A go to to Washington, D.C. is synonymous with hoofing it by the National Mall and Smithsonian museums, and perhaps recognizing a motorcade or, on the very least, a gaggle of reporters. But solely an hour east of the nation’s capital, you’ll be able to escape the concrete and Beltway site visitors for the serene great thing about the Chesapeake Bay at Beverly Triton Nature Park, in Anne Arundel County, Maryland.
Situated on the tip of the Mayo Peninsula close to Edgewater, the park protects 344 acres of pine and oak forest and supplies entry to a mile of shore, together with a protracted, sandy swimming seashore. Further inland, brackish water fills Deep Pond, Beverly Lake, and three different small ponds, offering habitats for herons, egrets, and eagles. You’ll discover a kayak and canoe launch, loos, picnic spots, and a fishing pier extending into Deep Pond. There’s additionally a playground that includes an imaginative construction the place kids can climb over a large toad and mushrooms.
Opened to the general public in 2013, the park was as soon as the positioning of a seashore resort full with playing and a dance flooring. Today, the world attracts nature lovers, with guests describing the park as “an absolute oasis with a variety of landscapes” and “one of the best spots on the Chesapeake Bay“. The park is open from 7 a.m. to nightfall, and the parking payment is below $10 on the time of writing. Between May 23 and September 7, guests should additionally apply for a reservation cross upfront by way of Anne Arundel Recreation and Parks to stop overcrowding.
Enjoy coastal walks and pond fishing at Beverly Triton Nature Park
For the prospect to interrupt a lightweight sweat and lose your self within the Chesapeake setting, head out on the park’s 5-mile community of well-marked nature trails. Technically, there are solely 4 trails (the Pond Trail, Heritage Trail, Beach Trail, and Trident Trail) and a number of other service roads, however they crisscross in such a fashion which you can simply prolong your outing.
The park is described as a vacation spot for “passive recreation,” so do not anticipate rugged hikes as you’d discover at Maryland’s mountainous Susquehanna State Park. However, hikers who worth nature over intense train recognize Beverly Triton, awarding 4.7 stars on AllTrails. A favourite amongst guests, the 1.8-mile Pond Trail crosses a number of picket boardwalks and presents wildlife recognizing close to Deep Pond. Those serious about fishing can throw in a line at 5 designated lake fishing spots, the place anglers report catching stripers, perch, carp, and catfish, relying on the time of yr. To end the hike, you’ll be able to both take the Heritage Trail again to the car parking zone or stroll alongside a part of the seashore.
For an extended stroll (nearly 3 miles), stroll the size of the seashore till you discover the Heritage Trail. From right here, observe the Heritage Trail till it connects with the Deep Pond Trail. This permits guests to absorb the park’s full vary of surroundings, together with woods, ponds, and seashore. Visitors describe this route as “lovely, even in extreme heat and humidity,” praising the quiet and shade.
Sand, sea, and swimming at Beverly Triton Nature Park
What is now often called Beverly Triton Nature Park has been a seashore vacation spot for a very long time. In reality, throughout its resort heyday, the seashore even had a internet to maintain out jellyfish. Back in 2023, a whole overhaul of the park’s amenities turned the swimming seashore into a spot superb for households. New additions embrace altering rooms, showers with chilly water, and a picnic pavilion.
The seashore itself requires a 0.2-mile stroll from the car parking zone, so bringing a wagon to move and pack your gear for a profitable seashore journey is crucial. Once you stroll onto the sand, you will be greeted by light waves lapping the shore. Visitors describe the water as shallow and calm, however the park nonetheless advises swimmers to proceed with warning. Those much less serious about swimming can take pleasure in sunbathing, beachcombing, or just soaking within the calm ambiance. Visitors may see horseshoe crabs and different Chesapeake wildlife, whereas the forest grows proper as much as the shoreline.
The finest time of yr for swimming is between Memorial Day and Labor Day, when the county displays the water high quality. Check with the Department of Health for the all-clear to swim at Beverly Triton and different standard space seashores, resembling Maryland’s bayfront Sandy Point State Park. Jellyfish, particularly sea nettles, are a priority throughout the heat summer season months. However, you should utilize an internet forecast tool to evaluate the ocean nettle danger earlier than swimming.