Welcome to Tilghman Island, Maryland, a landscape nestled between the Chesapeake Bay and the Choptank River. Located on Maryland's Eastern Shore, Tilghman Island brings to life picturesque sunsets and the perfect balance of nature, water, and culture. The area, suited for exploration by land or water, is home to generations of village watermen, restaurants, B&B's, and country inns. The island encompasses approximately 1,300 acres and is three miles long.
The recreational resources for Tilghman Island are equally diverse and include a mix of public landings or boating access points. Some of the water trails are protected from wind and current, providing ideal conditions for the novice, as well as, the experienced paddler. The surroundings provide adventure seekers public access to a natural habitat and the ability to view wildlife where land and water intertwine. Prehistoric Life The Tilghman Island area has changed significantly over the past 18,000 years. Fossil remnants found on the island indicate giant beavers occupied its landscape during the last Ice Age. These beavers were approximately the size of a modern day bear. This is the only documented site in Maryland where the remains of this extinct mammal have been discovered. Archaeological sites on the island suggest humans lived in this region over the past 13,000 years. At the end of the Ice Age, people who hunted mammoths and mastodons settled on the land that would later become Tilghman Island. As sea levels rose, people began to gather shellfish, catch fish, and harvest crabs in the developing Chesapeake Bay. Today, we find large piles of oyster shells around the shorelines of the island associated with these later Native American cultures. Underwater Inhabitants The water surrounding Tilghman Island provides extensive habitat for oysters, crabs, clams and fish. The shallow creeks and marshes harbor a multitude of underwater organisms. In the spring and summer, sub-aquatic vegetation (SAV) appears on the sandbars, mudflats and within the tidal creeks. The SAV provides camouflage for young crabs, grass shrimp and juvenile fish. While kayaking and canoeing around the island or creeks in the area, you may see schools of fish, blue crabs and small reefs of oysters. If the tide is low, you might observe a variety of clams and other small marine animals within the intertidal zone. Seasonally, vast numbers of rays and skates can be seen feeding on the shoals and sandbars. On rare occasions, you may catch a glimpse of dolphins or porpoises and sea turtles. Winged Residents of the Island Many species of birds and waterfowl frequent the mouth of the Choptank River, the tidal creeks and the various wetlands near Tilghman Island. Birds of prey, such as eagles, hawks and owls call the island their home. Gulls, terns and other smaller bird species are common residents, as well.
On the northwest end of the island, Back Creek offers a setting to observe wading birds and other avian denizens of the salt marsh. On the mudflats and shallow sand bars, herons, egrets and sandpipers might be observed feeding. Meanwhile, red-winged blackbirds and marsh wrens may be seen defending their wetland territories. The visitor may also see terns and gulls perched on top of the pilings that line Knapps Narrows. The broad tidal water that surrounds the island also serves as bird habitat. Along the marked channels, osprey take up residence on the navigational platforms and buoys. Sea ducks, mergansers and cormorants claim the open bay as their feeding ground. Cormorants can also be observed perched on the poles used by watermen to stake their pound nets. It is not uncommon to hear the call of a loon as you paddle around the island during the fall or spring months. Other winged residents of the island only congregate for a short time during the early fall. Tilghman Island serves as a rest area for millions of monarch butterlifes along their annual migration route to Mexico. Typically during the last week of September, the flowering meadows on the island become a temporary feeding ground for the monarchs. Black Walnut Point, being the southernmost tip of the island, again serves as a place to rest before the butterflies traverse the bay or the Choptank River. The trees and bushes become decorated with millions of brightly colored orange monarch butterflies for only a few days. Water Trails There are ten suggested paddling routes around and near Tilghman Island. The trails are not marked and demand a certain level of skill and caution. Being located on the bay and in areas with a large amount of open water, paddlers should be aware of the weather forecast, wind direction, wind speed, tides and water temperature before undertaking any of these trails. The sights that you can see along each trail and the experiences you may enjoy vary depending on the season of the year.
Paddling and Boating Safety
American Canoe Association The American Canoe Association advocates for paddler safety, clean water, the preservation of natural resources and paddler access to our waterways. For information on paddling trip preparation and safety tips, visit the American Canoe Association on the web at www.acanet.org or call (703) 451-0141. Guides and Outfitters While many visitors and residents enjoy birdwatching, sailing, paddling and boating, sportfishing and hunting remain two of the most popular outdoor recreational activities. The island shares a wealth of charter fishing and hunting guides, as well as, businesses designed for kayaking, canoeing and small craft rentals. 
The Department of Natural Resources has partnerhsip agreements with several outfitters who provide complete equipment rental and/or guide services. For more information, contact the Maryland Park Service at (800) 830-3974 or visit Outdoor Adventures in Maryland on the web at http://www.dnr.maryland.gov/outdooradventures. Also, information may be obtained from the Talbot County Office of Tourism at (410) 770-8000 or on the web at www.tourtalbot.org. Sharp's Island A tilted lighthouse located offshore at the southern end of Tilghman roughly marks the former location of an island, known as Sharp's Island, that once encompassed 900 acres of land. Farms, forests and orchards were once part of this landmass. In the 1950s, the last remnant of this former grand island washed away. Being located at the mouth of the Choptank River, the shoals around Sharp's Island were deemed a navigational hazard. Historically, a series of beacons or bay lighthouses were used to aid early seafarers at this location. The current lighthouse was constructed in 1882. During a severe winter in the late 1970s, the Chesapeake Bay froze solid. In the spring of that year, the moving ice piled up against the lighthouse and caused it to lean. Leave No Trace Outdoor Ethics 
Remember that all of Maryland's State Parks are Trash-Free, so pack out what you pack in! Thanks for being a good steward of Maryland's outdoors. Poplar Island Restoration Project Located northwest of Tilghman Island, Poplar Island was one of the first English settlements on the Eastern Shore. By 1632, William Claiborne regularly used the island to support and defend his Virginia colony fortifications on Kent Island. A band of Nanticoke Indians invaded the island in 1637 and killed the early English settlers who had established a fledgling plantation. By the late 19th century, the island supported a store, a school, a post office and a large watermen's community.
Many federal, state and local entities are involved in the Poplar Island Restoration Project. This project will create a 1,140 acre island from dredged material placement, approximating the island's historic configuration. Over a 20 year period, 38 million cubic yards of dredged material from maintenance by the Maryland Port Administration and the Corps of Engineers Channels Federal Navigation Project will be used to create upland and wetland habitat. The existing valuable waterbird and bald eagle nesting habitat will also be protected. Currently, there are plans to further expand the island area. The Poplar Island Restoration Project may serve as a model for similar types of projects in the Chesapeake Bay and throughout the nation. Waterman's Way of Life The waterman's way of life can be traced back to the prehistoric peoples that lived on the Delmarva Peninsula. For example, the "pound net" is illustrated in some of John White's paintings of native people living in the Middle Atlantic area circa 1585. While kayaking or canoeing around the island, you will probably notice a series of poles arranged in a linear pattern. Depending on the time of year, you might see a net attached to the poles. These are modern versions of "pound nets" once used by Native Americans to catch fish.
During the 20th century, crabbing and clamming became important additions to the waterman's lifestyle. Seafood processing plants appeared on the island during this era. The Tilghman Packing Company was one of the principle employers of the island's residents from 1940 to 1970. Oyster packing houses, such as Harrison's Oyster Company, are still active today. Tilghman Island serves as one of the last surviving waterman communities in the country. While kayaking or canoeing around the island, you will see commercial fishing boats, crab vessels, hydraulic clam boats, and oyster vessels, including the famed Skipjack. During the early morning hours, the buzz of gasoline engines and diesel motors announce the daily migration of watermen from their island homes to their offices in the bay. Skipjacks on Dogwood Harbor Dogwood Harbor located on the east side of Tilghman Island, operates as one of the last ports for the skipjack.
Drawbridge As you drive onto the island, you will pass over the Knapp's Narrows drawbridge. The bridge in known as a "bascule" bridge. On the principle of the seesaw, one end is counterbalanced by the other with weights. The current bridge replaced a similar but earlier bridge in 1998. The former bridge now serves as the entrance to the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in St. Michael's. The Knapp's Narrows drawbridge is one of the most active drawbridges in the world. It opens between 10,000 and 15,000 times per year for boat traffic. Directions From the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, follow Route 50 East (toward Easton and Ocean City) for 26 miles. Turn right onto Route 322 South. Travel 2 miles, turn right onto Route 33 West. Travel on Route 33 for 24 miles to Tilghman Island.
The trail guide is available in the online store!
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Located at the end of the island, Black Walnut Point and Black Walnut Cove offer an excellent vantage point to observe the various winged residents of the island, including bald eagles. Swan, geese and ducks may be observed feeding in the shallows near the point and within the cove. Being the southernmost extent of land, migratory birds frequently stop to rest, feed and roost before crossing the Choptank River.
From 1850 to present, Talbot County has lost over 3,200 acres of land to shoreline erosion. Like Sharp's Island, Poplar Island has suffered an amazing amount of land loss during the last two centuries. When the island was first settled by colonists, it encompassed well over 1,100 acres of land. By 1840, the land area has decreased to 800 acres. The once single landmass included only seven small islands with a combined area of less than 70 acres of 1990. Presently, Jefferson Island and Coaches Island, represent the only surviving unaltered parts of the original parent island.
The early colonists who settled the island practiced a lifestyle that was a mix of agriculture and fishing. After the Civil War, the demand for seafood as a market commodity increased, fostered by improvements in transportation. At that time the waterman lifestyle began to develop. Oystering and fishing were the principle occupations. These lifestyles demanded seasonal migrations of watermen up and down the bay to take advantage of the various fish runs and oyster bars. The first waterman settlements on Tilghman Island were established along Knapp's Narrows. Along Dogwood Harbor, it still serves as the heart of the island's waterman legacy.
Constructed in 1886, the Rebecca T. Ruark is the oldest remaining skipjack and calls Dogwood Harbor her home. The skipjack is an oyster dredging vessel powered by the wind. During the era of massive oyster harvests, skipjacks along with other sailing dredge boats were a common sight on the Chesapeake Bay. Presently, there are only a few original skipjacks scattered about the bay.