A Paddle Through the
Lotus Blossoms (First Time Paddler Friendly)!

A 4-5 Mile Flatwater, Newbie Friendly Paddle with Picnic Plus Options to Stroll Along the Rivers Beach, Visit Two Historical Sites and Their Impressive Historic Visitor Center!

A paddle through the heart of the D.C. area's oldest and largest single living organism!  If you enjoy the paddle, stay for the picnic, beach stroll, and check out the museum and historical buildings, it will most certainly be a full day of fun!

Click Here for more pics from last years trip!

Turners Creek County and Sassafras Natural Resource Management Area  

Turner's Creek County Park has a variety of facilities including a picnic pavilion, trails, historic tree grove and restroom facilities. A boat ramp (the one we have arranged to use)is available for launching small crafts, kayaks/canoes. Fishing is also available along the shoreline at the ramp so keep this in mind if you are staying for our post paddle picnic! Sassafras Natural Resources Management Area is located along the scenic banks of the Sassafras River and Turner's Creek in Kent County and operated by the Maryland Park Service. The area is noted for the spectacular views of the Sassafras River and Chesapeake Bay from the high banks that face toward the South.

The Lotus Blooms

Nelumbo lutea, the American Lotus, called yanqupin by Native Americans, is a colony plant that favors secluded tidal waterway. In summer, their showy white flowers tower over the tidal backwaters of the Sassafras River on Maryland's Eastern Shore, near where the river flows into the Chesapeake Bay.

Paddling though the lotus colony is--for lack of a better description--really cool.  This is because the Lotus is an "emergent" aquatic plant, meaning that while its roots are anchored in the mud, its large glue-green circular leav es and head-sized flowers emerge above the water's surface.  This means that you can literally paddle under a lotus plant. Making the experience even cooler still is the fact that Lotus have an unusual method of reproduction. Its seeds may remain dormant for more than a century before they germinate! When a seed germinates, the plant sends out underground stems (called rhizomes) that produce new identical plants.  Consequently, a "population" of lotus can actually be a single--yet ridiculously enormous--plant.  And by ridiculously enormous, I mean acres in size, as much as a mile of lotus flowers an leaves connected by a network of rhizomes.

So, that means you get to paddle, not so much under the lotus plant, but rather THROUGH it without any damage to them!! 

How Do I Reserve a Boat if I Do Not Own One?

Remember, please do not RSVP for this event until you are SURE you have a boat.

Renting From The Mid-Atlantic Hiking Group

We Have 3 Sit On Tops (SOT) Kayaks to Rent on a first come first serve basis for a flat fee of 20.00 dollars, including portage, paddle, PFD, and a large dry bag. The guide will be bringing them with him so this will save you having to pick up your own rental, buy a rack, as well as portage. That is if you do not own your own boat, yet... We will only bring our rentals with us if they are rented, so please e-mail Kellie at [masked] if interested. Please do not make rental requests in the RSVP or comment field below, because it is too difficult to keep up with requests made in multiple locations. As a result, I can only count requests made through e-mail. Thanks so much for your understanding. Your guide will bring you the boat along with a paddle, PFD, and a large dry bag. Requests for our rentals that are put in the comment section will have to be deleted because it send e-mails out to everyone going.

Post Event Picnic!

Pack a meal to enjoy a picnic after the paddle! Picnicking is available at two locations. We can take a break for lunch at Knock's Folly in the picnic grove or at the small pavilion by the pond near the parking area. Picnic tables and a pavilion are available at Turner's Creek County Park which shares a boundary with Sassafras National Resource Management Area where we will be so it is very convenient and just a short distance from Knock's Folly. Restroom facilities are available at Turner's Creek County Park or at the vault toilet at the pond. We will decide as a group where to picnic after the paddle.

Post Picnic Beach Stroll!

Since our tummies will be feel, let's take a nice stroll along the beach and enjoy the Kent Museum! This is all still located within in the the Sassafras National Resource management Area.  One of the trails will take us to the river's edge where we simply take a right and then walk along the shore until we reach the lotus pond! A nice relaxing post meal stroll, just right...

Visit to The historical Structures and Historical Visitor Center                 

Also, there are two historic buildings at Turners Creek to check out as well. The Lathim House, a wooden dwelling was at one time a store for the local community and was built in the early 1700’s. The Granary, which is located along the landing at Turners Creek, was at one time used to house grain and crops for local farmers. Sail and Steam powered cargo ships would make scheduled stops and haul the grains to Baltimore or other markets along the Chesapeake Bay.

So feel free to join some of us while we take make the most of our trip (especially with current gas prices so many of us will be making a day of it) and check out this most interesting areas.

Paddle Trip Information

Activity Type: Kayak/Canoe 
Nearby City: Kennedyville, MD

Length: 4-5 Miles of Flat Water Paddling
Approximate Paddling Time: About 3 hours for proper time to enjoy it 
Water Type: Flat Water 
Difficulty: Beginner and Easy and Fantastic for First Time Paddlers 
Facilities: Restroom facilities are available at Turner's Creek County Park or at the vault toilet at the pond where we will be picnicking after the paddle and before our stroll along the beach.

Weather Information
We paddle shine only. Click here to see an up to the minute forecast for where we will be hiking. IF this event is cancelled due to weather and you are signed up to go, you will be notified no later than 7:00 p.m. the night before the paddle.

What is the Event Fee For?

Click here to find out why there is a $15.00 event fee associated with guided paddle trips.

REQUIRED GEAR             
Be sure to secure a boat BEFORE you RSVP for this event because it is non-refundable. You must have a kayak or canoe, paddle, and a personal flotation device. Pack a lunch if joining us for the optional post paddle picnic. We supply large dry bags if you are renting a kayak from our group.

Park Fee  
None for either of the parks which is a rare treat so a big yay!

Launch Fee

None which is even more rare than no park entrance fee so an even bigger yay!

Carpool Information             

There are 2 carpools for this paddle but be certain they have racks for the boats!
Baltimore Area Carpool
To carpool or caravan from the Baltimore metro area, meet at Savage Station. Click here for directions to Savage Station.  Use the comment section to discuss carpooling with other members. Be SURE that whomever you carpool with has room for your boat if bringing your own with you!

DC Area Carpool
To carpool or caravan from the metro DC area, meetup at the Centerville Park and Ride. Click here for information and directions to the Centerville location.  Use the comment section to discuss carpooling with other members. Be SURE that whomever you carpool with has room for your boat if bringing your own with you!

If you can drive or want to carpool from additional locations such as the DC area, please post your location in the comment section below. For those who need a ride, reach out to the drivers. Make friends, and support the environment - by just offering a ride!

Directions to Where We Meet for Event Kick-Off         

Click Here for Directions to the boat ramp where we meet for this paddle!

Paddle is at 8:30 a.m. (to Beat the Heat)         

Carpool meetup time from Savage Station is 7:00 a.m.  

Carpool meetup time at Centerville Park and Ride is 6:30 a.m. 

Our Paddling Disclaimer Blurb and Refund Policy

By attending this or any other paddling/hiking event with The Mid-Atlantic Hiking Group, you are agreeing that you are responsible for your own safety at all times. No member of the group except yourself can be held responsible for any damages, accidents, or liabilities incurred while paddling with us. Paddling is an inherently dangerous sport like any other outdoor activity. Information is provided with the understanding that the providers are not engaged in rendering advice on technical matters, equipment performance, safety, or any other aspect of the sport in absolute terms or advocating any of the techniques or experiences described.

See you There!

Mike Harris: [masked]