Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge

If you hear what sounds like an elk bugle coming from the marshes of Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge, you aren't imagining things. The shrill bugle is coming from a sika, a small Asian elk species that thrives at this refuge. Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge offers...

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has released a final hunting and fishing plan for Chesapeake Marshlands National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) Complex in Maryland, which includes Blackwater and Eastern Neck NWRs. A draft plan was...

The Wildlife Drive takes visitors along the Blackwater River and offers excellent views of the refuge. Visitors can drive, bike, or walk the approximately 4 mile paved road, and turnouts are available at different points to safely stop and observe the scenery. Brief...

Blackwater NWR offers several bike routes for the novice to experienced cyclist. Visitors can choose to complete an approximate 4-mile or 7-mile loop route along the paved Wildlife Drive. Blackwater NWR also has maps for 20-mile and 25-mile routes that follow county roads...

At Blackwater NWR, the best time for viewing waterfowl is between mid-October and mid-March. Wintering species include tundra swans, Canada and snow geese, and over 20 species of ducks. The most common ducks found here are mallards, black ducks, blue-winged teal, green-...

The waters in and around the refuge can be accessed at several locations managed by the refuge, Dorchester County Highway Dept., and Maryland DNR. Be aware that navigation can be difficult, especially in the Blackwater River, due to submerged mudflats, a...

There are 3 paddling trails on the refuge: the Green Trail (upper Blackwater River) the Purple Trail (central Blackwater River), and the Orange Trail (central Blackwater River and Coles Creek). A map of the refuge water trails can be found below.

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Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge currently has four land trails: the Marsh Edge Trail, the Woods Trail, the Key Wallace Trail, and the Tubman Road Trail.

Please see the Trails Page for detailed descriptions of our trails.

Trails are open daily, dawn to dusk...

Photography is an enormously popular activity at Blackwater NWR. There is something to record in every season, but beginning in late October, as many as 25,000 geese, ducks, and tundra swans stop at the Refuge. Several thousand remain throughout the winter. Up to 20...

New at the refuge! Young visitors can now learn about the refuge and become a Junior Refuge Manager! Ask for the "Junior Refuge Manager Field Journal" activity book at the Visitor Center information desk, and begin your refuge exploration! Activities...

Trapping is a wildlife management tool used on some national wildlife refuges. Trapping may be used to protect endangered and threatened species or migratory birds or to control certain wildlife populations. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service also views trapping as a...

With four walking trails, three water trails and an auto tour route (Wildlife Drive), the refuge is renowned for its wildlife observation and photography opportunities. The Wildlife Drive offers excellent views of local wildlife, including waterfowl, shorebirds...