Most people don't drive over the Bay Bridge for the purpose of stopping on Kent Island, and I usually don't either. Having found the occasion, I discovered the park was free, had some nicely kept facilities, and more paths than I had time to go through in bad weather. A variety of environments from swamp to beach await. There is too little public land on the bay, and this was one of the larger stretches in the area. And hey, you need to get out of the car every now and then. read more

Visited on a Sunday, nice parking area with modern restrooms that were open. Plenty of maintained trails with different views of the water, woods, marsh areas. Only really issue was trail signage, did not have a map (should have took a picture at entrance) so trail signage was not the greatist. The Map Legend at entrance did not have a legend that we saw so distance was a guess. Overall, nice park, be back in the Summer. read more

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Great views, nice strip of beach area on part of Kent Island. We drove over the bridge from Annapolis to check it out late afternoon. And while there are a couple general maps there is NO signage out on the trails.. theres mile markers and no directions. So be careful about that and be sure to use directions other than the map. read more

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I loved everything about Terrapin Nature Park! It only took less than an hour drive from where I live to get there. What a gem of a place the whole area is. We were able to park right by the entrance. There's no entrance or parking fees. The park entrance area has two dog waste bag dispensers, trash bins, and porta potty. Once you are walking through Section B and C, there aren't really any shades, benches, or trash cans. And definitely no bathroom until you return back to the park entrance area. The park is divided into trail sections A, B, and C. Going through section A first provided us with beautiful view of the water throughout until we reached Section B. I loved how there were thoughtfully placed benches to really take in the view and relax for a bit in section A area. I would love to come by with my dogs again before it gets hot during the summer. Because there's not much, if any shades there, I'm looking forward to also returning frequently during the colder months for beagle walks. read more

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The ongoing pandemic has definitely taken a toll on a lot of businesses and public places since a consumer's mindset to buy anything outside of essentials or to visit a public place like a park or beach, has crippled down significantly. Now by living with what has become the new normal, it is commendable on how these businesses and public places continue to remain open and cater to the general public by following the safety standards. It is now all the more important that we as customers, support these heroes during these dark hours to mankind. We got here on our way back from Assateague island when we were looking for sunset places. We were close to sunset timing and had to literally run from the parking place towards the beach area. There was a nice park staff who directed us the shortest route to get there quickly and we continued running. One trail led on to another and we finally got there. The area near the beach was not too clean but we put everything aside and focused on the sun that was setting on the backdrop of the Chesapeake bridge. The view was surreal and was a photographer's delight with every single minute that was passing. The colors showed up in all forms of hues from orange, red, yellow, pink and purple. I rested my camera for sometime and watched Nature at its pristine best taking our breaths away. It got dark by the time we got back to the parking and we couldn't really browse the other areas of the park. Wish I could get to see more of this place sometime in the future. read more

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Bottom Line: Bugs, bugs, more bugs and a tidal marsh and beach. They should rename this park either Bug Nature Park or Terrapin Bug Park. My husband and I went for an after dinner walk and soaked ourselves in Backwoods Cutter with DEET and we were still absolutely swarmed by bugs. We weren't bitten but they were landing on us, buzzing our heads and swarming around us. I've never seen anything like it. I think if we just did the quick 1/2 mile to the beach and back we would have been fine but we were out for more exercise and found ourselves in the middle of the park which is very marshy. We also walked the beach a little bit. I wasn't expecting much from the beach and sure enough it is just a narrow strip of sand with the waters of the Chesapeake Bay lapping at the edge. It was a hot summer evening and there were a few kids swimming near the shore and a few people fishing in hip high water. I had hoped to see some interesting wildlife. Spotting an egret was the highlight but otherwise we saw some deer and lots of rabbits. Amenities are limited to porta pots, some benches and dog water stations. Because of the bug situation reminiscent of an Alfred Hitchcock movie I don't think I'd visit again in the summer but I might venture back in the winter or fall. read more

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There's a nice little beach, picnic area, and biking trails. The parking is limited, and the beach area is very small. FYI, cooler isn't allowed. read more

Terrapin Nature Park - Picnic area - Parks Near Me - Stevensville, Maryland

We biked the Cross Island Trail in Kent Island and landed at Terrapin Beach Park. First we did the Cross Island Trail. I would recommend this trail for beginners because it is lightly trafficked, primarily flat/paved, and shaded. I didn't want to push myself beyond my limits so we turned around near the end of the trail and headed back. On the way back we stopped to watch a baseball game and eat some snacks. We made our way back to the beginning of the trail then veered off to Terrapin Beach Park. There we relaxed, played in the water, read our book, and made a horrible sand castle. We also saw some kind of crab arthropod that we later found out was a horse crab! So much fun! The beach was so secluded and parking was free but limited. This is just a beach to play at the edge/get your feet wet. Swimming and going deep into the water is prohibited. I loved this little spot. read more

Terrapin Nature Park - Parks Near Me - Stevensville, Maryland

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Want to get your beach fill without going over 3 hours of driving from the DC - metropolitan area? Come to Terrapin Nature Park! It's perfect for pups, too. Your dogs will love it. The is an ample parking area, and if it gets full, you can park on the nearby road where there isn't much traffic. My friend and I were wanting some beach time but didnt want to dedicate an entire day to it in the summer. The drive was about an hour and 15 minutes, or an hour and a half (sometimes it could be up to 2 hours if there's heavy traffic). There is a small but nice and quiet trail up to the beach area. Make sure you go left from the parking lot, if you want the beach! It's close to Kent Island, so if you want food or rest stop along the way - it's your best bet. There's also port-a-potty's here. Remember to bring water, towels and some sort of shade. It's the beach, some sand and that's all there is! The time that we went, there were fish bones on the surf and lots of logs for dogs to play with. read more

Terrapin Nature Park - Dog friendly! - Parks Near Me - Stevensville, Maryland

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My husband and I took our two dogs here last weekend. The park is super clean and well-maintained. The trails were nice (but kind of muddy) and the beach gave us an opportunity for some great photos. It is a great place for a socially distanced outdoor activity. We look forward to coming back in the spring. read more

Terrapin Nature Park - Parks Near Me - Stevensville, Maryland

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Just an Ok park for a quick getaway from the DC area and because these Are all the "beach" options we have around here. Less people than in awful Sandy Point since it requires crossing the Bay bridge. It's still bay water , murky, brownish tint, appropriate to put your feet in but not for swimming. At least the sand is not orange. Tons of dogs, many unleashed (despite signs to keep dogs leased) and irresponsible dog owners that don't clean up after their dogs. Just note : no available shade and no "shade structures allowed". A park ranger made a point to come over to tell me I had to put away my small rain umbrella (not a beach umbrella) that I was holding for shade. Umm rain umbrella not allowed , unleashed dogs pooping in the dunes seem to be okay. The trails around the area seemed well cared for and the restrooms by the parking lot were clean on a weekday. No showers to rinse off sand. read more

Overall it was a disappointment. It's a nice neighborhood trail but I wouldn't travel for this. The trail was moderately a biking trail and not much to see except the short walk through the wood was really nice. It was mostly out in the open where the sun was beaming down on us the whole time. The beach was nice but the water was way too muggy/dirty so I wouldn't come here for "the beach" if you plan to swim in the water. read more

Terrapin Nature Park - Parks Near Me - Stevensville, Maryland

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This is a really nice park, but initially hard to find if you type in the name in Google. It was easy to locate once I put in the exact address, which I should have done to begin with! After leaving a misleading balloon and wine festival, my friend and I decided to come here to relax and enjoy some nature. The beach part was more crowded than I expected, but it is a beach and a Saturday after all. The beach is very short, but a gem. There were a wind surfers who even did some tricks much to our amusement. The Chesapeake Bay Bridge was stunning to just look at across the water. Remember to bring blankets and chairs! We did not but just sat on a log. read more

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This is a hidden gem if you want the ease/walkability of Sandy point without the crowds. The beach front is much smaller and less developed to preserve the dunes and sand grasses, but it's also quieter and because it's across the bridge, fewer people go here. You can park on the street if the small parking lot is full and you can bring your bike to run the trails. There are a few picnic spots with tables and standing grills and several trails options. Also unlike Sandy point, the water is much cleaner and doesn't leave a brown residue when you get out, big plus! TIP: Be wary of ticks when going through the grass to the beach (though that's with anywhere this time of year), and hard coolers and chairs/umbrellas are not allowed on the beach. read more

I really enjoyed the trails in the state park here. The negative for me was honestly the beach area which was worth the shoot being a short distance from DC. The water was meh (murky and had large jelly fish). The sand was ok nothing special and a decent amount of sticks. The worst part though was the BUGS! Spiders, horseflies, Beatles. You name it. It was there! read more

Very cool park to take your dogs too. It includes a beach and beautiful views. Nice place to catch beautiful sunset pictures. They have parking and two porta potties near the parking lot. The beach is a mile or so up the path. Very enjoyable and peaceful. Would definitely recommend and return. read more

Great trail and beach in a super random location. Parking is free. It's allegedly monitored to make sure its locals only but the one time I drove in, no on checked. I usually bike in from the cross island trail. I love the nature walk. It's pretty flat. It's also pretty muddy, wear shoes you don't mind getting dirty. Had areas with small rocks, wear thick sole shoes. You go along a soft sand beach area, take off those shoes and dip your feet in. Great view of the Chesapeake bay bridge. I would like if the trail map labeled the distance of each loop. Plenty of portapotties near the beach area and plenty of trash cans. read more

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This is a really nice and hidden beach. Be sure not to leave any valuables in your car, as the cars are a good distance from the beach, and there tend to be a higher than usual amount of break-ins there because of it. That is literally the only reason for 4 stars instead of 5. Overall, it is awesome! Definitely cleaner and calmer than Sandy Point during peak season! Also a great spot for engagement as well as family photos. read more

To access Terrapin Nature Park, you need to weave through a corporate development, as in drive into the complex, up the driveway, and then off on a little side road is this random park. It was unusual, and I almost turned around because I thought my husband had screwed up the directions. It is down a little wooded drive, too, so again, a bit clandestine. There is a map of the park (trails) just off of the parking lot. Choose your route and forge ahead. Various picnic areas are offered both closer and farther from parking. There are ample trash cans throughout Terrapin, as well as dog poo stations. Additionally, there is a cute mini library cabinet near the main entrance from the parking lot. There are several bird watching areas throughout the park. They offer woods, marsh, and beach terrains. If you are there at sunset, there are some beautiful photo opportunities. We were impressed with the maintenance and cleanliness of Terrapin, until we arrived at the beach. It makes sense that a major city would cast off pollutants/debris, but I have apparently been too sheltered from it, because it was shocking to see so much. We witnessed major efforts being made to mitigate this hazard, such as an adjacent trailer of full trash bags. The trailer was brightly painted, labeled "KIBCU" and "KentIslandBeachCleanups.com" so clearly there are entrenched community efforts to combat the issue. Unfortunately, for our visit, there was still quite a bit of refuse around. I normally try to put my money where my mouth is, and I have done my share to pick up after others many times at parks, but this waste (washed ashore from, presumably, Baltimore), was not something anyone should attempt to pick up without protective gear. From the other reviews, I am really hopeful that clean-up efforts are much more active in the warmer months when more visitors are enjoying the trails and beach. My admiration goes out to the kind people willing to donate time to clean up for everyone else's enjoyment. That said, as a visitor there for leisure, it made me really uncomfortable to see so much trash, and I didn't want my dogs or baby in the beach area at all. On the plus side, the sunset at the beach was wonderful, as were the views, and the rest of the park was clean and beautiful, very natural. I just wasn't prepared to be confronted with such an enviropolitical issue when I was on relaxation time. I appreciate any green open space available to the public, and this park was no exception. I hope the KIBCU efforts can overcome the mess, and I wish them the best of luck. I hope to return someday and find it looking great! This park could be so amazing if enough locals could pitch in and help! read more

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This is mostly a review on the beach area of the Nature Park. The park itself is nice with marked trails. The beach is an accident waiting to happen and the reason for that is the large number of dogs running around off leash. There are signs posted everywhere to leash your dogs, and some people do have their dogs leashed, (largely the over 50 set) but many do not. Each time I have been there, there were numerous dogs running around off leash - one day there were 5, and they were there all day. Nobody even had a leash in their hand. There are typically lots of small children playing at this beach, which is no place for an off-leash dog, especially a pit bull. Dogs were free to run back into the dunes to poop and no owner even followed with a pick up bag. I observed dogs peeing right on the beach; keep this in mind when your child wants to play in the sand, or when you yourself put your toes in the sand. Nothing like sitting in dried up dog urine. Kent Island needs to start monitoring this situation and handing out some fines. This is not a dog park. It is not a dog beach. There is a free-run dog beach near Matapeake right down the shoreline that these people should be going to. They don't need 2 beaches full of dog poop. read more

We decided to check out Terrapin Nature Park after reading about it on a list of dog-friendly beaches that are convenient for a day trip in Maryland. We found the park easy to find, despite its entrance being tucked away in an office park. Tip: you have to have a Queen Anne's County beach permit to park in the parking lot or on Log Canoe Cir ($50 fine if you don't have the permit). You can buy a day permit at the nearby Love Point Deli for $5 (Maryland resident rate). The annual permit is only $35, but I'm not sure we'll go to Queen Anne's County beaches often enough to bother. Pros: Dog friendly trails and beach Fantastic view of the Bay Bridge Free entrance Cons: Parking permit required There was a fair amount (not a lot, though) of litter on the beach The trail around the meadow paralleled route 50 for a fair amount, so your jaunt into nature is interrupted by cars zipping by In sum: we'll return, but only if we have the dog with us. read more

Terrapin Nature Park - Parks Near Me - Stevensville, Maryland

Love Terrapin Park... go here at least 2x a week for a walk with our dog! This is a great place for photos too!

Pretty nice park I'm going to give it four stars because they allow dogs. It was really fun to bring him to the beach for a day. The place is pretty clean and the trails were well-kept but there were bugs everywhere. I've been to better places but this one is close. read more

Terrapin Nature Park - Dog allowed! - Parks Near Me - Stevensville, Maryland

Great park with plenty of trails for running/walking/biking. The trail takes you to a great stretch of beach on the bay. Look out for all the trash that washes ashore during the off season when folks aren't out there being good samaritans and picking it up - I easily filled a whole trash bag during one trip out this past March. read more

This was a really lovely place. We came on a summer weekday morning and had no trouble finding parking. We only did the trails near the lake to the beach, since it was very hot, but the views were amazing and I was even able to push my senior pup in his stroller, so he could enjoy the day as well. The views of the Bay Bridge from the beach were awesome. Highly recommended. read more

Terrapin Nature Park - OK, it's hard to see me in the black stroller but trust that I'm smiling and loving this view! - Parks Near Me - Stevensville, Maryland

Nice area to walk. Easy trails. Good access to bay. Enjoyed my time there. Lots of areas to picnic

Terrapin park has beautiful paths leading up to the beach. Once there a breathtaking view of the north side of the bay bridge and view of sandy point state park can be enjoyed. The entrance is a little difficult to find but once there it is very nice and worth visiting! read more

I initially came here to go to the beach upon the recommendation of a friend and I wanted to get one last beach visit in before fall. The beach is only 1 hour away and it was 80 plus degrees, so I figured why not? It was super easy to find the entrance of the park and to get to the beach you had to do a leisurely, pleasant 10 minute walk. Once my friends and I got the shore we had a harder time finding a spot where we could feasibly set up as the tide was a little high and obviously we couldn't set up in water. After some back and forth and checking out the unbeaten paths we finally settled on a comfortable spot that didn't have any shade, but was still pleasant. The only drawback is that there were a significant amount of dead fish lurking in the water and I didn't really feel like it was a great place to swim. There was some trash in the water, but I imagine it's better than the last yelp reviewers from earlier months mentioned. It did feel authentic and off the beaten path, but it is a little rugged. We could see Sandy Point beach right across the bay and it was definitely way mroe crowded. The terrapin nature park beach definitely had some character to it and felt like a private beach. I would definitely visit again! read more

The park itself is a very nice, modest, park with trails, wetlands, a narrow beach along the Chesapeake Bay, almost under the bridge at one end. Dog friendly; I've been there, and enjoyed it, many times over the years. However, apparently, the locals (it is a county park, I think) have recently decided that they don't make enough money off of other tourism, restaurants and speed traps, and so have instituted a permit requirement to park in the park's parking lot, or about a mile in either direction on the public road. If it doesn't seem clear how you actually get such a permit, don't worry: the park is suddenly crawling with rangers giving $50 tickets for not having a permit. They can't actually sell you a permit, but can give you "directions" to a place that supposedly would sell you such a permit if you found it. Or, perhaps they really don't want outside visitors at all? In any case, while the $5 fee is only mildly unreasonable for such a park, when added to $6 to cross the Bay bridge, and the overpriced seafood typically part of a Kent Island Visit, it crosses the threshold to make me feel quite unwelcome. Heck, the seafood's better in Havre de Grace, anyway. read more

There is some signage for this park once you get off 50 at the #37 exit and start heading toward Stevensville. We're usually boating during holiday weekend like this, so we don't often get a chance to explore watefront parks from a land lubbers point of view. Parking was easy even during the Sunday before Labor Day. Our destination was the beach and not the trail per se. In order to reach the water you start off on the paved walkway, but soon you see a gravel path on your left. This is how you get to the waterfront. Be advised if you want to bring coolers, chairs, a grill or other summer time necessities, it's a bit of a hike to the beach. Consider hiring a sherpa, getting a mule, or having some hearty men on hand to schlep your stuff. Of course you could always just use a wheeled cooler. The beach is narrow but quite long so even on a weekend like this we easily found a spot with just a handful of people. Our main goal was to exercise our ball and swimming obsessed chocolate lab so this was a BIG bonus. Dogs need to be on leash but once they get in the water it's not necessary. At least under our rules..... This place is a dream for folks with pups or just people who don't want to deal with the masses and cost of Sandy Point. It's free, it's quite beautiful, it's fun, and our dog got wicked tired. What more can you ask for? Once the cool weather kicks in, we will definitely return and often. read more

There are no signs directing you to this well-hidden park in the shadows of the Bay Bridge on the western shore of Kent Island. The 273 acre Terrapin Beach park is the western terminus of the Cross island trail, and is a popular parking spot for cyclists. The beach and trails make a nice spot to take to take your dog for a walk and swim. The beach isn't particularly wide, but it is much less crowded, allows dogs, and is free--unlike Sandy Point State Park on the other side of the bridge. It's a great spot for a leg stretch when caught in bridge traffic. Navigation note...the entrance to the park is on the far side of the Log Canoe Circle. Google maps doesn't seem to display it properly. If you drive around the circle enough times, you'll find it! read more

Beautiful beach. I'm not sure why I've never heard of this area before, but it's great quick getaway from the city! The park is half beach and half trails and it's absolutely beautiful. We took a quiet walk along the trail leading to the beach. There were different trail options that we could've taken along the way, but our destination was the beach. The entrance opened up to a beaming sun shining down on Chesapeake Bay Bridge. Besides the aesthetics, the sand was incredibly soft and the water was fine on one of the first few days of warm weather in May. It was also very intimate as there wasn't a crowd even during the holiday. I'll definitely be visiting Terrapin Nature Park again. read more

Hats off to everyone who built and maintains this magnificent park. When we visited, there was a group of dedicated volunteers cleaning the pristine beach and trails. What a great opportunity this location presents for families and others to enjoy a sandy beach, natural salt marshes, trails, and wildlife. It was a thrill to photograph the nesting ospreys! A pleasant bonus was that everyone we saw on the trail and beach said hello. What a friendly area! Please note that Google Maps will lead you astray if you are not familiar with Kent Island. Maps will lead you to the waste water plant! read more

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As another reviewer mentioned, it's a little tricky to find this spot. The turn in is through an office park and then a not well marked left in to a parking lot. The paved and gravel paths leading to the beach were easy to walk on and there was more shade than not on the 3/4 mile walk. The beach itself is ok, but there was a lot of trash strewn about. Bags of trash that were waiting at a collection area had been attacked by local wildlife. The beach is narrow (12 feet wide or so) and about 1/2 mile long. View of the Bay Bridge is nice, but the trash every few feet detracts from the beauty. It's jellyfish season now, so we didn't venture far in to the water. While the beach is free and allows dogs (not a plus or minus in my book), I'm going to go to Sandy Point instead due to trash buildup at Terrapin Nature Park. read more

Signage for entering the Cross Island Trail was a bit confusing for this first-time visitor, but fortunately there were a number of friendly local bikers/hikers in the parking lot who were happy to point me in the right direction. Once you're on it, it's no trouble at all to follow. The trail is also consistently flat, making it great for beginners, families, and anyone who enjoys a good pace without constantly being passed by more aggressive riders. The trail also felt clean and safe throughout its full 5+ mile expanse. The Cross Island proved to be a very pleasant bike trail--not crowded at all on a late Saturday morning, and well worth the drive from Northern VA for a nice change of pace from the more hectic Mount Vernon Trail. Unlike DC, many pedestrians even say hello! read more

Had a wonderful and awesome exploring this park. The park, beach and trails are are well naintained and taken care of and the 2 park employees that we encountered on our jaunt were very friendly and helpful as they drove alon on ther park issued ATV. Would be coming back. :) read more

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Parking was no cost to visitors but sort of difficult to find at first because you have to drive through a corporate area and the park was partially hidden. A short walk to the beach from the parking lot and beautiful scenery along the way, but i recommend bug spray to avoid mosquito bites. Didn't get to explore the entire area because of time limit but really enjoyed walking the beach! We found a few shells and even some beach glass. There seemed to be a lot of trash on the beach which is understandable being near the city. A nice place for a beach day! When we went on a Monday afternoon it was almost empty and had most of the beach to ourselves! read more

We were staying on Kent Island for an evening, and I was trying to find somewhere close to the hotel to walk, and discovered this place. It was a little weird where the entrance is, like some other Yelpers mentioned, you wonder if you are going the right way! It was a warm day, and we set off through the trees, the parking lot was very full, and lots of people walking that seemed to be "regulars" with dogs. There was a clean-a-thon in the works, with some either boy or girls scouts, and a little girl had been missing and they were frantically searching for her, so I was on high alert with my heart in my throat. Thankfully, she was found! We walked out to the beach, and were in awe of the GROVE of PERSIMMON trees! They were in great abundance in a small area. I couldn't resist eating some, since they were all just falling on the ground. If I lived there, you better believe I would have picked them and made jam! Anyhow, the "beach" we found was a narrow strip, but we found a log and just sat. The water was kinda murky, but lots of little rocks. I thought it was an unusual fun place to go, and enjoyed it. It was really hot, and if I were a kid I might of went in the water. All in all, a decent little walk. read more

This was a unique discovery while we were in the area. My friend and I had already dug through various locations to check out and this was on the top of our list. We were impressed with the information given online. So, off we go to find it. Like everyone has expressed it is a hidden gem that could easily be overlooked. Luckily, with the help of our navigation system we were able to find it. Parking is limited. We were there on Wednesday, so we were able to find one in the shade. There is a posted layout of the park, but I wished they had given distance from one point to another. If you aren't able to do lots of walking this could be a challenge for you. On the way to the beach area they had this lookout area where you could sit and watch the birds in the water. I only wished the birds were active and closer. I have to remember to bring my camera that can zoom out farther to enjoy them. As you get closer to the water there are two nice benches that you can sit on to rest or to enjoy the beauty around you. Even though the walking is a distance it is a joy to see all the wondrous around you. We reached the beach area and found a nice spot to put our chairs. The sand was mighty hot, so it didn't take long to get into the water. The bottom is filled with tiny shells that make it tough to walk out if you have tender feet. I wished I had worn my water shoes, but I used my flip flops. The view of seeing the Chesapeake Bay bridge was a beauty while enjoying the water. The best part was the sudden coolness around our feet from the current. You are able to go out far without going over your head. There were only adults swimming while we were there, but on the way there were several kids walking back to their cars. There was a dog enjoying swimming in the water, too. This is a great place to enjoy swimming without dealing with a crowd. It's free, too. That's a blessing these days. Locals are lucky to have this available. I look forward in coming back the next time we are in the area. read more

I enjoyed my trip here a lot. My boyfriend and I walked through the nature trail to the beach. It's a very nice and not very long nature trail. But BE ADVISED you DO have to walk a fair distance (almost a half mile) to get to the beach. The beach is small but long and nice and natural with drift wood and shells. There's also informational stands throughout the park. Definitely a nice place to visit with a beautiful view of the bay bridge. Also note my GOS took my to a dead end road my first time trying to come here. Make sure you go to the address on the county website. read more