Welcome!

Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge is located on the Eastern Shore (location map) of Maryland, approximately 12 miles south of the town of Cambridge, in Dorchester County. The Refuge includes over 27,000 acres, composed mainly of rich tidal marsh characterized by fluctuating water levels and varying salinity. Other habitat types include freshwater ponds, mixed evergreen and deciduous forests, and small amounts of cropland and managed impoundments that are seasonally flooded for waterfowl use. View Blackwater NWR Brochure (2.6MB PDF) and Blackwater NWR Map (370KB PDF).

Blackwater Refuge was originally established in 1933 as a haven for ducks and geese migrating along the Atlantic Flyway. The Refuge is a popular place during the November migration when upwards of 35,000 geese and 15,000 ducks visit Blackwater.

Blackwater is also a haven for several troubled species including the American bald eagle, the endangered Delmarva fox squirrel, and the migrant peregrine falcon. The Refuge is unique in that it hosts the largest remaining natural population of Delmarva fox squirrels and is also host to the largest breeding population of bald eagles on the East Coast, north of Florida.

At the Refuge, visitors will find a beautiful Visitor Center, a Wildlife Drive, four hiking trails, three paddling trails, miles of cycling roads, hunting/fishing/crabbing opportunities, and adventures in environmental education. See the Public Use section for more details.

Blackwater NWR is part of the Chesapeake Marshlands NWR Complex, which also includes Eastern Neck NWR, Martin NWR, Susquehanna NWR and the Barren Island, Watts Island, Bishops Head, Garrett Island and Spring Island Divisions. To protect the wildlife, only Blackwater and Eastern Neck are open to the public. Visit the Chesapeake Marshlands NWR Complex website for more information.

 

Blackwater Visitor Information:

Driving directions and maps can be found on our Directions page.

If you are interested in lodging or camping in the area, visit the Dorchester County Tourism website and click on "Lodging." Cambridge is the largest town near the Refuge.

Visit the Lost and Found page if you have left something at the Refuge or if you wish to turn something in.

A daily permit is required for all visitors to the Wildlife Drive unless they possess an annual pass, lifetime passport, or current Duck Stamp. 

• Private vehicle - $3.00
• Pedestrian, Bicyclist - $1.00
• Commercial Van or Bus up to
  20 passengers - $15.00
  21 or more passengers - $25.00

Passes are available at the Visitor Center and include either a current Federal Duck Stamp valid July 1 to June 30 ($15); a Blackwater NWR Pass ($12), valid one year from date of issue; an Interagency Annual Pass ($80), valid one year from date of issue; a lifetime Interagency Seniors Pass ($10); or a lifetime Interagency Access Pass, which is free for the blind and permanently disabled.

Please note: Effective January 1, 2007, a new interagency pass system is in place and is called the "America the Beautiful – Federal Recreational Lands Pass Program." It will be replacing the Golden Eagle, Golden Age, Golden Access, and Hologram Sticker. For those people already carrying Golden passes, the passes will stay valid until they expire.

The cost of the new Interagency Annual Pass is now $80, and the cost for the Interagency Seniors Pass is $10. The pass covers fees for wildlife refuges, national parks, and lands in the Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, and Forest Service. If you have any questions about the new pass system, be sure to speak to someone at our Visitor Center or visit the federal government's annual pass web page for more details.

Visitor Center hours are Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. and on Saturdays and Sundays from 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (closed on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day). The Visitor Center features wildlife exhibits, an authentic eagle's nest, Eagle Cam and Osprey Cam TV monitors, the Eagle's Nest Book and Gift Shop, a butterfly garden, restrooms, maps and brochures, and an informational kiosk. On the second floor is the "Wild Birds Unlimited Pathways to Nature Observatory," which features bird exhibits and spotting scopes for viewing the Blackwater River, the marsh, and the Osprey Cam platform. Also on the second floor is a Birding and Natural History Library where visitors can browse the Refuge book collection to learn more about the local wildlife. (The second floor is accessible via a staircase or a wheelchair-friendly elevator).

The Wildlife Drive and associated trails are open from dawn to dusk every day. Visitors can drive, bike, or walk the length of the Wildlife Drive, which is approximately four miles in length.

Pets are not allowed out of vehicles on the Wildlife Drive or on the trails, even if on a leash. This policy is to protect the endangered ground-feeding Delmarva fox squirrels. Pets can be walked in the area around the Visitor Center (in the parking lot).

If you need assistance while at the Refuge, feel free to stop by the Visitor Center or call 410-228-2677 (TDD/800-735-2258) for information. Enjoy your visit!