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A half-mile out-and-back trail that follows and old railroad, which cuts across the wetlands and ends at a long pier.


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Map Key

0.6

Miles

0.9

KM

99%

Runnable

14' 4 m

High

1' 0 m

Low

0' 0 m

Up

12' 4 m

Down

0%

Avg Grade (0°)

4%

Max Grade (2°)

Dogs No Dogs

Features Birding · Fall Colors · Historical Significance · River/Creek · Views · Wildlife

Open from 9am to 5pm on Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday. Open Sundays, March-November only.

Need to Know

Entrance fee: $6 per vehicle. Military members and veterans receive free admission.

Description

This yellow-blazed trail follows the "Honeysuckle Route" of the old, Chesapeake Beach Railway which ceased operation during the Depression in April 1935, and the railroad was soon dismantled and sold as scrap metal.

Beginning at the Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary Otter Point Trail, head west across the wetlands to the River Pier at the edge of the Patuxent River. Along the way, there is a boardwalk that runs south to an observation blind. Near the end of the trail is the Scrub-Shrub Boardwalk, which, while providing no view, immerses you within the thick, South Glebe Marsh.

The railbed trail ends at a long pier that ends on the main channel of the Patuxent River. There are views of the tidal wetlands, the old railway drawbridge pivot, and Mount Calvert Park.

Flora & Fauna

Gulls, Least Bittern, Marsh Wren, Osprey, Swamp Sparrow, Waders

SPRING: American Coot, Black-and-white Warbler, Blackpoll Warbler, Blue-winged Teal, Caspian Tern, Greater Yellowlegs, Hooded Warbler, Horned Grebe, Lesser Yellowlegs, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Palm Warbler, Pied-billed Grebe, Prothonotary Warbler, Purple Martin, Red-tailed Hawk, Spotted Sandpiper, Yellow Warbler, Yellow-throated Warbler

AUTUMN: Great Egret, Northern Harrier, Magnolia Warbler, Red-headed Woodpecker, Sora

WINTER: Brown Creeper, Common Merganser, Dark-eyed Junco, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Green-winged Teal, Hermit Thrush, Killdeer, Northern Pintail, Northern Shoveler, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Ruddy Duck, Rusty Blackbird, Tundra Swan, Yellow-rumped Warbler, White-throated Sparrow, Winter Wren

ALL YEAR: American Goldfinch, Bald Eagle, Belted Kingfisher, Canada Goose, Carolina Chickadee, Carolina Wren, Double-crested Cormorant, Downy Woodpecker, Eastern Towhee, Great Blue Heron, Hairy Woodpecker,

Contacts

Shared By:

Ryan Spr

Trail Ratings

  3.0 from 2 votes

#28329

Overall
  3.0 from 2 votes
5 Star
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3 Star
100%
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Trail Rankings

#385

in Maryland

#28,329

Overall
2 Views Last Month
184 Since Dec 21, 2019
Easy/Intermediate Easy/Intermediate

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Photos

Looking west down the Railroad Bed Trail.
Dec 21, 2019 near Marlbor…, MD
View looking west of the Patuxent River and the old Chesapeake Beach Railway bridge support. Across the river to the north is Mount Calvert Park, a tobacco plantation that was in operation from around 1780 until 1860.
Dec 21, 2019 near Marlbor…, MD

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