Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge

A refuge of roughly 11,000 hectares of tidal marsh, freshwater ponds and mixed woodland south of Cambridge, and the largest bald eagle breeding site on the American East Coast north of Florida. Around 35,000 geese and 10,000 ducks winter here, and the marsh also holds nutria, sika deer, otters and the endangered Delmarva fox squirrel. Sea level rise has converted large areas of former marsh to open water over the past century, which is visible in the landscape itself.

The standard visit is the Wildlife Drive, a roughly 6 kilometre loop with pull-offs and observation points, plus several short walking trails and a visitor centre. Even a brief pass on Bestpitch Ferry Road along the eastern edge gives a strong sense of the place.

Good to know:

• Small per-vehicle fee for the Wildlife Drive; visitor centre hours are limited outside the main season
• Waterfowl numbers peak from late autumn through winter; eagles are visible year round
• Bring binoculars, and insect repellent in the warmer months