Places to Paddle: Jug Bay Maryland

Photos and Article by Rich Batiuk, AMC Potomac Chapter Paddling Committee Chair and Paddling Trip Leader

There is a hidden gem which shines in the spring, summer and fall seasons in the world of paddling and that is Jug Bay.  Located on the Patuxent River, straddling Prince Georges and Anne Arundel counties in Maryland, this tidal embayment and surrounding tidal creeks provides three seasons of paddling entertainment.

Patuxent River Park

Jug Bay Natural Area, headquarters for the Patuxent River Park, protects about 1,700 acres of unique tidal freshwater marshes, forested wetlands, upland and riparian forest, creeks, meadows, pine and sand barrens, and fields along the Patuxent River, and provides a haven for a high diversity of plants, insects, mammals, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and fish.

The Patuxent River is the most important freshwater tidal estuary in the Chesapeake Bay region.  The Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission works cooperatively with federal, state, and local agencies, and conservation organizations to ensure the Patuxent River remains one of Maryland’s premier river greenways.  The Jug Bay Natural Area is a component of the Chesapeake Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve in Maryland, a nationwide network of diverse coastal estuaries that serve as laboratories for scientific research, education, and monitoring.

The park is also a site on the Chesapeake Bay Gateways Network, a partnership of parks, refuges, museums, historical communities, and trails where visitors can experience and learn about the Chesapeake Bay.  Jug Bay has been designated an "Important Birding Area" by the National Audubon Society.

The park offers a wide range of amenities for the public. There are over 14 miles of scenic woodland trails for hikers, bicyclists, and horseback riders. The park provides facilities for camping and picnics. There are two fishing areas at Jug Bay that offer good tidal fishing year-round. Jug Bay has two standard boat ramps, but no overnight tie-ups or fuel facilities. Waterfowl hunting is permitted in designated areas. A limited number of blind sites along the river are leased on a seasonal basis. Jug Bay is excellent to explore by canoe or kayak along the Patuxent Water Trail. The park offers guided trips, as well as daily canoe and kayak rentals. You will also find Prince George’s County’s first registered Nature Exploration Area within our Park!

The park is home to the Patuxent Rural Life Museums. This collection of late-19th century and early 20th century buildings tells the story of life in southern Maryland. Visitors can also enjoy the Chesapeake Bay Critical Area Tour, a four-mile roadway that connects the park with Merkle Wildlife Sanctuary.

Naturalist-led education programs are available on a seasonal basis. River ecology tours aboard a pontoon boat feature the river’s wetlands, wildlife, and history. Boardwalks provide easy access to the Black Walnut Creek Nature Study Area to explore the bio-diverse communities of the river. In addition, programs and events for a variety of ages are available.

So clearly, once you have finished paddling, you can extend your outdoor experience in a host of different ways!

Launch Location/Directions

Patuxent River State Park is located in Croom, Maryland, southeast of Upper Marlboro.  You can launch your kayak, canoe or stand-up paddle board at Jackson Landing in Patuxent River State Park located at 16000 Croom Airport Road Upper Marlboro, MD 20772.  Please be aware there is no public transportation available to get to the state park.

From the Capital Beltway (I-495), take Exit 11A, (Pennsylvania Avenue), Route 4 east for 8 miles. Take Route 301 south for 1.7 miles. Turn left on Croom Station Road and continue for 1.6 miles. Turn left on Croom Road (Route 382) and proceed for 1.5 miles. Turn left on Croom Airport Road and continue for 2 miles. At the entrance, either continue straight to the Group Camp Area or turn left and proceed 1.7 miles to the park office.

From Routes 50/301, take Route 301 south for 15 miles. Turn left onto Croom Station Road and continue for 1.6 miles. Turn left onto Croom Road (Route 382) and continue for 1.5 miles. Turn left onto Croom Airport Road and continue for 2 miles. At the entrance, either continue straight to Group Camp Area or turn left and proceed 1.7 miles to the park office.

Renting Kayaks and Canoes

If you don’t own a kayak or canoe, you can rent one (or more) at the Park.  Single kayak, double kayak and canoe rentals are available from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm at Jackson Landing and reservations are recommended.  To reserve a boat, 

please visit: https://www.pgparks.com/3410/Canoe-Kayak-Rentals. Rates for single kayaks are $25 for MD residents and $33 for non-residents.  Canoes and tandem kayaks rent for $30 for MD residents and $39 for non-residents.  There is no entrance fee for the park.

Paddling Jug Bay

Once you launch at Jackson Landing, you have a multitude of options in terms of where to paddle.  You can head ‘up river’ by turning left after you launch, out of Jug Bay.  A great destination is Western Branch, a tidal tributary to the Patuxent River which is surrounded by wetlands for the close a mile of its navigable length.  You can head across the top of Jug Bay and immerse yourself amongst the lily pads and wild rice plants.  Or you can steer ‘down river’ and experience the great expanse of Jug Bay, heading towards Mattaponi Creek on your right-hand side after the river narrows and head up the “S” curves along this beautiful tidal creek.

During the spring, you will be surrounded by emerging wetland plants along the banks of the river and well out into Jug Bay itself.  If you remain still in one location, you can almost see the plants emerging for bottom of the bay, reaching up to the sunlight just above the river’s surface.  During the spring migrations, the bird watching opportunities are outstanding, whether from the water side or the trail side!

The coming of summer allows you to navigate the natural mazes caused by the wetland plants searching out shallow waters and planting themselves in the middle of the waterways.  Summer bird species can be found all over Jug Bay, some quiet and some announcing their presence—red wing black birds—to every living being within shouting distance! The wild rice, which itself is a bird magnet, is all around you.  You can just imagine what would be involved with harvesting that rice if it was key part of your diet.

In the fall, Mother Nature shows off the full spectrum of her colors, from trees to remaining wildflowers to the multiple of different marsh grasses, plants and trees.  From your water-based perspective, you get to see everything in a much bigger view than your land-based fellow citizens.

A day’s worth of paddling (and hiking and bird watching and nature enjoying) awaits you at Jug Bay Natural Area in Patuxent River Park