Jug Bay Wetland Sanctuary! A 7.5 Easy-Side-of-Moderate Mile Hike

Jug Bay Wetland Sanctuary! A 7.5 Easy-Side-of-Moderate Mile Hike

Jug Bay Wetland Sanctuary in Ann Arundel County, 20 miles Southeast of Washington DC and 18 miles South of Annapolis, is home to amazing walks along the marshes of the Patuxent River.

The marshes draw wildlife to this Natural Area in summer and fall. They provide food for waterfowl, and are a haven for numerous birds, including rails, egrets, herons and the rare American bittern. Boardwalks along the marsh edge lead to tidal shrublands and swamp forest that lie in the transition between upland slopes and open marsh. Trails in the woods cross through unusually dry, sandy forest that supports rare plants adapted to the droughty, low-nutrient soils.

Our hike will take us along woodland trails, over gentle slopes, along and over marshes to wildlife blinds on boardwalks; We hike along the Patuxent River including great views from a bluff. Our trails lead us also over meadows and fields of the River Farm.

Time to Meet:
Please meet at 9:15 for introductions and sign in. We will start hiking promptly at 9:30.

Directions to Trailhead:
The Street address to the park entrance is 1361 Wrighton Road, Lothian, MD 20711
GPS Coordinates will give you the most precise location: 38.784860, -76.700950
We meet at the visitors center by the parking lot.

Contact Information:
Please use the comments feature for routine comments and questions. The hike Leader is Christa -- 410.610.6254. Call or text as needed.

Details:
Rating: Easy side of moderate
Distance: 7.5 miles
Elevation Gain: Approximately 250 ft
Pace: 2.0 to 2.5 miles per hour
Facilities: Bathroom at trailhead: Visitor Center; portable bathroom about 3 miles into the hike.

Park Entry Fee:
$6.00 per car (Ann Arundel County); free for active military

Cancellation:
In the unlikely event that the hike needs to be cancelled, it may be cancelled up to the evening before the hike. Hikers will be notified through comments on this posting.

Weather:
The weather for this location can be found here.

Notes:
-Please note, you must sign up at by 9:00 PM the day before the hike.
-Please do not show up unregistered.
-Please keep this a fragrance free event.
-To find out more about PATC, click here.
-Consider becoming a member of PATC. To join, click here.