Calvert County: Nature, Fossils and Culture

Calvert County lies on the western shore of the Chesapeake Bay and borders both the Bay and the Patuxent River. Its shoreline, wetlands and trails sit alongside museums and cultural attractions. Countywide, there are access points for hand-carried boats and boats with trailers. Other visitor attractions include lighthouses, festivals, shops and galleries.

Coast, Cliffs and Fossils

The cliffs of Calvert Cliffs State Park shape the Chesapeake Bay shoreline in Calvert County for approximately 24 miles. In the park, visitors can look for fossils on the open beach at the end of the Red Trail; the beach is about 1.8 miles from the parking lot. The area beneath the cliffs is closed because of the risk of landslides.

Flag Ponds Nature Park also brings together varied landscapes: sandy beach, freshwater ponds and the wooded heights of Calvert Cliffs meet there. A short trail, about half a mile long, leads to the sandy beach. Shark teeth and other Miocene fossils can be found along the shore. You can also view fossils from a different perspective at the Calvert Marine Museum: its paleontology exhibit displays original fossils from the Miocene deposits of Calvert Cliffs. The museum also offers a Fossil Field Experience through its education department.

Wetlands and Trails

The 100-acre Battle Creek Cypress Swamp Sanctuary marks the northernmost boundary of the bald cypress’s natural range in the United States. A boardwalk about a quarter of a mile long runs through the wetland. Along the way, you can hear frogs calling and songbirds singing.

There are other varied trail experiences for walking and hiking. The American Chestnut Land Trust offers guided hikes, canoe trips and events year-round. More than 26 miles of hiking trails there are open to the public free of charge every day throughout the year. The Chesapeake Beach Railway Trail follows part of the former railway line. It offers views of Fishing Creek and the surrounding marshes and woodlands; the trail includes two bridges and several boardwalks.

Jefferson Patterson Park and Museum covers more than 500 acres along the Patuxent River and has several miles of trails. The Layers of Time Trail is fully ADA-accessible. The Woodland Indian Village offers another perspective on history: this interactive exhibit presents the lives of Indigenous peoples more than 400 years ago. A paved path leads from the parking lot to the village.

Discover Culture and History

Calvert County can also be explored through its historic sites and exhibits. The Lore Oyster House is a restored seafood packing house dating from 1934 and is designated a National Historic Landmark. Its exhibits trace oyster processing from the dock to shipment to regional markets: from receiving and storage to shucking, washing and packing, and then shipping. At the Patterson Archeological and Historic District, a representative selection across 512 acres includes archaeological sites from prehistoric and historic times. These sites exemplify the use of upland and lowland areas in the Chesapeake Bay’s tidal region.

Railroad history covers several topics: the Chesapeake Beach Railway Museum preserves the history of the railroad and the Chesapeake Bay resort through its exhibits. The Chesapeake Beach Railway Station was built in 1898 for the Washington and Chesapeake Railway Company. Its significance lies in the transportation history of the county and the related economic history.

For art enthusiasts, a shaded trail at Annmarie Sculpture Garden winds through the woods past permanent and loaned sculptures. The Annmarie Sculpture Garden & Arts Center’s Studio School offers classes ranging from pottery to dance. As you travel around the county, you can also discover the hand-painted wooden quilt squares of the Calvert Barn Quilt Trail on barns and buildings throughout the county.

Whether you put coastal landscapes, fossils, hiking trails or history at the center of your trip, the attractions vary considerably in theme and setting. This lets you plan your time in Calvert County around the experiences that interest you most.

Discover more destinations: Prince Frederick, Solomons, Chesapeake Beach, Lusby, Somerset, Anne Arundel, Frederick, Harford.

For the broader travel overview: Maryland.