Calvert Cliffs State Park! A 4.8-Mile Hike with Options up to 9 Total Miles

Calvert Cliffs State Park! A 4.8-Mile Hike with Options up to 9 Total Miles

SEE IMPORTANT INFORMATION ON REGISTRATION UNDER "NOTES."

Note: This hike will also be led on Sunday, May 17 in case you can't make this one.

Join us for a hike to the beach at Calvert Cliffs State Park— it’s the perfect time to experience the natural beauty and geological wonder of this unique destination. Over 1,000 acres of this park are designated as wildlands, allowing the landscape to return to its more natural state. The main attractions of the park are the Mountain Laurels that are abundant on all of the trails here this time of year. In addition the beach features dramatic cliffs that tower over the Chesapeake Bay at heights exceeding 100 feet. Formed more than 10 million years ago, they are eroding at a rate of nearly 3 feet per year, revealing fossils.

Calvert Cliffs boast the most extensive collection of Miocene underwater fossils found in the eastern United States. Fossil enthusiasts and nature lovers alike will be fascinated by the area’s rich paleontological heritage. Calvert Cliffs is not the best place to look for fossils.

The main hike will take us directly to the beach. Along the way we will follow and observe a creek that develops into the wetland, and then the path suddenly opens to the Bay. After exploring the shoreline and cliffs, we’ll return to the trailhead, completing a total of 4.8 miles. For those eager for more adventure, you’re welcome to join an additional hike of up to 4 more miles through rolling hills of woodland. This hike can bring your total distance to as much as 9 miles for the day!

The 5-mile hike will end around 1:00. The end time for the additional mileage will depend upon the length. A 9-mile hike will end around 3:00.

If we have more than 15 hikers, we will divide the group in two group, each group assigned to one of the two hike leaders.

Please Bring a snack or lunch, we will enjoy a break at the beach.

A Well-Mannered, Leashed Fido is Welcome on this Hike!

Time to Meet:
Please meet at 9:45 for introductions and sign in. We will start hiking promptly at 10:00

Contact Information:
Please use the comments feature for routine comments and questions. The hike Leader is Tim (202-744-0289). Call or text as needed.

Directions to Trailhead:
The GPS Coordinates are 38.396531, -76.435100

The Street address to the park is 10540 HG Trueman Road, Lusby, MD 20657. We meet at the VERY LAST parking lot just before exiting the park. It is a double side by side parking lot. If you find yourself about to exit the park, the exit allows you back into it, just loop around again. It is NOT the parking lot adjacent to the pond. If you see the pond, you haven’t traveled far enough. The GPS coordinates will take you directly to where we meet.

Details
Rating: Easy for the 4.8 miles and Moderate for more extended options
Distance: 4.8 or up to 9 miles
Elevation Gain: Minimal for the 4.8 miles and 600 Ft. for the 9-mile option.
Pace: 2.0 to 2.5 miles per hour
Facilities: Bathroom soon after entering the park, and Portable bathrooms close to the beach.
Fees: There is an entrance fee of $5 per car, $7 out of state. Free with State Pass. Credit cards are accepted.

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 RSVP IF YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THIS HIKE. SHOULD YOUR PLANS CHANGE, KINDLY UPDATE YOUR RSVP BY NOON THE DAY PRIOR TO ALLOW SUFFICIENT TIME TO FILL YOUR SPOT. IF YOU ARE ON THE WAITLIST, IT IS IMPORTANT TO SIGN OUT AS SOON AS YOU KNOW YOU WILL NOT ATTEND BECAUSE MEETUP MOVES PEOPLE AUTOMATICALLY TO THE GOING LIST ONCE A SPOT OPENS.
SIGNING OUT AFTER 6:00 PM WILL BE CONSIDERED A "NO SHOW," AND REPEATED INSTANCES MAY RESULT IN BEING BARRED FROM PARTICIPATING IN FUTURE HIKES LED BY THIS ORGANIZER.
-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.