MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES MARYLAND PARK SERVICE

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WETIPQUIN CREEK STATE PARK

Park Status Information

​​​Coming Soon: The park is currently under development and closed to public access at this time.​

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Highlights

​River behind the house, small but good for fishing.

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​The main house, buttercup yellow with a main section and an extended kitchen. Gabels in the room

​Old map of Maryland showing the location east of the Nanticoke River and south of Wetipquin Creek

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​ ​​​​​​ ​​​​​​​Updates/Public Notices

Public Input Survey: Wetipquin Creek State Park​​

About the property

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The property contains valuable tidal wetlands and is located in the Nanticoke Watershed, which supports many important commercial and recreational fisheries. Wetipquin Creek State Park is comprised of various ecosystems, including Wetipquin Creek, a tidal tributary that empties into the Nanticoke River, acres of tidal marsh and associated intertidal shrub-scrub areas, mature oak/hickory forests, as well as mixed pine and hardwood forests. This diverse habitat supports a wide array of wildlife, including coyote, fox, white-tailed deer, raccoon, beavers and multiple species of birds and waterfowl.

Main house from the river side. You can see marsh and forest all around  
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Expected Experiences available within park’s operating hours:


  • Areas for viewing waterfowl and wildlife
  • Docent led tours of the main house

Potential Activities pending public commentary, site assessments, research outcomes, and infrastructure development:

  • Picnic areas
  • Restrooms
  • Fishing pier(s)
  • Canoe/kayak launch
  • Equestrian amenities (e.g., specific parking facilities)
  • Paddling/water trail
  • Hiking (only) trails
  • Multi-use non-motorized trails (may include hiking, biking and equestrian use)
  • Community garden
  • Pavilion available for groups
  • Nature/visitor center
  • Playground
  • Overnight accommodations
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Wildlife at Wetipquin Creek

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Blue Heron at sunset

Waterfowl​​

Maryland's Eastern Sho​re is a legendary stopover along the Atlantic Flyway, transforming into a bustling winter haven for nearly 30 distinct species of migratory waterfowl.​ Visitors and birders can easily spot massive, noisy flocks of Canada geese blanketing the sky, elegant tundra swans feeding in open fields, and a rich variety of diving and dabbling ducks.

  • Great Egret: A large, dazzlingly white wading bird with a sharp, spear-like yellow bill and black legs. 
  • Green Heron: A small, stocky heron with a dark greenish-blue back, a rich chestnut neck, and a dark cap. Unlike larger waders, they are famously known for using "bait"—dropping feathers, twigs, or insects onto the water's surface to lure small fish within striking distance.
  • Great Blue Heron:​ The undisputed king of the local shallows. Standing nearly 4 feet tall with a massive wingspan, this blue-gray hunter is a year-round fixture along every creek, marsh, and shoreline in the county.

Fox hunting in tall grass
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Foxes, Beavers, and Deer

While waterfowl dominate the winter skies, Maryland’s Eastern Shore boasts a unique and fascinating mix of land and semi-aquatic mammals. The region’s dense pine woods, tidal marshes, and agricultural landscapes provide ideal habitats for several standout species.​​​​​

  • Sika Deer: Found in high concentrations around the marshes of Dorchester County, these are actually a small, elk-like species native to Asia that was introduced to the area in the early 1900s. 
  • ​​River Otters & Muskrats: The shore's endless maze of tidal creeks and brackish guts are alive with semi-aquatic mammals. ​
  • Red & Gray Foxes: Highly active nocturnal and crepuscular hunters, foxes thrive along the "edge habitats" where crop fields meet the forest lines.

​Bald eagle grabbing a fish out of the water
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Raptors and other birds​​

The skies, shorelines, and pine canopies of Maryland's Eastern Shore are a masterclass in avian diversity. With its mix of open water, dense wetlands, and flat farm fields, the region offers premium hunting grounds for majestic birds of prey and essential nesting territory for iconic coastal birds.

  • Bald Eagles: The Eastern Shore boasts one of the highest concentrations of nesting bald eagles in the lower 48 states. 
  • Ospreys: The true "fish hawks" of the Chesapeake arrive like clockwork every spring to breed. 
  • Great Blue Herons & Egrets: Standing as still as statues along the marshy guts and shallow shorelines, these patient waders are expert fishers. 
  • ​​Northern Harriers & Owls: In the winter months, northern harriers (or marsh hawks) can be seen gliding low over the saltmarshes with a distinct, erratic, V-shaped wing tilt. ​By night, the deep woods echo with the calls of Great Horned Owls and Barred Owls hunting the field edges.

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view of the house from the end of the long driveway. Trees line each side as you walk towards the main ho​use  
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​​​The Park Service plans to offer a variety of interpretive and educational programs, tours, and events exploring the region’s history, including the Long Hill plantation house, the lives of enslaved people at Long Hill, the history of indigenous peoples in the region, and 18th- and 19th-century farm life on the Eastern Shore.

Marshy area behind the property. There are shallow wetlands and open grassy fields 
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​​There are approximately 175 acres of farmland on the property. ​Based on continued collaboration with Wildlife experts at the Department of Natural Resources, some of this acreage could be converted to large-scale habitat for grassland nesting birds such as the ​​Bobwhite quail.