Maryland Department of Natural Resources's current acreage report. Generally, the Maryland Park Service, a unit of and under the authority of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR), is the governing body for these parks, although some have been turned over to local authorities.

Maryland state parks

Name County Area Estab-
lished
River / lake / other Remarks Image
acres ha
Assateague State Park Worcester 855 acres 346 ha 1956 Atlantic Ocean Barrier island with swimming, beachcombing, sunbathing, surfing and fishing
Horses in marshland
Big Run State Park Garrett 300 acres 120 ha Savage River Reservoir Camping, fishing, flat water canoeing, hiking trails, picnicking
River flowing over rocks
Bill Burton Fishing Pier State Park Dorchester, Talbot 24 acres 9.7 ha 1987 Choptank River Fishing, hiking, cycling
Riverscape
Bohemia River State Park Cecil 460 acres 190 ha 2022 Great Bohemia Creek Hiking, biking, canoeing, kayaking, wildlife viewing, fishing
Calvert Cliffs State Park Calvert 1,311 acres 531 ha 1960s Chesapeake Bay Fossil hunting, hiking trails, fishing, hunting, picnicking, youth group camping, playground, shelters.
Cliffs overlooking water
Casselman River Bridge State Park Garrett 4 acres 1.6 ha 1957 Casselman River Historic bridge; popular fishing location
Single-arch stone bridge over river water
Chapel Point State Park Charles 821 acres 332 ha 1972 Port Tobacco River Largely undeveloped; features fishing and hunting
Park signage
Chapman State Park Charles 829 acres 335 ha 1998 Potomac River Home of Mount Aventine; fishing, hunting, hiking trails
Mount Aventine
Cunningham Falls State Park Frederick 6,080 acres 2,460 ha 1954 Big Hunting Creek Includes the Catoctin Furnace; features boating, fishing, swimming, playground, trails, hunting, and picnicking
Water coursing over grey rocks
Cypress Branch State Park Kent 314 acres 127 ha 2022 Includes a picnic area near a 3-acre fishing pond.
Dans Mountain State Park Allegany 482 acres 195 ha 1970s Olympic-sized swimming pool with waterslide and refreshment stand; fishing, hiking, picnic areas, playground, pavilions
Deep Creek Lake State Park Garrett 1,169 acres 473 ha 2000 Deep Creek Lake Boating and fishing on Maryland's largest man-made lake, camping, hunting, hiking trails
Deep Creek Lake State Park Pier
Elk Neck State Park Cecil 2,369 acres 959 ha 1936 Chesapeake Bay Home of Turkey Point Light; beach, picnicking, seasonal convenience store, camping, cabins, nature center, trails for hiking and biking, hunting, various water sports
Turkey Point Lighthouse.jpg
Fort Frederick State Park Washington 722 acres 292 ha 1922 Potomac River,
Big Pool Lake
Stone fortification built by colonial Province of Maryland from the French and Indian War (1754-1763); visitors center, picnicking, boating, fishing, hiking, camping
Stonewall fortifications
Fort Tonoloway State Park Washington 26 acres 11 ha Undeveloped
Franklin Point State Park Anne Arundel 484 acres 196 ha 1999 Chesapeake Bay Undeveloped
Gambrill State Park Frederick 1,207 acres 488 ha 1934 Picnicking, hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, fishing pond, camping
Pond with trees
Gathland State Park Frederick, Washington 140 acres 57 ha 1949 Former estate of George Alfred Townsend; museum, visitors center, picnicking, hiking on the Appalachian Trail
Stone monument
Greenbrier State Park Frederick, Washington 1,420 acres 570 ha 1964 Greenbrier Lake Swimming, fishing, boating, boat rental, camping, camp store, hiking, picnicking, playground, Appalachian Trail
Sunset over lake waters
Greenwell State Park St. Mary's 596 acres 241 ha 1971 Patuxent River Historic Rosedale Manor House; picnicking, swimming, non-motorized boating, hiking, equestrian and cycling trails, fishing, hunting
Gray barn
Gunpowder Falls State Park Baltimore, Harford 14,949 acres 6,050 ha 1959 Gunpowder River,
Dundee Creek
Multiple non-contiguous recreational areas: Picnicking, hiking, biking, horseback riding, cross-country skiing, hunting, various water sports
Red barn
Hallowing Point Waterfront Park Calvert 13 acres 5.3 ha 2017 Patuxent River Opening 2022; on Route 231, on the Calvert County side of the Patuxent River Bridge
Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad State Park Dorchester 17 acres 6.9 ha 2007 Dedicated to the life and work of abolitionist and Underground Railroad activist Harriet Tubman; opened in 2017
Visitors center
Hart-Miller Island State Park Baltimore 244 acres 99 ha 1977 Back River
Chesapeake Bay
Accessible only by boat; 3,000-foot (910 m) sandy beach
Dike, Hart-Miller Island State Park
Herrington Manor State Park Garrett 365 acres 148 ha 1964 Herrington Creek Swimming, non-motorized boating, picnicking, hiking, tennis, volleyball, cabins
Janes Island State Park Somerset 3,160 acres 1,280 ha 1963 Chesapeake Bay Visitors center, conference center, picnicking, cabins, camping, camp store, various water sports
Waterway
Love Point State Park Queen Anne's 76 acres 31 ha 2007 Chesapeake Bay Undeveloped
Martinak State Park Caroline 105 acres 42 ha 1961 Choptank River,
Watts Creek
Fishing, camping, boating, hiking, nature center
Signage and scenery
Matapeake State Park Queen Anne's 21 acres 8.5 ha 2009 Chesapeake Bay Beach; leased by Queen Anne's County
Bayscape
Matthew Henson State Park Montgomery 100 acres 40 ha 1989 Greenway for hiking and biking
Elevated pathway
New Germany State Park Garrett 483 acres 195 ha Swimming, fishing, picnicking, boat launch, boat rental, canoeing, camping, cabins, hiking trail, cross-country skiing, nature center
Lakescape
Newtowne Neck State Park St. Mary's 794 acres 321 ha 2009 Potomac River Non-motorized boating, hiking, picnicking, fishing Newtowne Neck State Park, Maryland, USA
North Point State Park Baltimore 1,328 acres 537 ha 1987 Back River,
Patapsco River,
Chesapeake Bay
Former site of the Bay Shore Amusement Park; visitors center, swimming, hiking and biking trails, pier and shore fishing, picnicking
Elevated pathway
Palmer State Park Harford 590 acres 240 ha 1965 Deer Creek Undeveloped; hiking, fishing, canoeing
Patapsco Valley State Park Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Carroll, Howard 14,270 acres 5,770 ha 1907 Upper Patapsco River Hiking, horseback and mountain bike trails, picnicking, canoeing, fishing, camping, historical touring
Curving, multi-arched bridge
Patuxent River State Park Howard, Montgomery 6,703 acres 2,713 ha 1963 Patuxent River Hunting, fishing, hiking and horseback riding.
Stone building
Pocomoke River State Park Worcester 916 acres 371 ha 1939 Pocomoke River Visitors center, swimming pool, biking and hiking trails, boat launch, boat rental, fishing, flat water canoeing, camping, camp store, picnicking
Riverscape
Point Lookout State Park St. Mary's 1,079 acres 437 ha 1963 Chesapeake Bay,
Potomac River
American Civil War prisoner-of-war camp museum/Marshland Nature Center, swimming, picnicking, boat launch, boat rental, camping, cabins, camp store, fishing, canoeing, hiking trails, hunting
Tall monument
Rocks State Park Harford 1,060 acres 430 ha 1949 Deer Creek Fishing, hiking, picnicking, wading, canoeing and tubing, bow hunting, rock climbing, repelling
Rocky outcroppings
Rocky Gap State Park Allegany 3,119 acres 1,262 ha 1963 Lake Habeeb Boating, camping, fishing, hiking
Lake Habeeb
Rosaryville State Park Prince George's 1,039 acres 420 ha 1976 Mount Airy Mansion; trails for hiking, biking and equestrians
Historic American Buildings Survey John O. Brostrup, Photographer May 13, 1936 11-30 A.M. VIEW FROM NORTHEAST. - Mount Airy, Rosaryville, Prince George's County, MD HABS MD,17-ROSVI.V,2-11.tif
Sandy Point State Park Anne Arundel 786 acres 318 ha 1948 Chesapeake Bay Swimming, fishing, crabbing, boating, picnicking, windsurfing
Thin peninsula and blue waters
Sang Run State Park Garrett 81 acres 33 ha 2017 1800s homestead and store
Seneca Creek State Park Montgomery 6,313 acres 2,555 ha 1958 Seneca Creek Black Rock Mill, Seneca Schoolhouse; boating, fishing, picnicking, disc golf
Lake with fall foliage
Sideling Hill Creek State Park Allegany 865 acres 350 ha 2022 Potomac River Forest land, trails, rare species
Smallwood State Park Charles 984 acres 398 ha 1958 Mattawoman Creek "Smallwood's Retreat" historic site; marina, picnicking, camping, nature trails
Brick home
South Mountain State Park Frederick, Washington 7,520 acres 3,040 ha Runs the length of South Mountain; Appalachian Trail; contiguous with other national, state and local parks
Green vista
St. Clement's Island State Park St. Mary's 62 acres 25 ha 1962 Potomac River Only accessible by boat; reconstructed lighthouse, memorial to first Marylanders landing March 25, 1634 (Maryland Day); hiking, picnicking, fishing
Lighthouse and large cross
St. Mary's River State Park St. Mary's 2,643 acres 1,070 ha 1968 St. Mary's Lake Hiking, horseback and biking trails, picnicking, boat launch, canoeing, fishing, hunting
Susquehanna State Park Cecil, Harford 2,753 acres 1,114 ha 1958 Susquehanna River,
Upper Chesapeake Bay
Rock Run Historical Area; fishing, camping, picnicking, boating, hiking trails
Wide waterfall through trees
Swallow Falls State Park Garrett 257 acres 104 ha 1930s Youghiogheny River Camping, hiking, picnicking, nature programs
Tumbling waters in winter
Tuckahoe State Park Caroline, Queen Anne's 3,949 acres 1,598 ha 1963 Tuckahoe Creek Hiking, biking and equestrian trails, canoeing, picnicking, camping, cabins, hunting, archery
Paddlers
Washington Monument State Park Frederick, Washington 191 acres 77 ha 1934 1827 stone monument to first President George Washington by citizens of nearby Boonsboro; picnicking, hiking on the Appalachian Trail
Barrel-shaped stone monument
Wills Mountain State Park Allegany 371 acres 150 ha 1998 Undeveloped
Valley vista
Wolf Den Run State Park Garrett 1,986 acres 804 ha 2018 Three parcels near Kitzmiller
Wye Oak State Park Talbot 29 acres 12 ha 1939 Site of celebrated oak tree lost in 2002; picnicking
Massive spreading oak tree

Maryland state battlefields

Name County Area Estab-
lished
Image Remarks
acres ha
North Point State Battlefield Baltimore 9 acres 3.6 ha 2015 Preserves undeveloped land where War of 1812's Battle of North Point in the larger Battle of Baltimore on September 12, 1814 (Defenders Day) was fought with the invading British Army.
South Mountain State Battlefield Frederick, Washington 2,465 acres 998 ha 1984 Civil War historic site of Battle of South Mountain in the Maryland Campaign, September 1862

Maryland natural resources management areas

Name County Area Estab-
lished
River / lake / other Remarks Image
acres ha
Deep Creek Lake Natural Resources Management Area Garrett 3,900 acres 1578.3 ha Deep Creek Lake Boating Deep Creek Lake (16330595625).jpg
Fair Hill Natural Resources Management Area Cecil 5,656 acres 2288.9 ha 1975 Horse riding, camping, hunting
Merkle Natural Resources Management Area and Visitor Center Prince George's 1,670 acres 675.8 ha Chesapeake Bay
Monocacy River Natural Resources Area Frederick 1,800 acres 728.4 ha 1975 Monocacy River Hunting, fishing, hiking and horseback riding Monocacy river at potomac river confluence 20200626 064235 1.jpg
Morgan Run Natural Environment Area Carroll 2,000 acres 809.4 ha 1975
Sassafras Natural Resources Management Area Kent 1,200 acres 485.6 Sassafras River, Chesapeake Bay Hiking, mountain biking, birding, horseback riding
Woodmont Natural Resources Management Area Washington 3,425 acres 1,386 ha 1995 c/o Fort Frederick State Park Formerly as Woodmont Rod & Gun Club property
Wye Island Natural Resources Management Area Queen Anne's 2,450 acres 991.5 ha
Youghiogheny Wild River Natural Environmental Area Garrett

Other Maryland state areas

Name County Area Estab-
lished
Remarks Image
acres ha
Helen Avalynne Tawes Garden Anne Arundel 5 acres 2 ha
Jefferson Patterson Park & Museum Calvert 560 acres 226.6 ha 1983 Hiking, exhibits, educational programs Visitor center Jefferson Patterson Park & MUseum MD1.jpg
Western Maryland Rail Trail Washington 1906 WesternMarylandRT.JPG

Former Maryland state parks

See also

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