Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge
Visiting Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge is a great nature adventure on your way to Maryland’s ocean beaches. While you’ve probably driven right through Cambridge, Maryland, on your way to Ocean City, you might not know it is home to one of our state’s greatest treasures: Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge.
Blackwater was established in 1933 as a waterfowl sanctuary for birds migrating along the Atlantic Flyway, and lies just a few miles outside of Cambridge. Blackwater has been called the “Everglades of the North” and one of the “Last Great Places” by the Nature Conservancy. It is well off the beaten path, but also well worth the drive. The refuge comprises more than 28,000 acres of marshland, streams, and forests, and offers numerous opportunities for recreation and natural beauty.
What To Do at Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge
There are numerous opportunities to take advantage of the natural surroundings and educational programs at Blackwater.
Be sure to try:
A slow and leisurely drive around the nature loop
This trek usually affords close-up encounters with eagles, turtles, waterfowl, songbirds, fish and herons. Keep an eye out for animal tracks in the marshes. See if you can identify the animal visiting the area and take a guess as to why it was there.
A visit to the visitor center
Downstairs features several exhibits, but go upstairs for a look through four powerful telescopes. You might just spot a falcon, eagle, deer or fox.
A picnic in the Bay-friendly gardens
Beautifully landscaped to make the most of indigenous plants and flowers, the garden is perfect for sitting in the sun, enjoying a quiet seat, or playing hide-and-seek amongst the hedges.
Hiking and Biking
There are several well-marked paddling trails throughout the refuge, as well as two major biking routes (20 and 25 miles long) that extend beyond the loop road. If your children enjoy biking, the shorter 4- or 7-mile loop drive might be a good option on a cool day—there’s much to see, but little to no shade and slow-moving traffic.
Photography
Blackwater has beautiful light, especially at sunrise and sunset, gorgeous vistas found nowhere else, and plenty of indigenous creatures. While you can stop along the popular loop drive, don’t be afraid to practice your skills while heading further into the refuge.
Birds at Blackwater
Birding
Blackwater offers regular birding outings for adults. Harry Armistead, a seasoned birder who has volunteered at the refuge for 30 years, will drive participants well beyond the Visitor Center to look for song birds, neotropics, birds of prey, and other marsh and river creatures.
Check the Blackwater website for guided birding tours that meet at the Blackwater Visitor Center, located at 2145 Key Wallace Drive, Cambridge, MD 21613. Tours may last 3-4 hours. Bring your binoculars and dress appropriately for the weather. The birding party will caravan via car to birding hotspots around the Wildlife Drive.
Each year in March the refuge celebrates the eagle. At the festival you’ll find great birding talks (that are quite captivating, even for kids), bird-watching hikes, refuge tours, and hands-on activities for kids like making your own birdhouse or identifying owl poop! For details on this year’s festival, visit fws.gov/refuge/Blackwater.
Blackwater is an excellent day trip for families who enjoy getting outdoors. In addition to the Eagle Festival in March, Blackwater also hosts an annual Youth Fishing Fun Day in June.
Getting To Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge
Blackwater is about an hour from Annapolis via Route 50 East. If you are using GPS, you must enter the physical address of the refuge. Do not use “Blackwater Wildlife Refuge.” 2145 Key Wallace Drive, Cambridge, Maryland 21613.
Parking is free and available in several places: the Refuge Center, the Key Wallace Trail, the Tubman Trail and the Tubman Visitor’s Center.
Nearby:
• If your children aren’t adequately tired out, stop off at Sailwinds Park in Cambridge, located near the Dorchester County Visitors Center on the south side of the Choptank River bridge. The park features a faux lighthouse, ample green space for running and kite flying, a playground, swings overlooking the charming river, and public restrooms.
• Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay, a large resort and marina perfect for all ages, with an indoor pool, an all-season golf course, fine dining, and spa.
• Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park
• City of Cambridge historic downtown
Entrance Fees:
Private Vehicle – $3.00
Pedestrian, Bicyclist – $1.00
Federal Duck Stamp or federal pass holder – Free
Fee-Free days in 2025 are September 27, October 12, and November 11.
The refuge is open daily from dawn to dusk. The Visitor Center is open Tuesday through Sunday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Permits are obtained at the self-service kiosk at the start of the Wildlife Drive (CASH or CHECK ONLY). Entrance passes are available at the Visitor Center. The current Federal Duck Stamp is valid July 1 to June 30 ($25). The Interagency Annual Pass ($80) and the Blackwater NWR Pass ($12) are valid one year from the date of issue. The lifetime Interagency Senior Pass ($10) is available to those 62 years or older. Free passes include the Interagency Access Pass for individuals who are blind or permanently disabled, the Military Annual Pass for active-duty military personnel and their dependents, and the “Every Kid in a Park” Pass for 4th Graders who possess a completed voucher.
—Diana Love
