Janes Island Hike & Canoeing (PQ)

Our second quest today was a hike (more of a walk) and canoeing trip at Jane's Island near Tangier Sound. We did the canoe portion first and immediately decided we wanted to come back and do a longer trip with a kayak --There were so many marshy-offshoots to explore in this area -- it was open, scenic, and beautiful. 

This quest also consisted of two parts -- canoeing and hiking. Both required us to locate a series of numbered signs, each displaying a corresponding letter. After locating all of the signs (11 in all), we were to use the corresponding letters to answer riddles. After answering all of the riddles, we had to solve one final puzzle by unscrambling the corresponding letters to make two words that had to do with this particular quest.

The canoe portion was so peaceful and wonderful! Using our map we navigated a water trail that lead us to each of our 5 clues. Along the way we enjoyed the open space. We saw waterfowl, lots of insects, a blue crab, a small snake & jellyfish. 

Following the canoe portion of the quest, we did the "pedi" portion -- we walked around the park in search of our other clues. Along the way we stumbled across this very large (small melon sized) fungus! Initially I thought it was some kind of coral, but the smell and softness soon proved that it was not.

Below our PQ passport stamp:

And for our memories, the original quest:

Pedi, Paddle Puzzle Trail 

Introduction To Quest

This Quest is designed to introduce you to all that Janes Island State Park has to offer our visitors. The Puzzle Trail has two parts. One part is accomplished on foot (that’s the “Pedi” part), and the other is by boat (that’s the “Paddle” part). Along your way, you will find letters for words missing from the Pedi, Paddle Puzzle Poem (and that’s the “Puzzle” part!). Find all the letters, figure out all the missing words – and learn about the natural environment that makes Janes Island so special and the different ways our visitors can enjoy its resources.

Quest Information

You may begin your Quest on any day of the week between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. It’s a good idea to visit during the week to avoid waiting for a boat. You will start at the Park Store, where you will obtain your Quest instructions. You can start with either the water portion of the trail or the land portion. For the paddle part, you may bring your own kayaks or canoes or use boats provided by the park. Two crafts will be provided to Park Quest teams at no charge; additional craft will be available at our usual rental rate. Please note that you will not be able to reserve canoes or kayaks in advance; they are available to Park Quest participants as well as to our regular visitors on a first-come first-served basis. You will be allowed one hour to complete your paddle and return all borrowed equipment. Please also note that we will not rent canoes or kayaks if there is lightning in the area or if the wind is blowing 10 miles per hour or more. An alternative Quest will be available when our rental boats are not available because of adverse or hazardous weather conditions.

Because there may be biting insects, remember to bring insect repellant. A long sleeved cotton shirt helps protect you from the bugs and also from the rays of the sun. You will also want to bring bottled water, sunscreen, and sunglasses. Janes Island offers many beautiful vistas and other unique photographic opportunities, so bring your camera, but make sure to carry it in a waterproof bag. Pets that are accustomed to paddling are welcome to join you on the paddle portion of your Quest, as well as all of the land portion. Don’t forget to return to the Park Store by 5 p.m. with your completed Pedi, Paddle Puzzle Poem and get your Passport stamped!

Park Information

Native Americans first settled this region approximately 13,000 years ago. At that time, sea levels were about 200 feet lower than today, and what is today the Chesapeake Bay was then the ancestral Susquehanna River Valley and its tributary rivers. As the Tangier Sound was transformed from a freshwater river to an estuary rich in shellfish, prehistoric cultures occupied the landmass that would become Janes Island. Artifacts found along the shoreline of Janes Island provide evidence of thousands of years of human activities on or near the Island, from hunting mammals to shucking oysters. In a sense, native people living on Janes Island were practicing a lifestyle very similar to the modern watermen surviving off the bounty of the Chesapeake Bay. More recently, the higher portions of the Island were used for farming, and a large fish processing factory was located on the Island’s southern point. Today there are almost no visible traces of the people who lived and worked for so many years on the Island, and it is home only to the many birds, fish, crabs, and other small animals that live and feed in its rich salt marsh.

Today Janes Island State Park includes all of Janes Island and 301 acres on the mainland. The island portion of the park is undeveloped and accessible only by boat. Janes Island is covered in wild and beautiful salt marsh interrupted by hummocks of high ground with scrub vegetation and dissected by numerous guts and channels. The far side of the island features miles of deserted beach on Tangier Sound. Over 30 miles of marked water trails traverse the island, offering ample opportunity for paddlers to explore and experience its wildlife, beauty, and complete tranquility.

The mainland portion of Janes Island State Park features a campground, camping cabins, full service cabins, and a conference center, as well as a marina, picnic areas, playground, ball field, pavilions, Nature Center, and Park Store. Visitors enjoy a variety of activities including paddling, boating, fishing, crabbing, birding or simply watching a breath-taking sunset over the island.