Pocomoke River Hiking and Canoeing (PQ)

Today marked our first family canoeing trip... Well make that two canoeing trips in one day... Pocomoke River was our first, and it was peaceful and wonderful! We did a park quest today that consisted of a short hike followed by a canoe trail on the pocomoke. Both kids, (even our two year old M) did the entire hike on foot this time! No REI hiking carrier on this quest!

The first portion of the quest, the hike, was very short (1 mile), flat, and easy -- During which we had to find a series of pictures along the trail relating to the swamp, the river, and the animals that use it. We learned how to identify tracks of animals native to the area and  important how/why they co-exist and use specific water sources such as ponds, lakes and streams. We had to determine this based on a series of "mystery pictures" that we used to answer the clue questions. The final trail clue ended at the pond, where the kids had the opportunity to use nets to scoop what they could out of the water and take a closer look. Although they tried hard, they were not able to scoop up any fish or tadpoles!

Following the hike we had to complete the second portion of the quest, a 1 mile canoe trail down the Pocomoke River. For us this was the highlight of the trip. We've hiked miles and miles, but this was our (my & the kids... Of course hubby has done all of this before) first canoe trip! We were awed by the slow flowing, glass like water, and found it to be very peaceful and scenic. We did see some waterfowl, birds, and we had the opportunity to see a live painted turtle sunning itself on a log. We also saw large water plants (we have yet to identify). The banks of this river were very marshy and swamp like -- with many small crevices jutting inland between the tall pine trees. Certainly a unique experience for us! The Canoe quest simply required us to draw a picture of the river, and record our feelings & observations as we paddled down the Pocomoke.

I mentioned this before... this was my first canoeing trip (I'm not used to the feel of the paddles)... Anyhow, I thought I was doing a great job paddling at the head of the canoe -- that was until the end of the trip as we were nearing the dock, when my 4 year old, A. finally had enough, and yelled  "Mom! you're splashing me all over"... The entire canoe trip I had been splashing A. as I was making my best attempt to paddle us in the right direction! I'm actually surprised he didn't complain about it sooner... After a few adjustments, I think I finally got the paddling down...  Splashing aside, the kids did wonderfully, and best of all we didn't capsize. They both enjoyed being so close on the water. Of course they sat in the middle of the canoe, and enjoyed the view while D. and I paddled the canoe through the quest!

Below is our PQ Passport stamp.

And for our memories, the original quest below:

 The Mystery of the Great Pocomoke Swamp

Introduction To Quest

Your Park Quest adventure at Pocomoke River State Park will lead you down the river and into a scene straight from prehistoric times as you attempt to discover what is hiding in the swamp. You will travel through areas that appear to be untouched by humankind as you journey along collecting clues to help solve the mystery.

Quest Information

The Park Quest at Pocomoke River State Park will start at the Nature Center located at the Shad Landing Area of Pocomoke River State Park. The nature center will be open and ready to assist park quest teams from Wednesday to Sunday from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. The Quest may be completed at other times by appointment only, but must be completed by sunset. To request an appointment please call the park at             410-632-2566 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            410-632-2566      end_of_the_skype_highlighting      . To complete the Quest you will walk approximately one mile and canoe another mile. Quest teams will receive their detective bags in the nature center than use a map located in the bag to proceed down a trail to the boathouse. Along the trail, teams will search for clues as they try to unravel the mystery of the swamp. Upon arrival at the boathouse, teams will be provided with a canoe, lifejackets, paddles, and basic safety instructions before heading towards the river. When the Quest is completed, teams will head back to the nature center to receive their stamp.

Park Quest Worksheet

Print the Park Quest maps and worksheets here.

Park Information

The scenic Pocomoke River is the backdrop for the Shad Landing area of Pocomoke River State Park. Mature stands of bald cypress trees surrounded by their protruding knees form a mysterious, primeval, yet idyllic setting for a paddle through the swamp. Bald eagles, osprey and other birds of prey are often seen nesting in the top of the bald cypress trees. The common prothonotary warbler builds nests in the cavities of decaying cypress knees. Largemouth bass, trout, perch and bluegills swim through the dark water of the Pocomoke River. The forest environment of the swamp provides a rich habitat for a variety of both small and large mammals. Today the swamp is home to a plethora of animal and plant species that find the swamp a useful place to hide and make their homes.

The area around Pocomoke River State Park also boasts of a rich history of human interactions. Records indicate that the Pocomoke, Nanticoke, and Nassawattox tribes inhabited the area more than 10, 000 years ago. In fact, the name Pocomoke is believed to be an Algonquian word meaning “broken” or “pierced” ground. By the mid 1800’s the largely inaccessible swamp had become an important link in the underground railroad used by freedom seeking slaves and their guides. (As well as a number of miscreants, including deserting troops from the north and south, outlaws, and bootleggers!) The state assumed control of the land in the mid 1950’s.