Dinghy-accessible beaches or walks?

[dtempleton]

With the crew asking for time ashore I'm looking for a list of accessible beaches or nature walks that are not crowded with powerboaters. Found the one in Little Bay (Fleets Bay) but it was 80% powerboats and jetskis.

I'm sure you all have some favorites to share...

D

[T37Chef]

Upper Bay, Middle, Lower or all?

[dtempleton]

We're near Deltaville, so are looking in the middle western and eastern shore.

[mccary]

There are plenty of walks available from dingy. Many of the large towns that attract boats are good, St Michaels, Oxford, Baltimore, Annapolis are all available (most are crowded on weekends). Tangier Island is another and should be on everyone's "must see" list of places, although a dingy isn't needed.

Beaches, Still Pond has a nice beach and you can beach the boat there too. Rhodes River is another nice place and one island has a beach BUT it has more than its share of power boats.

[MJBrown]

Worton Creek has a great beach but it's in the northern part of the bay.

[kb3pwc]

If you visit the Kent Narrows area, you can explore the Cross Island Trail. It is nice for walking or riding your bike (if you carry those). Kent Island does offer lots of choices....many places to dine, many choices for marinas. The trail goes from the Narrows all the way to the Bay. If the wind is blowing, you can frequently see the kite boarders catching air over there. They are pretty exciting to watch.

If you leave the south Kent Narrows channel heading South and take a turn to the left, you can anchor in Marshy Creek and take the dink to the Nature Center that sits along the creek and Prospect Bay. All good places to walk and explore.

Leslie kb3pwc
SV "Tango"
Cabo Rico 34
Lying Oxford, MD

[dtempleton]

Thanks, all!

May see you there this weekend!

D

[wwilson]

Originally Posted by dtempleton

With the crew asking for time ashore I'm looking for a list of accessible beaches or nature walks that are not crowded with powerboaters. Found the one in Little Bay (Fleets Bay) but it was 80% powerboats and jetskis.

I'm sure you all have some favorites to share...

D

Dennis,

Here are five in your area of the bay that we have used: traffic is very light and powerboats are rare other than fishing skiffs at the launch ramps.

Saint Mary's City, Horseshoe Bend, St Mary's River, 38°11.38'N x 76°26.00'N
You can tie your boat to the College docks during daylight hours and walk the school campus or beyond. The anchorage in the bight is very good and reasonably well protected from all directions.

Point Lookout Marina, Smith Ck/Jutland Ck. off the Potomac R. 38°06.96'N x 76°23.99'W
The marina has a dinghy dock, or you may tie the boat to the pier free if you dine in the restaurant. You can walk the (unfortunately named) Tick Neck roads, very rural, very pretty.

Sandy Point, Great Wicomico River, 37°49.24'N x 76°18.60'W
A very pretty sandy beach backed by a pretty old farm usually planted in corn. The beach is no doubt private, but the "poaching" is infrequent and respectful (not trashing). You can anchor close and dinghy, or swim ashore.

Urbanna Ck, off the Rappohannock R. at 37°38.11'N x 74°34.29'W
The town of Urbanna VA has a town marina with a boat ramp and free use dinghy dock. Walk the pretty old town that has lots of interesting history and everything the mariner may need. The anchorage is pretty and also well protected.

Put-In-Ck, East River, Mobjack Bay, 37°24.99'N x 76°20.22'W
There is a boat ramp with dock that you can tie to for a walk along VA 14 (pretty rural and low traffic). Anchorage in the Ck is very protected and has a sticky mud bottom providing good holding. Pass Sally Tompkin's Plantation home to stbd on entry to the East R.

On the Eastern Shore:

Onancock, Onancock Ck--entry south of the Tangier & Pocomoke Sounds, 37°42.73'N x 75°45.34'W
There is a dinghy dock, just beside the town boat ramp and wharf that is free use. You can walk up the road to the little town of Onancock, VA and around its attractions: mansion, restaurants, hardware store, ice cream, etc. There is dockage for the boat or you can anchor in the pond off the wharf in 9' depth, very protected.

Kiptopeke Beach, 37°10.0'N x 75°59.34'W
There is a pier and ramp that you can use to land a dinghy. The area around the pier is a VA Commonwealth Park. You can anchor and overnight behind the sunken Liberty Ships. I've not landed a dinghy here, but watched as others did. Approach from the north or through the "cut" in the west, fish weirs block the south entry.