Patuxent River Park/Merkle Natural Resource Management Area

Patuxent River Park/Merkle Natural Resource Management Area

Near Croom, Maryland are two of Prince Georges County’s nicer natural areas. The citizens of Croom, have a humor about themselves as a local web site showed in a 1999 Internet vote. They couldn’t decide what to call themselves. Though they jest, they have a lot of pride in their rural and scenic community. The area has an abundance of early American historical events associated with it. Many boat skirmishes were fought on or near the Patuxent with the British. Much of the following information comes from the Mid-Patuxent Estuarine Ecosystem Map (by David Linthicum and Peggy Dickison), research by Dave Linthicum with much historical information from “The Patuxent River Submerged Cultural Resource Survey, 1981, Donald G. Shomette and Ralph E. Eshelman”. The map is an excellent resource for detailed exploration as well as further study of the area. It can be purchased at the Visitor Center. It is of orienteering quality and orienteering meets are held here regularly.

Patuxent River Park is maintained by the Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC). Its creation was, at least in part, to preserve undeveloped land near the river. The park continues to be added-on to as evidenced in 1999, by the addition of 144 acres with trails not yet shown on the maps that follow. The wooded park is bordered on its east end by Jug Bay, a wide part of the Patuxent River known for its fishing and waterfowl viewing. In the park, there is a Visitor Center with naturalist photography, the Duvall Tool Museum, canoe and boat rentals, and several unpaved trails. The drive approaching the Visitor Center overlooks sweeping curves of the river and the wide tidal marsh that is Jug Bay. The tool museum contains over a thousand 19^th century hand tools and implements collected by one “Croomer” during 50 years of his life. Another important Croomer associated with the land here is John Greene. He was the second African American to be licensed to fly and the first to operate an airport on the east coast. A marker in front of Riverside field identifies the place where a mesh of 8 grass runways arranged in a squarish/asterisk pattern used to exist from 1941 to 1956. All that’s visible now is the open grassy field that’s sometimes farmed but remote control model helicopter fliers come in small crowds to use the area and test their skills. The Black Walnut Creek Nature Study Area is located near the Duvall Tool Museum. A boardwalk lets you see up close, the unique vegetation associated with the mixed fresh and salt water wetland.

South of the Patuxent River Park, and connected by trails, is the Merkle Natural Resource Management Area (MNRMA), a wildlife sanctuary and agricultural demonstration area designed to demonstrate good land management. Particular emphasis is given to geese and Bluebird populations in the sanctuary. Huge flocks of geese winter here beginning in October. Edward A. Merkle, for whom the area is named after, breed many of them on the land he later donated. Spanning across both the MNRMA and the Patuxent River Park, is a road called the Chesapeake Bay Critical Area Drive (CBCAD). It’s generally open for driving on Sunday’s, 10AM-3PM. At other times those on foot or bicycle can make advance reservations by calling 301 627-6074. CBCAD winds along fields and the edges of woods also passing over a marsh and past Osprey nests. The huge Osprey’s with their equally huge wooden stick nests can be seen on tall oaks and on the tops of platforms built for them over the water. Interpretive placards are spaced along the CBCAD. One cites evidence of people living on the Patuxent as far back as 8,000 years. Did these earliest Croomers argue about their names too?

Video of Orienteering in Patuxent

Getting There

From the Capital Beltway (I-495), take Pennsylvania Avenue, Rte. 4, east toward Upper Marlboro. Exit onto Crain Hwy, Rte. 301, south after 7.25 miles. Turn left at Croom Station Rd. in about 1 mile. Turn left again after 1.5 miles onto Croom Rd. Turn left again after 1.5 miles onto Croom Airport Rd. After 2 miles, make a final left turn onto the Park Entrance Rd. into Patuxent River Park. Follow the road 1.7 miles to the parking area just past the visitor center.

Area Routes

Navigating the trails in Patuxent River Park is easy...as long as you’re familiar with them! Until your familiar using the trails use caution and do not to test your distance endurance abilities. You may tire, confused in the middle of the large parks. There are few facilities and hardly any water stops. Since the trails are mostly in the woods you must be a good orienteer to find the recognizable natural or man-made landmarks that will reinforce you’re understanding of where you are at. At least one park superintendent has been against using blazes. The trails are marked occasionally. The trail blazes that do exist are often black horseshoes on wooden posts with arrows carved into them signify direction. Though there are official names for the trails, the names are not posted at trail heads or intersections. This might change. What you get for your troubles in the park however are long and soft trails through the woods, across streams and around gullies. Most are flattish but occasional sudden drops to creeks are followed by equally sudden short climbs. The lay of the land slopes gradually toward the Patuxent and Mataponi Creek. Mountain biking is allowed on all but the Black Walnut Nature area trails but as of 2006, comparatively few people use the park for cycling.

Half Pone (6.6 or 4.45 or 5.75 miles, VI, III or V)

This route starts up the Park Entrance Road. The road is not indicative of most of the trails on the route. It’s hillier. Once you reach Croom Airport Rd., turn left and make an immediately right onto an unmarked trail that drops toward Old House Creek. At the bottom it sinews and rolls up and down a little. The first short option turns left on the Half Pone Trail, up a short hill to cross the Croom Airport Road and then go on to the Lone Pine and Chapman trails. Going straight at the intersection for the regular route, the trail you’re on becomes the Half Pone Trail. At an intersection with a dirt and gravel road, a second short option passes through the group camping area, and the old Croom Airport/Mataponi Creek area where the big Riverside field is. This short option uses the paved portion of the CBCAD for a short way to get to the trail head of an unnamed hiking trail where it joins the regular route again. The regular (middle distance) route gets to this point by continuing straight past the dirt and gravel road, staying in the woods longer before arriving at Riverside Field. It then goes around the large flat field by getting on the CBCAD and intersecting the unnamed hiking trail from the opposite direction that the second short option gets there from.

As the unnamed hiking trail goes into the woods, it drops to Swann Point Creek, crossing over on wooden and pipe bridges. An initial steep climb after crossing is followed by a gradual one all the way to the Lonesome Pine cut-over trail. This is where the initial short option joins in. Turn right at the next intersection and onto the Chapman Trail to head back to the visitor center. If you keep a close watch, you can follow signs from the intersection back to the visitor center parking by using the Pine Flat Trail, then passing through the Black Walnut Creek Nature Study Area.

Mt. Calvert (5.9, 3.3 or 4.1 miles, V, II or III)

Start by going out the Park Entrance Rd., then turn right at a bend in the road, onto the Mt. Calvert Trail. The trail climbs as it goes into the woods. Eventually it passes some open fields before a T-intersection with the Chapman Trail. The short option turns left there and follows the sometimes sandy double-track Chapman Trail across the Park Entrance Rd. to the Pine Flat Trail. It goes downhill or is flat much of the way. The regular option turns right here to get to the beginning of the Lonesome Pine Trail. The Lonesome Pine trail meanders around gullies as it passes through some pleasant woods. After crossing the Park Entrance Rd. another short option is to turn left to the Chapman Trail. Going on, the Lonesome Pine Trail generally goes downhill while paralleling an unnamed hiking trail. It passes the Half Pone Trail and crosses Swann Point Creek. Another dip in the trail passes a beaver wetland before intersecting the CBCAD. The trail is less defined in the wetland as it passes a beaver lodge but improves as it climbs uphill. From the CBCAD, the route picks up the unnamed hiking trail from the Half Pone route and heads back to the Chapman Trail, generally climbing. All options together return on the Pine Flat Trail and pass through the Black Walnut Creek Study Area to return to the parking lot. Part of the Lonesome Pine Trail on the regular (longest) route is closed Nov. 1-Mar. 15.

Chesapeake Bay Critical Area Drive (12.85, 13.3, or 12.9 miles, X)

This route stays on the road with few turns and so is easier to follow than the other routes listed. It’s long however and the few turns do lack signs. Unless your going on Sunday, 10AM-3PM make advance reservations by calling 301 627-6074 or 888-1410. The route starts up the Park Entrance Road to Croom Airport Rd. Turning left, the traffic is light, and downhill. At a T-intersection in front of Riverside Field, turn left, through the gate if necessary, to follow the paved CBCAD around the field and near the river. You can use the T-intersection to park for an alternate start area that shortens the route.

Next, bear right (through the gate if its closed and if you have your reservation) at Selby’s Landing, a popular parking area most used for launching motor boats and sometimes jet skis. Before the silting of the river from agriculture and destruction of the natural forests across the region by the mid-1800's, ocean going vessels launched from here. The first white visitor, John Smith of Virginia, sailed past here in 1608. The river still maintains depths in excess of 40 feet in areas nearby.

After passing Selby Landing the route continues around Riverside Field on the CBCAD. Upon leaving it, it soon drops to the nearly 1,000 foot long wooden bridge across Mataponi Creek, and enters the MNRMA. One observation tower is accessible in the middle of the bridge and another is located a short ways further on the other side. Most of the roads in the MNRMA are crushed gravel not different from that found on the C&O Canal. They are only slightly less flat. One options stays near the river, passing the Osprey nesting area before looping back. The others loop uphill away from the river toward the MNRMA Visitor Center, and return past the windmill at Windmill Pond. After any of the loops, return on the roads the way you came.

Nearby and Connecting Zones

Louise F. Cosca Regional Park

Cedarville State Forest

Watkins Regional Park

What to do Afterward

Food and Drink

Pizza Hut - off Rte. 301 at South Osborne Rd.

Moore’s Country Store & Deli - 301 681-4713

picnic

Entertainment and Edification

Merkle Natural Resource Management Area Visitor Center - 301 888-1410, TTY 410 974‑3683

Mt. Calvert - the area’s first land grant from 1657. The manor house here was defended from possible attack by Susquehannock Indians in 1658. Contact M-NCPPC for visitation times.

6.6 Mile Route

0.0 from parking, head past the visitor center toward the park exit

0.15 gravel road on R

0.4 Mt. Calvert Trail on R

1.05 Chapman Trail

1.1 Lonesome Pine Trail

L 1.6 Croom Airport Rd. at T

R 1.65 trail X on R (unmarked)

BL 1.85 trail X at bottom of hill

2.15 unmarked Half Pone Tr is S & on L

2.4 trail X on L (unmarked)

<**

2.65 gravel/dirt road

2.75 trail X on L cuts to gravel/dirt road

R 3.05 follow grassy trail S to, then R along woods at the edge of Riverside Field

L 3.1 CBCAD road (unmarked, fence)

3.35 trail X on R

3.65 merge onto road at gate (Selby’s Landing parking; portable outhouse)

3.9 gravel road on R

4.1 Aviation History sign

R 4.25 trail X on R (unmarked)

>**

4.4 Swann Point Creek bridges

5.15 trail X on L to Lonesome Pine Tr

R 5.2 Chapman Trail (unmarked)

L 5.65 trail X on L to visitor center

L 6.25 trail X on L to visitor center; (! stairs)

R 6.3 at T; Black Walnut Cr Nature Study

L 6.45 trail X on L on boardwalk

R/L 6.5 at fence and to Park Entrance Rd.

6.6 visitor center parking circle

5.9 Mile Route

0.0 from parking, head past the visitor center toward the park exit

0.15 gravel road on R

R 0.4 Mt. Calvert Trail on R

0.7 trail X on R

0.9 trail X on R

BL 0.95 as trail enters field

BL 1.2 at trail X

R 1.2 at T; Chapman Trail (unmarked double-track)

L 1.4 Lonesome Pine Tr on L (unmarked)

2.25 Park Entrance Rd. (unmarked)

<**

BR 2.6 at trail X to stay on Lonesome Pine Trail

2.7 wooden bridge over creek

BL 2.9 Half Pone Trail on R (unmarked); go through gate ahead; closed Nov 1BMar 14

3.2 short steep downhill to wetland area

3.3 wooden bridge near beaver pond

L 3.45 CB Critical Area Drive (unmarked)

L 3.55 trail X (unmarked)

3.7 Swann Point Creek bridges

4.45 trail X on L to Lonesome Pine Tr

>**

R 4.5 Chapman Trail (unmarked)

L 4.95 trail X on L to visitor center

L 5.55 trail X on L to visitor center; (! stairs)

R 5.65 at T; Black Walnut Cr Nature Study

L 5.75 trail X on L on boardwalk

R/L 5.8 at fence and to Park Entrance Rd.

5.9 visitor center parking circle

12.85 Mile Route

0.0 from parking head past the visitor center toward the park exit

0.4 Mt. Calvert Trail on R

1.05 Chapman Trail

1.1 Lonesome Pine Trail

L 1.6 Croom Airport Rd. at T

1.65 trail X on R (unmarked)

1.75 gate on R (abandoned trail)

2.05 Half Pone Trail (unmarked)

2.15 trail X on R (unmarked)

L 2.5 at T in front of Riverside Field; go through gate to start CBCAD

2.85 Lonesome Pine Tr on L (unmarked)

2.9 trail X (unmarked)

3.05 Aviation History sign

3.25 gravel Rd. on L to Half Pone Landing

BR 3.5 through gate at parking for Selby’s Landing (portable outhouse)

3.75 trail X on L (unmarked)

4.0 trail X on R after Bluebird sign

4.5 begin wood bridge; Mataponi Creek

4.65 end wood bridge; enter Merkle Natural Resource Management Area

5.2 trail X on L to observation tower

5.35 gate to gravel road on R

5.8 gravel road on R for return route; begin Osprey Nesting area

6.2 trail X on L to boardwalk

6.75 gravel road bears R at X

R/L 7.0 to gravel road on R to return

7.5 gate to gravel road on L

7.65 trail X on R to observation tower

8.2 begin wood bridge; Mataponi Creek

8.35 end wood bridge; Patuxent River Park

8.85 trail X on L before Bluebird sign

9.1 trail X on R (unmarked)

9.35 merge roads at gate/parking for Selby’s Landing (portable outhouse)

9.6 gravel Rd. on L to Half Pone Landing

9.8 Aviation History sign

9.95 trail X (unmarked)

10.0 Lonesome Pine Tr on L (unmarked)

R 10.35 Croom Airport Rd. (unmarked)

10.7 trail X on L (unmarked)

10.8 Half Pone Trail (unmarked)

11.1 gate on L (abandoned trail)

11.2 trail X on L (unmarked)

R 11.25 Park Entrance Rd.

11.75 Lonesome Pine Trail (unmarked)

11.8 Chapman Trail (unmarked)

12.45 Mt. Calvert Trail on L (unmarked)

12.85 visitor center parking circle

*13.3 Mile Route

R 5.8 gravel road on R to second gravel road; before Osprey Nesting area

6.25 gravel road on L

<**

6.25 merge onto paved road

L 6.4 Rd. X; to visitor center

6.65 Paw Paw Trail on R (yellow blaze)

6.8 Merkle Visitor Center (water/restrooms)

R 6.85 gravel road on R before red shed

>**

6.95 windmill on L; wildlife ponds ahead

7.15 merge with gravel road on R (pickup cues at mile 7.0 on 12.85 mile route)