Photo: NPS Photo / Middleton Evans
People first arrived in the Chesapeake Bay during the last ice age.
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As glaciers melted, diverse societies learned to thrive in a world of water. When Englishman Captain John Smith explored the Bay in 1608, he documented hundreds of American Indian communities.
Today, sites on his map are archeological treasures and sacred sites for tribal citizens. Come join us on the shores of the Chesapeake Bay!
25 experiences from the National Park Service. Check details on NPS.gov before you go.
Discover thousands of years of archeology at Jefferson Patterson Park & Museum. Over 65 archeological sites tell the story of American Indian technology, innovation, and craft within the Chesapeake…
Learn more about Audio Tour of a Patuxent Town on NPS.gov (opens in a new tab)
Bicycling on a section of the Southern Maryland PHT On-Road Bicycling Route between Point Lookout and Leondardtown, MD
Learn more about Bicycle between Point Lookout and Leonardtown, MD on NPS.gov (opens in a new tab)
Bicycle from Reedville, an historic village at the northeastern part of the Northern Neck of Virginia, to a marina for a fishing trip or charter tour on the Potomac and Chesapeake Bay.
Learn more about Bicycle to a marina from Reedville, Virginia on NPS.gov (opens in a new tab)
Reservation required Fee applies
Rent kayaks, canoes and stand up paddle boards from one of two boat houses along the Potomac River.
Learn more about Boating in Rock Creek Park on NPS.gov (opens in a new tab)
Fee applies
Visit the Nanticoke Indian Association's museum, located in Millsboro, Delaware. Learn about the Tribe's history, traditions, and craftsmanship firsthand. The museum features an exhibit on…
Learn more about Delaware's Indigenous Heritage on Your Beach Trip on NPS.gov (opens in a new tab)
Reservation required
With Westmoreland State Park as a base, ride a loop connected with the Northern Neck Heritage Trail to explore Stratford Hall, the birthplace of George Washington, Colonial Beach, wineries, historic…
Learn more about Explore by bicycle from Westmoreland State Park on NPS.gov (opens in a new tab)
Reservation required Fee applies
Through the watermen’s heritage tour program, visitors to Tidewater Virginia, including the Northern Neck, can experience the time-honored history and traditions of working watermen through a…
Learn more about Explore the tidal Potomac from the Northern Neck by boat on NPS.gov (opens in a new tab)
A short drive from Washington DC and Baltimore, Patuxent River Park boasts more than 7,000 acres of parkland along the Patuxent River. It boasts some of the best birding in the state, along with…
Learn more about Go Birding at Patuxent River Park on NPS.gov (opens in a new tab)
Park your car and stretch your legs! Visit four different National Parks in Washington, DC and begin logging miles on seven different National Historic or National Scenic trails!
Learn more about Multi-Park Loop on NPS.gov (opens in a new tab)
Once the site of the Indigenous town of Quomocac, Jefferson Patterson Park is an archeological site and home to the Maryland Archaeological Conservation Laboratory. A kayak launch provides visitors…
Learn more about Paddle & Visit an Archeological Museum on NPS.gov (opens in a new tab)
Paddle approximately 12 miles from Leonardtown to Colton's Point via kayak or canoe, stopping at Newtowne Neck State Park. The trip is mostly on Breton Bay, but joins the Potomac and the mouth of St…
Learn more about Paddle Leonardtown to Colton's Point on NPS.gov (opens in a new tab)
Reservation required
This 3.5 mile journey along Mattaponi Creek departs from Selby's Landing within Patuxent River Park.
Learn more about Paddle Mattaponi Creek on NPS.gov (opens in a new tab)
Discover the natural abundance of the Anacostia River as it threads through the heart of Washington, DC. Watch birds on Kingman Island or dock at the National Arboretum and roam the forest. The…
Learn more about Paddle the Anacostia Water Trail on NPS.gov (opens in a new tab)
Choose from 30 miles of trails in the Inner Harbor, Outer Harbor, Middle Branch, and Patapsco River. Imagine yourself gliding alongside historic ships, seeing the skyline from the water, and paddling…
Learn more about Paddle the Baltimore Blueway on NPS.gov (opens in a new tab)
Launch your canoe, kayak, or boat from public piers along the length of the Nanticoke River and Fishing Bay. Local museums tell the story of the river's history, including its significance to…
Learn more about Paddle the Nanticoke Water Trail on NPS.gov (opens in a new tab)
The Patuxent River Water Trail offers visitors the opportunity to paddle the river, camp along its banks and visit its numerous parks, historic sites, sanctuaries and wildlife areas. The 110…
Learn more about Paddle the Patuxent River Water Trail on NPS.gov (opens in a new tab)
Beginning at Jennings Randolph Lake to the mouth of the Potomac, you may choose to paddle the 355 miles to the Chesapeake Bay or take a single or multi-day trip; all will give you a different view of…
Learn more about Paddle the Potomac River on NPS.gov (opens in a new tab)
The Sassafras River Water Trail is a 22 mile-long route located in the Upper region of the Chesapeake Bay. The river trail offers several options for paddle trips in beautiful landscapes that are…
Learn more about Paddle the Sassafras River Water Trail on NPS.gov (opens in a new tab)
The Susquehanna River is the longest river in the Eastern United States and the 16th longest in the country at 444 miles long. The Susquehanna forms from two branches that meet in Sunbury…
Learn more about Paddle the Susquehanna on NPS.gov (opens in a new tab)
Dutch Gap Conservation Area is a wooded area in Chesterfield County, Virginia that surrounds Henricus, the second successful English settlement in Virginia. Paddle the Lagoon Water Trail to view…
Learn more about Paddle to Sunken Ships at Dutch Gap Conservation Area on NPS.gov (opens in a new tab)
Fee applies
The town of Henricus was built by the English a few years after the establishment of Jamestown. The area was formerly occupied by the Arrohateck people, who were displaced by English arrival. At…
Learn more about See Inside a Longhouse at Henricus Historical Park on NPS.gov (opens in a new tab)
Fee applies
If the tide is high, navigate a skiff through the twists and turns of Mattaponi Creek. Picnic at Nottingham, a colonial tobacco port active in the 1600s.
Learn more about Skiffin’ Down to Nottingham on Mattaponi Creek on NPS.gov (opens in a new tab)
Fee applies
Swim in the clear waters of the Otsego Lake, the northernmost point of the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail. Public beaches are available within Glimmerglass State Park.
Learn more about Swim in the Otsego Lake on NPS.gov (opens in a new tab)
Our nation's capital is full of American Indian heritage - if you know where to look. Use your mobile device to take a self-guided tour of Washington DC that highlights monuments, museums, historic…
Learn more about Tour Indigenous D.C. on NPS.gov (opens in a new tab)
Reservation required Fee applies
The Pamunkey Indian Museum is the museum of the Pamunkey Indian Tribe and is located on the tribe's reservation in coastal Virginia. On display are objects that showcase the tribe's history, artistic…
Learn more about Tour Tribal Museums Near Richmond on NPS.gov (opens in a new tab)Showing 25 of 25
Pick one to find other parks that offer it.
Find visitor services available in the park. Check current hours and availability before you go.
Facility
The trail shares a headquarters with Historic Jamestowne, an historic site and visitors center managed by Colonial National Historical Park. Visitors to this coastal…
1368 Colonial Parkway, Jamestown, VA (757) 898-3400 Directions
Facility
The Zimmerman Center for Heritage sits on the banks of the Susquehanna River and is part of the Susquehanna National Heritage Area. The Susquehanna River has long been a…
1706 Long Level Road, Wrightsville, PA (717) 252-0229 Directions
Open 24 hours, daily · Trail Operating Hours
The water trail is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year! To launch your kayak or other vessel on the trail, access a local boat launch along one of the trail's many tributary rivers and coastlines. Local boat launches, state parks, and other locations have specific operating hours and seasons. Always check weather and conditions before going out on the water - take care during the winter months to dress appropriately for the weather and the possibility of submersion in cold water.
No entrance fees listed.
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During the summer season, visitors should dress in light, comfortable, moisture-wicking clothing, and use sunscreen. High temperatures and humidity create a higher risk of heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heatstroke. We strongly recommended you carry a bottle of water with you and wear a life jacket at all times. During the winter, be aware that submersion in freezing cold water can be deadly. If you are going out, bring safety gear such as a wetsuit and practice techniques to avoid tipping over.
The water trail is 3,000 miles long and there are countless places to explore it. The trail's headquarters and main visitor center is at Colonial National Historical Park - Historic Jamestowne.
For an internet map search or GPS, use the following: Historic Jamestowne Visitor Center, 1368 Colonial Parkway, Jamestown, Virginia 23081.
Mailing address: P.O. Box 210, Yorktown, VA 23690
Ask about trails, fees, weather, events, or planning your visit.
AI answers can be wrong. Check official NPS info before you go.
