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Each year, on the first Saturday of June, the American Hiking Society and the trails community invite people of all ages and abilities to find their own adventure and discover their unique story at one of the thousands of events hosted throughout the country. One place to celebrate the importance of trails on June 5 is Martinak and Tuckahoe State Park on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. A guided two-mile hike begins at the Cherry Lane Pavilion. June 5, 10:00 am to 11:00 am; Tuckahoe State Park, Queen Anne, MD. More details.
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Meet with a ranger and set out to the Tobacco House Ridge Trail, where you can enjoy nature's wonders while clearing litter and sticks off the trail. Don't forget to wear your hiking boots and bring work gloves and a bottle of water. This will be a moderate hike that is just under two miles. You can also pick any of the other trails at Douthat to explore on your own, like the Blue Suck Falls Trail (pictured above) and the Tuscarora Overlook Trail. The ranger-guided hike is June 5, 11:00 am to 12:30 pm; Douthat State Park, Millboro, VA. More information.
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The park does not have an entrance fee so you can enjoy a hike on the trails throughout the day. Greenbelt has four trails ranging from 0.8 miles to 5.2 miles. You are invited to walk a trail, discover nature, and use the park to get some great exercise and fresh air. The best trails to access are the Azalea (1.2 miles) and the Perimeter Trail (5.2 miles). You can also join in for a trail volunteer project. Meet in the Sweetgum Picnic Area at 8:45 a.m. Trail projects begin at 9:00 a.m. and last until 12 Noon. June 5, Greenbelt Park, Greenbelt, MD. Registration is required for the volunteer projects. More information and registration.
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Celebrate National Trails Day by joining a park ranger for a two-mile hike to explore the forested areas of the White Banks and Beaver Marsh Loop Trails. Dogs on a leash are welcome. Reservations required. Fee of $3 per Maryland resident and $5 per out-of-state resident for day-use. June 5, 10:00 am to 11:00 am; Elk Neck State Park, North East, MD. More information and required registration.
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Wear your favorite hiking boots and head out to connect with nature on this National Trails Day hike. Earn your trails day patch by participating in this guided hike. Two hikes are offered at Cacapon Resort State Park on June 5: Laurel Trail: Join park naturalist, Valerie Chaney, on a two-mile easy-to-moderate hike and take in the views. Ziler Loop Trail: Join WV Master Naturalist, Tim Hull, as he guides you on a five-mile strenuous hike on portions of the Ziler Loop to the top of Cacapon Mountain. This trek takes around four hours, so bring plenty of water, snacks, bug spray. Both hikes will start at 10:00 a.m. and begin at Cacapon Nature Center. June 5, Cacapon State Park, Berkeley Springs, West Virginia. More information and reservations.
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Families are welcome to join Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary for a fun day on the water at Wooton’s Landing Wetland Park. You will have the opportunity to try kayaks, paddle boards, do some fishing, go for a hike, or play games. Water and snacks will be provided. Closed toe shoes are required to paddle. For kayaks and paddle boards, children must be 13 years or older. For canoes, children under 12 years old must have two paddling adults. Children 13 and older can paddle with one adult. This is a free event but registration is required. June 12, 10:00 am to 2:00 pm; Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary, Lothian, MD. More information and registration.
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Join a ranger at Trough Creek State Park for a nice steep climb that departs from the Balanced Rock trailhead on Brumbaugh Trail. Departing at 1:00 pm, the approximately two-hour hike climbs to a wonderful view of Lake Raystown at the top. More information and registration.
Geologists! At 5:00 pm take a walk to the beautiful Balanced Rock and learn how the geology of the area put it there. On the way you’ll learn a little about the history of the park that put the area on the map. More information and registration.
Both hikes: June 5, Trough Creek State Park, James Creek, PA.
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The Annapolis Maritime Museum’s Tides & Tunes Summer Concert Series kicks off June 17th, offering 10 weeks of popular music – from rock to folk to blues – with the incomparable backdrop of the Chesapeake Bay. Concerts are free; however, donations are gratefully accepted. Food and spirits are available for purchase. Beverage sales support the Museum’s education program. Bring a chair or blanket. Concerts start at 7:00 pm at the Museum’s waterfront McNasby campus. More information and schedule.
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Footpath For
The People
What better trail to visit on National Trails Day than the Appalachian National Scenic Trail. Maryland has 40.9 miles of the trail, Pennsylvania has 229.6 miles of the trail, and Virginia has the most mileage of the trail of any state with 550.3 miles. A great place to pay homage to this great trail is at the Appalachian Trail Museum in Pine Grove Furnace State Park, the mid-way point of the entire trail. The museum is now open Wednesday through Sunday from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. A great introductory video about what you can expect to find at the museum is available on their website.
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Pick Your Hiking Terrain
More than 160 miles of the Virginia State Park system's 626 miles of trails are strictly reserved for hiking, and hiking is allowed on more than 397 miles of multi-use trails. Where to begin? One good way to choose where to hike in Virginia is to decide whether you prefer the terrain of the mountains, the central valley, or the coast. Pick your terrain with the helpful blog from Virginia State Parks.
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Head out on the water and learn firsthand the experiences of Captain John Smith's Voyage on NOAA's Chesapeake Bay interpretive Buoy System. CBIBS provides real time weather and environmental information, as well as a glimpse into living Chesapeake Bay History. You can also download the app for your Android or iPhone from the website. Note: some buoys may be offline with no data currently available.
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Take a virtual tour of the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail from your computer or mobile device! To help you plan your trip before you go, the Chesapeake Conservancy partnered with Terrain360 to bring you virtual tours of the trail’s great rivers. Sit back and virtually explore the Elk, James (sponsored by the James River Association), Nanticoke, Northeast, Patapsco, Patuxent, Potomac, Rappahannock, Sassafras, Susquehanna, and York rivers. Check out some of the Chesapeake’s special places like Werowocomoco, Fones Cliffs, Baltimore’s Inner Harbor and Mallows Bay. We hope to eventually bring you a virtual tour of the entire Chesapeake Trail! Explore the Chesapeake's great rivers on our website.
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A Note About COVID-19 and the Chesapeake Bay Watershed
Help stop the spread of COVID-19 and follow all current directives from your governor and local health officials about wearing face masks and physical distancing.
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