Bill Burton Fishing Pier State Park – Talbot County Side

Bill Burton Fishing Pier State Park – Talbot County Side

29761 Bolingbroke Point Drive, Trappe, MD 21673
(410) 221-2290

NOTE: The Fishing Pier is closed as of December 23, 2021:  MD DNR posted this notice: “Due to structural issues and following the guidance of our engineers, the Bill Burton Fishing Pier is closed until further notice. This affects both segments of the pier in Dorchester and Talbot counties. Shoreline fishing access and trails on the Talbot County side of the park remain open. Please check the Maryland Department of Natural Resources website for further updates.”

Bill Burton Fishing Pier State Park on the Talbot County side of the Choptank River consists of approximately 25 acres of park property, including about two miles of trails through scrub-shrub and deciduous woods along the north shoreline of the river. There is also a shady picnic grove adjacent to the river and, of course, access to the north end of the fishing pier that parallels Route 50 and extends out into the Choptank River.

The easiest access to the shoreline trail that runs directly along the river is to park your car, then walk on the paved access road toward the start of the fishing pier. Just before reaching the pier, there is a break in the guardrail on your left; pass through the guardrail (or climb over at any spot) to walk down a gentle grassy slope, with the picnic area at the bottom of the slope. To the right, you’ll see the entrance to a narrow trail that follows the river shoreline, giving access to its sandy beaches and rocky groins. The shoreline trail goes about halfway to the point at the eastern end of the park. There is also a little piece of beach at the point that is accessible via a short but steep side path. There are additional side paths that provide access to intervening points along the shoreline trail, but the side paths are not maintained and may be narrow and steep, so pick your path with caution. The shoreline trail is mostly used by fishermen and you’ll see them ensconced in their favorite spots.

For easy walking, there is a dirt road that runs through the woodland east of the picnic area. The dirt road parallels the shoreline trail but is uphill from it and on level ground. To access the dirt road, walk through the picnic area and look for an obvious break in the trees on the far side of the picnic area. The dirt road heads southeast from the edge of the picnic area and ends on a high bluff at the point of land where Bolingbroke Creek enters the Choptank River, providing a spectacular view. The vertical face of the bluff prevents access to to the sandy beach below, and cliffs line the entire shoreline of Bolingbroke Creek that lies on the east side of this little peninsula. Although you can’t get to the beach because of the cliffs, in the winter, this area provides a good overlook over the creek and its sheltered coves, which may hold waterfowl and gulls.

Some side trails from the main dirt road allow you to make a loop or partial loop through the woods. See the trail map at the link at left.

There is separate section of the Bill Burton Fishing Pier across the river in Cambridge (Dorchester County) – see the related entry under Dorchester County. The Bill Burton Fishing Piers are the old US Route 50 bridge over the Choptank River between Dorchester and Talbot Counties. After the new Route 50 bridge was built, the old bridge was kept for fishing access and other recreation, but the middle portion of the bridge was removed to accommodate boat traffic, so the two sides are now disjunct. The Talbot side of the pier is one mile in length and the Dorchester side of the pier is ½ mile in length.

The piers are quite popular with fishermen because of the variety of fish that can be caught, and just as popular with birders because of the variety of waterfowl and other water-related birds that can be found. In addition, everything from deer to muskrats can be seen from the walking paths on the Talbot side at different times of the year. The piers on both sides of the river are wheelchair-accessible.

The state park’s name honors Bill Burton, a reporter, writer and fisherman who has for more than 50 years chronicled outdoor opportunities for Maryland citizens. Mr. Burton was instrumental in preserving the bridge as a fishing pier when the new Route 50 bridge was constructed.​

Birdlife:

Over 140 bird species have been reported on eBird for the Bill Burton Fishing Pier on the Talbot County side. Note that the name of the eBird hotspot is “Choptank River–Rte. 50 Bridge (Talbot Co.).”

The pier is an excellent observation spot for Osprey, Canada Geese, and a large variety of waterfowl and shorebirds. The area is especially good for viewing Common Goldeneye, Common Loon, and Horned Grebe, often in breeding plumage before they depart in spring. A pair of Peregrine Falcons nest on the Choptank River Bridge (probably most reliably seen from the Cambridge side at Sailwinds Park). In winter, the scrub-shrub and woodlands on the Talbot side host a variety of sparrows and other wintering passerines. There are excellent water viewpoints from the beach as well as from the pier, and there are stone jetties off the beach that provide a resting place for gulls and cormorants.

Wheelchair Access:

The piers on both sides of the river are wheelchair-accessible, and there are wheelchair-accessible portable toilets near the end of the pier on both sides of the river. However, the picnic grove and walking trails on the Talbot side are not wheelchair-accessible.

Pet Policy:

All pets must be on a leash and you must pick up after your pet.

Special Features:

Fishing (tidal fishing license required), crabbing (recreational crabbing license may be required), biking, and picnicking are all permitted.◾ See links at https://dnr.maryland.gov/publiclands/Pages/eastern/ChoptankPier/Fishing-Crabbing.aspx for details about fishing and crabbing licenses. ◾ There are picnic tables in the meadow on the Talbot County side of the park. ◾ The Chesapeake Bay Gateways Network and the Maryland Historic Trust have produced a series of water trail maps for the Choptank River and Tuckahoe Creek, available as a free download. ◾ The local chapter of the Maryland Ornithological Society is the Talbot Bird Club, which offers field trips and meetings with informative presentations, all free and open to the public.

Multimedia:

A Voice for the Rivers is a special episode of Outdoors Maryland from Maryland Public Television that focuses on the work of the riverkeepers in safeguarding and working to improve the health of the major rivers of the Upper Eastern Shore: the Sassafras, the Wye, the Miles, the Chester, and the Choptank. There is beautiful footage of the open waters, marshlands, and shoreline forests, as well as discussion of the challenges of pollution and sea level rise.

Parking:

Paved lot near the entrance; parking also permitted along the paved access road that leads to the fishing pier.

Directions:

To reach the Talbot County side of the Fishing Pier from the Chesapeake Bay Bridge: Take US-50 east and south toward Cambridge. Within sight of the US Route 50 bridge over the Choptank River, turn left onto Bolingbroke Point Road. Where the road bends to make a sharp curve to the right, go around the curve and then straight ahead to the parking area. See trail map at link at left.

From points north on the Eastern Shore: Take US Route 301 south to MD Route 213, then follow Route 213 south to its intersection with US Route 50. Follow signs to Route 50 south, and continue toward Cambridge. Within sight of the US Route 50 bridge over the Choptank River, turn left onto Bolingbroke Point Road. Where the road bends to make a sharp curve to the right, go around the curve and then  straight ahead to the parking area. See trail map at link at left.

From Vienna or points south: Take US Route 50 north and west toward Cambridge. Go over the Route 50 bridge over the Choptank River and then immediately turn right onto Bolingbroke Point Road. Where the road bends to make a sharp curve to the right, go around the curve and then straight ahead to the parking area. See trail map at link at left.

Nearby Sites:

Talbot County: Black Walnut Point Natural Resources Management Area ◾ Claiborne Landing ◾ Mill Creek MOS Sanctuary ◾ Pickering Creek Audubon Center ◾ Poplar Island

Caroline County: Adkins Arboretum ◾ Choptank Marina ◾ Daniel Crouse Memorial Park ◾ Idylwild Wildlife Management Area ◾ Martinak State Park ◾ Skeleton Creek Road & Bethlehem Road ◾ Tuckahoe State Park (Caroline County)

Dorchester County: Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge ◾ Cambridge – Bill Burton Fishing Pier State Park (Dorchester County Side) ◾ Cambridge – Great Marsh Park ◾ Cambridge – Oakley Street ◾ Cambridge – Sailwinds Park & Visitor Center ◾ Chesapeake Forest – North Tara Road ◾ Elliott Island Road / Fishing Bay Wildlife Management Area (Eastern Section) ◾ Hooper’s Island ◾ Taylor’s Island

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:

Conifers Old Fields, Shrubby MeadowsSandy Beach or Dunes Jetties & SeawallsMud Flats (Tidal or Non-Tidal)Rivers & StreamsSalt or Brackish Marsh

Features:

BeginnersBicycle Trails (Bikes may be prohibited on some trails)BoardwalkBoat or Canoe/Kayak LaunchFishingFree - No Entry Fee at Any TimeHiking/Walking TrailsObservation Platform or TowerParkingPets AllowedPicnic AreaRestroomsWater ViewWheelchair Accessible FeaturesYoung People / Families

Type:

Chesapeake Bay Eastern ShoreCommunity and Urban ParksState ParksThe Rivers of the Eastern ShoreWater Trails