American Chestnut Land Trust Wildlife Management Area: 9.5 Miles

American Chestnut Land Trust Wildlife Management Area: 9.5 Miles

SEE IMPORTANT INFORMATION ON REGISTRATION UNDER "NOTES"

Nestled in the heart of Southern Maryland, the American Chestnut Land Trust (ACLT) stands as a testament to both the enduring beauty of the region’s wild spaces and the resilience of a conservation movement born from tragedy. Named in honor of the once-mighty American Chestnut tree—a species decimated by the Chestnut Blight introduced at the dawn of the twentieth century—ACLT’s story weaves together natural history, ecological stewardship, and the invigorating experience of hiking through the land it so carefully protects. ACLT once had Maryland's Champion tree, but it fell during a hurricane. Today, the ACLT plants hybrid American Chestnut trees trying to bring these trees back to the park.

The American Chestnut Land Trust is more than a memorial to a vanished tree. It is a vibrant, member-supported non-profit whose mission is to preserve the natural lands, waterways, and habitats of the Parker Creek and Governors Run watersheds. Through community engagement, scientific stewardship, and a tireless commitment to access, ACLT safeguards approximately 3,800 acres of diverse landscapes.

Our journey begins at the ACLT Parkers Creek Wildlife Management Area Parking Area 5, a gateway to serenity and discovery. Here, beneath towering oaks hikers start a trek through some of the most pristine wilderness in the region. One of the signature features of this hike is the crossing of Parkers Creek itself—no bridge here any longer, but a raft, tethered by sturdy wires. Hikers must pull themselves hand-over-hand across the placid water. Gloves are recommended.

We will continue on the Parker's Creek Loop and an extension at Double Oak Farm to the Bay Overlook via the Horse Swamp Trail. From there, the group will continue back to the trailhead as described above via the raft.

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 GPS Coordinates are 38.52690, -76.535510
The GPS coordinates and the best way to find the parking to the trailhead. Otherwise, take Parker Creek Drive off of MD-4 about 4 miles South of Prince Frederick. Follow Parker Creek Road about 4 miles to the ACLT Parkers Creek Wildlife Management Area Parking Area 5.

Contact Information:
Please use the comments feature for routine comments and questions. The hike Leaders are Christa: 410-610-6254 . Call or text as needed.

Details
Rating: Moderate to easy side of difficult
Distance: 9.5 miles (your choice)
Elevation Gain: Approximately 965 ft
Duration: 5 hours
Pace: 2.0 to 2.5 miles per hour
Facilities: Portable Toilets can be found about 2.5 miles into the hike
Fees: No entrance fees

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 WAIT LIST 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 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 note, you must sign up at by 6:00 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.