NATURE
Pictured: Flag Ponds Nature Park (Calvert County)
All photographs by Tyler Young, taken on an iPhone SE, 2nd generation, 2020-2021
Fun Fact: All lakes and reservoirs in Maryland are manmade-- usually by damming rivers.
BILLY GOAT TRAIL
In Montgomery county, in between the C&O canal and the Potomac river lies the Billy Goat trail system. It's a recreational hiking trail, but the views of the Potomac are quite beautiful, especially where the waterfalls, known as Great Falls, are visible.
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A view of the falls from the Billy Goat trail.
ROCKS STATE PARK
This state park is in the north of Harford County, and it sets a trend with Maryland state parks. Quite a few of Maryland's state parks and preserved rural areas have been created to protect a specific natural landmark, and this park is one of the first in the state to do so. The landmark in question in Rocks State Park is the King and Queen Seat-- a 200-foot high overlook from which a lot of the park can be seen.
BLACKWATER NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE
The Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge is a beautiful reservoir near the Chesapeake bay in Dorchester County. It's home to quite a lot of wildlife year round, with many areas for visitors to hunt and fish, as well as places for photography and birdwatching. This picture is along the wildlife drive, a scenic route along which the reservoir and its wildlife can be spotted.
WILDLIFE DRIVE
Another view from the byway.
THE RESERVOIR
Blackwater reservoir is very close to the bay, but it is managed and controlled very carefully to make sure that invasive species are not a problem, and to ensure that not too much marshland is lost to time.
CHARLES COUNTY
Charles County is a very nature-heavy county. It's mostly forested and rural, and it's all quite beautiful. The Potomac river surrounds it, making it have a very unique charm when straying further from urban development. This photograph is of Potomac Heights, a small suburb in the county, which still has trees interspersed throughout.
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Also in Charles County, this body of water, Mattawoman Creek, runs between the town of Indian Head and the southern part of the county.
JANES ISLAND STATE PARK
This simple state park in Somerset County is a recreational area for camping and boating. There's quite a bit of wildlife, like birds, fish, and crabs, living in the area. It's a pleasant view of the Chesapeake bay from a peninsula.
ASSATEAGUE ISLAND
Horses?
Assateague island, in the southeasternmost part of Maryland, is famous for its wild horses, though they can be quite dangerous-- it's recommended that visitors stay at least 40 feet away at all times. Nevertheless, Assateague island, a very narrow island that stretches for 37 miles and into Virginia, is similar to Blackwater reservoir in that it is home to a lot of wildlife, which includes a variety of birds as well as the horses.
BROOKSIDE GARDENS
Brookside Gardens is a public garden inside Wheaton Regional Park in Montgomery County. It's open to visitors year-round, and it showcases many distinct flower types and gardens. It's mostly just a place to walk around and enjoy, but during the warmer months, it does feature some relatively unusual flower types, as well as a butterfly garden.
TERRAPIN NATURE PARK
Just east of the Chesapeake Bay bridge, in Queen Anne County, is an island called Kent Island, and that is where this nature park is. One thing that sticks out about this park is that it's quite flat: since it is mostly marshland and forest, there's little elevation change, and that makes for some interesting views, such as the one shown here. There are also a few beaches which are easily accessed, which all face the Chesapeake Bay.
SUGARLOAF MOUNTAIN
Pictured here is a view from high up on Sugarloaf mountain, in Frederick County. The mountain isn't the tallest in the state, but it was still used as a signal station during the civil war. It's a tourist attraction because it's relatively accessible, and the nature is beautiful.
Maryland's nature scene is quite unique due to its climate, its infrastructure, and the sheer variety of landscapes and topographical features it possesses. It's an underrated place to find beauty, but within its borders are plenty of places worth seeing.
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Sources used: Maryland Geological Survey 2004, United States Census Bureau 2019, Maryland Historic Trust, Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Chesapeake Beach Railway Museum.