st. mary's river state park
St. Mary's County
St. Mary's is a casual, secluded trip, perfect for fishing, Kayaking, or a walk along the river through the forest
St. Mary’s River State Park is a more relaxed southern Maryland destination built around the lake and surrounding woods, with space for fishing, walking, and quiet, casual time outdoors. It’s the sort of place people go when they want a peaceful park day rather than a packed itinerary. The forested trails follow the edge of the water, and a designated fishing area holds picnic tables and a playground. The park has seasonal hours, and the lake area has a small day-use fee ($3-5). Keep in mind that no swimming is allowed in the lake, but it's a great spot to overlook the water and enjoy a nature walk. If you have a canoe or kayak, there's a launch ramp and a beautiful open water space to explore.
St. Mary’s was a very chill visit for us. We weren’t exactly equipped to go out on the lake, so we spent some time on the dock admiring the water and discussing future plans to come back and kayak. We’ve heard it’s a great spot for fishing. We also spotted some birds along the edges of the lake and encourage you to visit and see what species you can find.
There are also some trails surrounding the lake, with one main 7.5 mile circling one all the way around. The views are absolutely gorgeous and the best ones can be reached about a mile from the parking lot by going counter-clockwise. On our walk, we saw a variety of mushrooms, spiders, and even spotted some white-tailed deer through the trees. The whole place had a very undisturbed, serene, and scenic vibe to it, though all the areas were well-maintained and accessible.
