North Point State Park

North Point State Park

8400 North Point Road, Edgemere, MD 21219 (410) 592-2897

Note: See the At a Glance section of this page for information about making required reservations for day-use entry on summer weekends and holidays.

North Point State Park is a 1,310 acre park near Edgemere, southeast of the City of Baltimore, on the shores of the Chesapeake Bay near the mouth of the Patapsco River and Back River.  From 1906 through 1947, an amusement park was located here, and remnants of the amusement park era still exist in the park. Birders now come here because of the exceptional opportunity to explore a bird-rich mix of habitats in a relatively compact, easy-to-cover area.

Habitats include a large freshwater marsh, deciduous woodlands, bayshore with an outstanding view of the Chesapeake Bay, meadows, small pocket wetlands, and farm fields. Within the park, a 667-acre section of the Black Marsh Natural Area (667 acres) has been designated a State Wildlands, with special protections that limit uses to passive recreation. There are trails and an observation platform in the Wildlands; bicycles are prohibited in Black Marsh but permitted elsewhere in the park. The Wildlands, along with the park’s other areas, provide great opportunities to observe birds and wildlife, including muskrats, beavers, foxes, and otters. Dragonflies are abundant in the warm months.

The park has a sandy beach where swimming is allowed, but lifeguards are not provided. Early in the day, it’s possible to catch some shorebirds on the sand, before people arrive. There are also two fishing piers that provides access to scan the Bay for gulls, terns, and ducks.

Barely shown at the very top of the park trail map is a section of the park on the north side of Millers Island Road. This section features wet woods that border the shoreline of Back River. There is a foot trail here that follows the old Hertzinger Road, heading due north from Millers Island Road; look for a red metal park gate on the north side of the road, about 0.6 miles east of the intersection with North Point Road [see Google Map]. There is room here to park one or two cars but do not block the gate. The foot trail goes all the way to the Back River shoreline but breaks into a mesh of smaller roads and trails as it approaches the water. There used to be a private beach resort here and you will see remnants of structures from that business. This area is good for birds with affinity to wet woods, such as American Woodcock, Black-throated Blue Warbler, Prothonotary Warbler; shorebirds, waterfowl, gulls, and terns may be viewed at the Back River shoreline at appropriate times of year.

Another part of the park is a long extension framing a paved hiker-biker trail known as the Haul Road or the Defenders Trail (not shown on the park trail map – see instead our map of the trail), which extends 1.6 miles (one-way distance) from the town of Edgemere to the main section of the park, joining the main park entrance at North Point Road. The Haul Road is wheelchair-accessible throughout its length. The peaceful, mostly shaded Haul Road goes through fields, forested patches, past a small wetland or two, and past residential areas to end up on a highway outside the town of Edgemere. There is a small family cemetery near the east end of the trail. The trail was used by soldiers in the War of 1812, when the area was under siege by the British; hence the name “Defenders Trail.” But the equally valid name “Haul Road” refers to another phase of the road’s history, when it was used in the 1800s to transport heavy materials from the steel mill at Sparrows Point to Fort Howard at the tip of North Point.

Just south of the entrance to North Point State Park is Todd’s Inheritance (address 9000 North Point Road | website | Google Map| eBird hotspot). Todd’s Inheritance is a historic home now owned by the State of Maryland and is part of North Point State Park. Todd’s Inheritance is operated as a museum (open weekends only) in partnership with a private non-for-profit organization. It is permissible to park on the wide roadside near the entrance to Todd’s Inheritance and walk south along the road to the south boundary of the property, marked by a white board fence. Follow the fenceline a short distance to the east toward the back corner of the property, to obtain a view over Shallow Creek, which is often teeming with waterfowl in the winter. The land on the other side of Shallow Creek is in the main part of North Point State Park. A Bald Eagle nest is visible in the trees across Shall0w Creek, best viewed in winter when the trees are bare. There are plans for a future trail that will connect the parking area at North Point State Park to the Todd’s Inheritance historic site – stay tuned.

Although not part of the park, Bauers Farm Road is an nearby public road that provides productive birding. Bauers Farm Road goes northeast from North Point Road just outside North Point Park, near the intersection with Miller Island Road. A small wetland east of the road near its north end can be good and is known as an American Woodcock display area. There may also be Cattle Egrets in the nearby fields in the summer. Much of the west side of the road is covered with scrub-shrub early successional growth; the residential community has a nature trail through that area. There is parking along the road shoulder of this road that leads to a private community. Do not park near the homes.

Birdlife:

An aggregate total of over 285 species have been reported on eBird from North Point State Park. There are seven eBird hotspots that cover the Park:

• North Point State Park overall – 267+ species
• North Point SP – Black Marsh – 249+ species
• North Point SP–Millers Island Rd.–Blackmarsh Wildlands – 156+ species (this is the section of the park north of Miller Island Road)
• North Point SP–Steve Kreseski Trail (aka Wetlands Trail) – 152+ species
• North Point SP – Visitor’s Center and Crystal Pier – 213+ species
• North Point SP – Defenders Trail – 115+ species – this is the Haul Road Hiker-Biker Trail.
• Todd’s Inheritance Historic Site – 144+ species

And outside the park, nearby Bauers Farm Road, Edgemere has 154+ species.

The Black Marsh Wildlands host many kinds of herons during summer and in fall migration; Little Blue Herons are abundant and Tricolored Heron is possible. Cattle Egrets may be found in farm fields on the way to the park. Glossy Ibis also occurs in the park. Warblers and other passerines come through during spring and fall migration. Wood Ducks nest in the wetlands.

In winter, look for diving ducks on the Bay, including Canvasback, Ring-necked Duck, Greater and Lesser Scaup, Ruddy Duck, Common Goldeneye, and Bufflehead. Both Red-throated and Common Loons can also be seen in winter. Pied-billed Grebes occur from September through May, and Horned Grebes and Red-necked Grebes may be present during a brief window in spring. Snow Buntings have become almost annual and like to hang out on the long pier (Crystal Pier) that goes out to the Bay behind the Visitor Center and old Trolley Station; the buntings can be found in the sparse grass at the edges or on the rocks at the very end of the pier.

Ospreys, Bald Eagles, Red-Shouldered Hawks, and Red-tailed Hawks are commonly seen; Sharp-shinned and Cooper’s Hawks and Northern Harriers are less common but present. Virginia Rails and Soras may be found in the Black Marsh Wildlands. Look for gulls and terns from the fishing pier or the beach. Woodpeckers are present year-round.

Look for swallows, flycatchers, vireos, and warblers in migration; some species nest here and are present during the summer.

Wheelchair Access:

The foot trails in the park are not wheelchair accessible. But there are paved paths leading from Parking Lot B (the one closest to the water) to the Visitor Center and Trolley Pavilion and leading down to Crystal Pier, which is paved (paver bricks and concrete) and wheelchair accessible, but the surface may be bumpy and uneven. The pier is subject to a lot of weather damage every winter. There are handicapped designated parking spaces and restrooms are accessible. Some of the picnic pavilions are accessible.

The Haul Road (aka Defenders Trail) is a paved hiker-biker, wheelchair-accessible trail extending 1.6 miles from the town of Edgemere to the main park entrance. See our map of the Haul Road. Parking for the Haul Road is in the first parking lot within the main part of the park, or possibly roadside along Sparrows Point Road (shoulder may be muddy; parking here not guaranteed).

Todd’s Inheritance is not wheelchair-accessible. The trail (Old Herzinger Road) that goes north from Miller Island Road is also not wheelchair-accessible.

Pet Policy:

Pets are allowed on leash, except not allowed in the sandy swimming beach area during the summer season (Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day. Pick up after tour pet and take the bagged waste with you.

Special Designations:

North Point State Park is a part of the Chesapeake Bay Gateways Network of the National Park Service; see https://www.nps.gov/chba/planyourvisit/chesapeake-gateways.htm.

Special Features:

•  The Takos Visitor Center is open Wednesday-Sunday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day.
• Did you know: North Point takes its name not from geography, but from Captain Robert North, who in the late 1700s operated a commercial sailing vessel out of the area now occupied by Fort Howard, at the tip of the peninsula. Captain North named the area after himself.
• The home at Todds Inheritance historic site is open limited hours during the warm months. Check the Todd’s Inheritance website for the schedule and special events.

Local MOS Chapter:

The local chapter of the Maryland Ornithological Society is the Baltimore Bird Club. The Baltimore Bird Club is the founding chapter of the Maryland Ornithological Society, and remains an important hub of birding activity in the state. The club offers monthly meetings with informative presentations and a full schedule of field trips and bird walks, all free and open to the public.

Parking:

• Two paved lots in the main part of the park as shown on Trail Map at link at left. The first lot after entering the park is convenient for the Black Marsh Trail and the Haul Road. Parking Lot B is closer to the water and is convenient for the Visitor Center, the Trolley Pavilion, and Crystal Pier, as well as most of the foot trails.
• A roadside pull-off on the north side of Millers Island Road provides access for the trail that goes north to Back River [see Google Map]; do not block the red gate.
• For the Haul Road Hiker-Biker Trail, use the first parking area on entering the main part of the park. This is the only official parking for the Haul Road. But, there may be road shoulder parking for the Haul Road along the west side of MD Route 178/Sparrows Point Road; some areas along this road are posted No Parking; do not park at a private business unless given permission. There is no parking for the Haul Road on North Point Boulevard, Lodge Forest Road, or Lodge Forest Drive.
• Todd’s Inheritance has roadside parking on a broad shoulder.

Directions:

From the north or east side of the Baltimore Beltway/I-695: Take the Inner Loop of the Baltimore Beltway/I-695 toward Essex/Key Bridge. Follow I-695 to Exit 42 (MD Route 151/North Point Boulevard). Exit and bear right onto MD Route 151 south to first traffic light. Make left onto North Point Road. Follow through the town of Edgemere for 2 miles to North Point State Park on left.

From the south or west side of the Baltimore Beltway: Take the Outer Loop of the Baltimore Beltway/I-695 toward Glen Burnie/Key Bridge. Follow I-695 over Key Bridge (toll) to Exit 43 (MD Route 158/Bethlehem Boulevard/). Exit and make a left at first traffic light onto MD Route 158/Bethlehem Boulevard. Follow Bethlehem Boulevard east for one mile to North Point Boulevard. Cross over North Point Boulevard onto North Point Road. Follow North Point Road through the town of Edgemere for 2 miles to North Point State Park on left.

Nearby Sites:

Baltimore County: Cromwell Valley Park ■ Fort Howard Park ■ Gunpowder Falls State Park – Hammerman Area & Dundee Creek Marina ■ Hart-Miller Island State Park ■ Holt Park ■ Irvine Nature Center ■ Lake Roland ■ Liberty Reservoir – Baltimore County ■ Loch Raven Reservoir ■ Marshy Point Nature Center ■ Milford Mill aka Villa Nova Park ■ Northern Central Rail Trail (NCRT) ■ Oregon Ridge Park ■ Soldiers Delight Natural Environmental Area

Baltimore City: Cylburn Arboretum ■ Druid Hill Park ■ Fort McHenry National Monument ■ Masonville Cove Environmental Education Center ■ Patterson Park

Habitats:

Bottomland Deciduous ForestsConifersHedgerowsUpland Deciduous Forests Garden or ArboretumLawn, Ballfields, Golf Course Agricultural Crop Fields or Fallow FieldsOld Fields, Shrubby MeadowsSandy Beach or Dunes Forested SwampFreshwater Marsh or FloodplainFreshwater Pond, Lake, or ReservoirJetties & SeawallsMud Flats (Tidal or Non-Tidal)Open Ocean, Bay, or EstuaryRivers & Streams

Features:

BeginnersBicycle Trails (Bikes may be prohibited on some trails)BoardwalkEntry Fee (Daily, All Year)FishingHiking/Walking TrailsHistorical FeaturesHuntingObservation Platform or TowerParkingPets AllowedPicnic AreaPlaygroundRestroomsSwimmingVisitor Center, Interpretive Displays, ExhibitsWater ViewWheelchair Accessible FeaturesYoung People / Families

Type:

Chesapeake Bay Gateways NetworkChesapeake Bay Western ShoreState Natural Areas & WildlandsState Parks