At a Glance

Hours: Open daily year round, 24 hours a day.

Cost: Free.

Tips: All users must sign in before using the trails; sign-in sheet is located at the WMA office (33626 Maryland Line Road). ◾ Sturdy waterproof hiking boots are recommended at all times of the year. ◾ Millington is an active hunting area. Be aware of hunting seasons and plan your visit accordingly. ◾ No restrooms at the trails. It might be possible to use a restroom at the office; ask the staff.

Best Seasons: Spring, summer and fall.

Breeding Bird Atlas Blocks: Millington NE, Millington CE, Millington SE

Local MOS Chapter: Kent County Bird Club
Official Website
Trail Map
eBird Hotspot

Millington Wildlife Management Area

33626 Maryland Line Road, Massey, MD 21650
(410) 928-3650

At 3,943 acres, Millington Wildlife Management Area is the largest contiguous forested tract in Kent County, and with adjacent Blackbird State Forest in Delaware, comprises one of the largest forested tracts on the entire Delmarva Peninsula. Millington protects several endangered species of plants and animals and offers hunting and outdoor recreation for birders, hikers, bikers, and other outdoor enthusiasts. The WMA consists of hardwood forests with some pine stands, various types of freshwater wetlands, fallow managed fields, meadow plantings, and open agricultural fields. The land in Millington has a rich history and was once the home of the Lenni Lenape Indians. Collections of artifacts from this period are on display at the WMA office.

The mixture of habitats supports a variety of game species, such as whitetail deer, gray squirrels, rabbit, Wild Turkey, American Woodcock, and a number of waterfowl species, as well as furbearers and songbirds. You might hear endangered Barking Tree Frogs singing in the forested wetlands. The many ponds and streams also offer excellent fishing for bass and bluegills.

Millington has a scattering of “Delmarva Bays,” shallow depressions filled with water most of the year, where one can find nesting waterfowl, as well as a wide range of wetland species such as salamanders, frogs, insects, and more. Delmarva Bays are freshwater wetlands, found only on the Eastern Shore, that usually have standing water in the winter and spring, and then gradually dry out through the summer. These special habitats are home to dozens of rare plants and animals. Delmarva Bays are an important part of the Eastern Shore ecosystem, helping to replenish groundwater supplies, limiting flooding, and providing havens for herps, birds, and invertebrates. Unfortunately, ditching and draining have destroyed many Delmarva Bays and the few that remain, such as those at Millington, are precious resources.

Millington’s numerous parking areas and extensive foot-trail system (see trail map at link at left) enable birders to access every part of this huge WMA. The trails are maintained but are not marked with blazes or signage, so a good map and compass or handheld GPS or smartphone are recommended. There are numerous stream crossings and there may be muddy low spots on the trails; sturdy waterproof hiking boots are recommended.

Birdlife:

Over 175 species have been reported on eBird from Millington WMA. There are nine separate eBird hotspots for Millington:

Breeding birds at Millington are typical of those found in extensive forest, including Barred Owl, Pileated Woodpecker, Yellow-throated Vireo, Black-and-white Warbler, Prothonotary Warbler, Worm-eating Warbler, Ovenbird, Louisiana Waterthrush, Kentucky Warbler.  A few Whip-poor-wills remain at Millington, and there is an ongoing habitat restoration project to benefit Northern Bobwhite.

Parking:

Nineteen gravel parking areas are distributed throughout the WMA. See trail map at link at left. Park only in designated lots; roadside parking is not allowed.

Special Features:

The foot-trails at Millington WMA are not wheelchair-accessible. However, given the numerous parking areas in the WMA, some birding from or near the car is possible, and roadside birding along Black Bottom Road and other roads through the WMA can be productive. There is a disabled hunters access area (see Zone 6 on the trail map at link below) that may provide some birding access for those who use a wheelchair; however, a Universal Disability Pass from MD DNR is needed to hunt this area and it is not clear if this permit will allow access to Zone 6 for non-hunters. If you wish to ask permission to use a Disability Pass to visit Zone 6 for birding, call before visiting. ◾ Hunting, fishing, biking, and horseback riding are all permitted; however, horses are only allowed on Sundays during hunting seasons(no hunting on Sundays in Kent County). ◾ The area near Massey Pond within Millington WMA is designated as a MD Heritage Conservation Site. Massey Pond is located between Walnut Tree Road and Maryland Line Road, east of the Massey Aerodrome, where Waterfowl Blind #1 is shown on the trail map at the link at left. ◾ The entire WMA has been designated as the Millington Important Bird Area by the National Audubon Society. ◾ The local chapter of the Maryland Ornithological Society is the Kent County Bird Club, which offers field trips and meeting programs that are open to the public, free of charge.

Directions:

From the Bay Bridge: Take US Route 50/301 to the split of Routes 50 and 301. Proceed on Route 301 North. From MD Route 301, turn right to go east on MD Route 313/Galena Road toward Massey. At the intersection of Route 313 and 330 in Massey, proceed straight to continue east on MD Route 330/Maryland Line Road. The Millington WMA Office is located 1.7 miles east of Massey, on the left (north side) of the road, across from the Massey Aerodrome (air museum). Sign in at the kiosk before heading out on the trails. Nineteen gravel parking areas are distributed throughout the WMA; see trail map at link at left. Park in designated lots only; roadside parking is not allowed.

From points north on the Eastern Shore: Use US Route 301 south and then turn left to go east on MD Route 313/Galena Road toward Massey. At the intersection of Route 313 and 330 in Massey, proceed straight to continue east on MD Route 330/Maryland Line Road. The Millington WMA Office is located 1.7 miles east of Massey, on the left (north side) of the road, across from the Massey Aerodrome (air museum). Sign in at the kiosk before heading out on the trails. Nineteen gravel parking areas are distributed throughout the WMA; see trail map at link at left. Park in designated lots only; roadside parking is not allowed.

From points south on the Eastern Shore: Use US Route 50 to head north, and then merge onto US Route 301 northbound. From MD Route 301, turn right to go east on MD Route 313/Galena Road toward Massey. At the intersection of Route 313 and 330 in Massey, proceed straight to continue east on MD Route 330/Maryland Line Road. The Millington WMA Office is located 1.7 miles east of Massey, on the left (north side) of the road, across from the Massey Aerodrome (air museum). Sign in at the kiosk before heading out on the trails. . Nineteen gravel parking areas are distributed throughout the WMA; see trail map at link at left. Park in designated lots only; roadside parking is not allowed.

Nearby Sites:

Queen Anne’s County: Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center – Horsehead ◾ Conquest Preserve ◾ Ferry Point Park ◾ Matapeake Clubhouse & Beach / Matapeake Fishing Pier & Boat Ramp ◾ Terrapin Nature Park ◾ Tuckahoe State Park (Queen Anne’s County) ◾ Wye Island Natural Resources Management Area

Habitats:

Bottomland DeciduousConifersHedgerows Agricultural Crop Fields or Fallow FieldsHay Meadows, Pasture, Grass FieldOld Fields, Shrubby Meadows Forested SwampFreshwater Marsh or FloodplainFreshwater Pond, Lake, or ReservoirMud Flats (Tidal or Non-Tidal)Rivers & Streams

Features:

Bicycle Trails (Bikes may be prohibited on some trails)FishingFree - No Entry Fee at Any TimeHiking/Walking TrailsHorseback RidingParkingPets AllowedWater View

Type:

Audubon Important Bird AreasHunting AreasState Natural Areas & Wildlands