Flag Ponds Nature Park

Flag Ponds Nature Park is a nature reserve featuring two freshwater ponds and a dune system along the Chesapeake Bay shore in Calvert County. The property connects wetland areas with beach sections, offering trails that pass through varying landscape types.

Three fishing cottages called Buoy Hotel once stood at the site in the early 1900s, providing seasonal housing for fishermen working the local waters. These shelters served workers who supplied their catch to markets as far away as Baltimore.

The observation platforms scattered throughout allow visitors to watch birds and wildlife in their natural spaces. People come here to connect with the local ecosystem and see how water and land meet in this area.

Wear sturdy footwear because the trails have varied surfaces and some sections can be soft or uneven underfoot. The best times for bird watching are early morning or at dusk when wildlife is most active.

Visitors regularly discover Miocene-era fossils and shark teeth scattered along the beach, evidence of ancient marine life from millions of years ago. These finds emerge from geological layers exposed as the bay shoreline has eroded over time.

Location: Calvert County

Elevation above the sea: 28 m

Website: https://co.cal.md.us/1192/Flag-Ponds-Nature-Park

GPS coordinates: 38.44690,-76.45830

Latest update: December 12, 2025 09:02