Sandy Point Hike & Letterboxing & Herrington Manor Canoe Trip (PQ)

Who would have thought
this is at Sandy Point?

Symbi Trail

I'm combining 2 of our shorter quests (Sandy Point and Herrington Manor)... because I have so many hike blogs to catch up on.... The two parks, although they both feature a beautiful body of water (Sandy Point in Annapolis, and Herrington Manor in Oakland) are hours apart, and lie in to vastly different sections of Maryland! PS. both of these parks have limited options on where you are/are not allowed to take dogs! Sandy Point does not allow dogs from Memorial day-labor day. Herrington Manor allows dogs only on the trails and in certain day-use areas.

Sandy Point Map

Letterboxing!

Leaving our mark
with the family stamp

Last week PQ took us to a local favorite Sandy Point... We usually come here for the beach, but little did we know this park has a short trail (and pond) as well! On this quest we did not even visit the beach. Instead we began at the Nature center, from there we went letterboxing. This walk took us to view a historical oak tree, and down Symbi trail (which we didn't know was there!). 

Found the first letterbox

We had to gather a series of several stamps at each check point along the hike, which eventually lead us to a very neat "boardwalk" style bridge over a marshy area, allowing the kids to see the marsh insects & small fish up close.  The trail then lead us to the pond (which was surprisingly large), and back to the trail head. Along the way we learned about local wildlife -- squirrel, deer, ducks, geese. We were hoping to see some deer on this weekday (we have seen deer in this park many times before) but unfortunately on this day we did not. The trail itself was short (my guess is maybe 3/4 mile?) flat, and easy to navigate. I think through the park we walked a total of about 2 miles -- although that was enough for us with the high heat index!  Even our 2 year old M. was able to do this "hike" entirely on foot -- and of course it was a breeze for our 4 year old A!

Herrington Manor State Park Map

Beaver damn on the lake

A. Canoeing

And, over the weekend, PQ took us about 4 hours west to the parks that lie in NW Maryland on the PA/WV border to Herrington Manor State Park. A pretty little lake nestled in the "mountains" (as D. and I like to call them the Maryland "foothills"... Because their size remind us more of our Colorado foothills that we grew up with than mountains!) This quest focused on using a canoe to navigate around the lake. D. & A. tackled this one by themselves. My daughter and I would have gone unfortunately we had our German Shepherd, Colt with us... And he was not allowed! The boys had to identify (and learn about) several real-life animal habitats of native wildlife -- including a beaver dam, bat & duck boxes, & osprey platforms. D. and A. came back to report that they had two great memories from this trip. 1) The canoe got stuck and they couldn't get out. 2) A. stuck his paddle in the mud and almost followed it right off the canoe and into the lake when he forgot to let go! I apologize for the blurry photos from this quest... Hubby had to use his phone for these!

Learning about the local wildlife

Both passport stamps below:

And for our memories, the original PQ postings:

Canoe Find the Animals? Herrington Manor

Introduction To Quest

Your Park Quest Team will use a canoe to explore Herrington Lake. Your team will work together to explore the natural and historic areas of the park, as well as identify some of the habitat structures Rangers have placed around the shoreline of the lake.

Quest Information

The Park Quest Adventure at Herrington Manor State Park will begin at the Herrington Manor Lake House. The Quest may be completed Monday – Sunday, 10 A.M. – 4 P.M. For further information, call park headquarters at             301-334-9180      .

To complete the Quest you will walk about 1/4 mile from the Lake House to the boat ramp, pick out your canoe, and complete your Quest with a flat water paddle. It should take about 2 hours to complete. No pets are permitted.

You may print out your Park Quest worksheet from this web page. When you arrive at the park, go to the Lake House to obtain your Park Quest activity packet. The packet will include a park map, instructions and other materials necessary to help your team complete the self-guided paddling adventure. When you have finished, return your canoe to the boat ramp, and go to the Lake House to have your Passport stamped.

Quest Worksheet

• Print Your Herrington Manor State Park Quest Worksheet here

Park Information

Herrington Manor State Park was named after Abijah Herrington, who built a manor house on the property in the mid-1800’s, which was later purchased by the State in 1935. During this decade, the park was the site of many Federal Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) work projects. Young men from throughout the State lived at a camp located nearby at present day Swallow Falls State Park. These CCC crews created Herrington Lake, planted trees and constructed ten log cabins and the beach Lake House. The park’s dominant feature is a manmade 53-acre lake, averaging a depth of eight feet. Fed by Herrington Creek, the lake was dammed in the early 1930’s by the Civilian Conservation Corps, and is now open from dawn till dusk, seven days a week for swimming, fishing and boating.

The park has 20 rustic log cabins available year-round for rent. With a country charm, the cabins provide modern conveniences, such as electric heat, bathroom with shower, fully equipped kitchen and furniture. A covered porch with a view of the surrounding woodland, wood-burning fireplace insert and easy access to trails and the lake make them an ideal natural haven.

Herrington Manor State Park
222 Herrington Lane
Oakland, MD 21550

Discover the Other Side of Sandy Point

Introduction To Quest

Your Park Quest adventure at Sandy Point State Park will take to you to a side of the park that most visitors rarely see. You will walk through a shady canopy of tree cover and be introduced to some of the wild residents of the park who are not just day use visitors. While exploring their habitat, you will complete a letterboxing challenge with a surprise optional ending.

Quest Information

The Park Quest at Sandy Point State Park starts at the Nature Center. Parking is available in the marina lot. Your first clue will be found just outside the Nature Center door. The Quest is available 7 days per week from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. Please note: Park may fill to capacity on weekends and holidays and may be closed for entry.

This Quest is approximately a 1.5-mile hike and will take about 2 hours to complete. Pets are not permitted at Sandy Point State Park from May 1 through September 30.

Your Park Quest Passport provides free entrance into the day-use area of the park where the Quest is located. Please show your Passport to the attendant at the Contact Station. Please print your Park Quest map from the link on this website.

Print the Sandy Point State Park Quest Worksheets here:

• Worksheet front
• Worksheet back

Bonus Quest

During your letterboxing challenge you will receive clues that will unlock your opportunity to explore Mezick Pond by kayak or canoe to find a bonus letterbox. Park Quest passports can be stamped without completion of this Bonus Quest for those who do not wish to go out on the water.

Things to Bring

• Sunscreen
• Comfortable walking shoes
• Insect Repellant
• Water
• Sunglasses/Hat
• Optional for Bonus Quest: PFDs, Water Shoes

Park Information

Sandy Point was open in 1952 by the State of Maryland and is celebrating its 60th birthday this year. The park was developed in response to the need for recreational opportunities on the Chesapeake Bay.

This 786-acre State Park is located along the Northwestern shore of the majestic Chesapeake Bay. The park’s beaches and picnic areas are well known for their breathtaking scenic water views that overlook one of Maryland’s true treasures, the Chesapeake Bay.

Recreational activities and services include swimming beaches, picnicking, fishing, crabbing, boating, hiking, youth group camping, areas of historical interest and wildlife viewing. The Park also offers a marina store and boat rentals.

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.

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.