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Maryland | St. Mary’s County / Southern Maryland

St. Mary’s County Water TrailsTall Timbers Landing and Herring Creek loop

A bounded Herring Creek exploration from the public Tall Timbers sandy launch through protected inlets and the more open creek mouth.

Route location

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Plan this route

DistanceBounded Herring Creek loop along approximately 10 miles of shoreline; confirm the current route distance and turnaround on the county map
DifficultyModerate
Typical time3–8 hours depending on creek choice
ShuttleNo shuttle
Two paddlers move downstream on the Monocacy River beneath wooded banks in Maryland.
Route photoMonocacy River Water Trail paddling contextPhoto by Saki / National Park Service

Need to know

Why this call
This route is documented for planning, but does not receive a Paddle Today score.
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Route overview

Trip details

Access rules, camping, seasonal conditions and trip length.

Distance, difficulty, rules and camping
On-water distanceBounded Herring Creek loop along approximately 10 miles of shoreline; confirm the current route distance and turnaround on the county mapTall Timbers Landing and Herring Creek loop
DifficultymoderateThe source describes recreational moving water, but shallow rock, current, cold water, debris, and bridge or access hazards remain material.
ShuttleNo shuttleNo shuttle is required; launch and return at Tall Timbers after confirming the small-lot parking, sandy carry, sunrise-to-sunset hours, and current waterline.
PermitsCheck posted rulesFollow current St. Mary’s County public-landing hours, sunset-to-sunrise closure, no-overnight-parking/camping/open-fire rules, Maryland boating/PFD requirements, tide, marine-weather, and posted closure notices.
CampingOptions nearbyTall Timbers is day-use public access. Public-landing rules prohibit camping and overnight parking; use separate lodging or campground.
SeasonMar-NovSpring through fall is the practical planning season, but Maryland water levels, recent rain, temperature, debris, and daylight control every launch decision.

Plan ahead

Tomorrow and the weekend

Forecasts can change. Check current conditions again before leaving.

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Plan

Plan your trip

Launch points, shuttle details, distance, and access notes.

Route logistics

Access and shuttle

A bounded Herring Creek exploration from the public Tall Timbers sandy launch through protected inlets and the more open creek mouth.

Access map

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Start

Put-in

Tall Timbers public landing
Open mapDirections to put-in

The guide names a loop setting but not a stable single mileage; follow the current county map and leave a same-launch return margin.

Finish

Take-out

Tall Timbers public landing return
Open mapDirections to take-out

Most shoreline is private or working waterfront; no marina, farm, or marsh bank is an assumed bailout.

Road shuttle

Driving shuttle routeShuttle in Apple MapsOpenStreetMap
Access notes and hazards

Access caveats

  • The guide names a loop setting but not a stable single mileage; follow the current county map and leave a same-launch return margin.
  • Most shoreline is private or working waterfront; no marina, farm, or marsh bank is an assumed bailout.
  • Open Potomac water and jetties are outside the novice/sheltered option and require a separate marine plan.

Watch for

  • USGS 01594440 Patuxent proxy and current tide/marine forecast
  • shallow water, sand/portage, strainers after rain, wind, waves, current, wakes, cold water, marina traffic, and private shoreline
  • sunrise/sunset landing hours, parking/carry, small public beaches, limited lots, and hard same-launch returns
  • Tall Timbers sandy launch, Piney Point Elementary inlets, marina traffic, Herring Creek mouth, Potomac jetties, tide, wind, and daylight

Plan this paddle

Choose your trip times

No account needed. Check the selected access points above, then choose both dates and times. For an overnight paddle, set take-out to the following date.

Trip schedule

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Conditions

Water levels, gauge history, and hourly forecast

Check the forecast and local water levels before launching.

Gauge detail

Water-level history and forecastDetailed view

Gauge

Recent trend

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Weather

Hourly forecast

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Route gallery

Photos

Check each caption: some photos show the surrounding area rather than this exact trip.

Two paddlers move downstream on the Monocacy River beneath wooded banks in Maryland.
Monocacy River Water Trail paddling contextPhoto by Saki / National Park Service
National Park Service public-agency image

Sources

Data and sources

Read the access and hazard notes and check the linked guides. We do not issue a daily score for this trip.

NotesWhat to know before you go

These notes cover the access details, route quirks, and source caveats most likely to matter once you get there.

  • Named moving-water corridorSt. Mary’s County/DNR Herring Creek Loop Trail, Bounded Herring Creek loop along approximately 10 miles of shoreline; confirm the current route distance and turnaround on the county map

    The official county water-trail guide names the route, public endpoints, distance or bounded option, and route-specific tide/wind/shallow-water guidance.

    Source

  • Authoritative public accessTall Timbers public landing and Tall Timbers public landing return

    St. Mary’s County public-landing records and the water-trail guide identify the endpoint facilities. Coordinates are on/near-water access anchors and current operations must be verified.

    Source

  • Proxy flow and tidal evidenceUSGS 01594440 Patuxent River near Bowie, clearly labeled regional proxy

    The station is not local to these routes and supplies no safe-depth or tide cutoff. Use current tide/marine conditions and observed water.

    Source

  • Camping postureTall Timbers is day-use public access. Public-landing rules prohibit camping and overnight parking; use separate lodging or campground.

    County landing rules prohibit overnight parking/camping/open fires; camping requires a separate legal site or campground.

    Source

  • Live gaugeUSGS 01594440, Patuxent River near Bowie, MD

    This is a clearly labeled proxy or route-context station; local water, tributaries, releases, and weather can differ materially.

    Source

  • Approved route imageryRights-cleared public-agency or public-domain corridor image

    Rights-cleared Maryland public-river image used as regional context; it does not certify St. Mary’s tide, wind, access, or route hazards.

    Source

Verify it yourselfCheck the source links

Use these links to double-check the gauge, route details, and access notes before you head out.

Reports

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Keep exploring

More routes to check next

Compare another stretch on this river, or explore different rivers within 75 straight-line miles.

More in Maryland

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Maryland route guideBrowse every tracked Maryland route.St. Mary’s County / Southern MarylandJump to routes in this region.

More on St. Mary’s County Water Trails

All 8
Great Mills Launch to St. Mary’s CitySt. Mary’s County / Southern MarylandModerate · Approximately 7 miles one way along the shoreline; guide describes route choices from approximately 1 to 10 milesPiney Point Lighthouse and Museum Creek loopSt. Mary’s County / Southern MarylandModerate · Approximately 5.5 miles round trip within Piney Point Creek; the 4-mile Piney Point Landing extension is excludedPort of Leonardtown Park to Abell’s WharfSt. Mary’s County / Southern MarylandModerate · Approximately 6 miles one way; the guide also identifies Leonardtown Wharf and Camp Calvert as intermediate public access pointsSt. Inigoes Landing Jutland Creek loopSt. Mary’s County / Southern MarylandModerate · Approximately 6.75 miles round trip

Nearby routes within 75 miles

Calvert County Water TrailsSolomons Island Patuxent River loop · about 11 straight-line mi awayModerate · Approximately 2 miles round trip to Point Patience or Sandy Point, with optional coves and Back Creek extensions excludedPoint Lookout State Park Water TrailsPoint Lookout Creek loop · about 15 straight-line mi awayHard · Bounded Point Lookout Creek water-trail route; confirm current park map distancePoint Lookout State Park Water TrailsLake Conoy water trail · about 15 straight-line mi awayHard · Bounded Lake Conoy water-trail route; confirm current park map distancePoint Lookout State Park Water TrailsPoint Lookout Chesapeake Bay and Potomac Point route · about 15 straight-line mi awayHard · Bounded around-the-Point route; confirm current park map distance and marine conditions

Quick answers

St. Mary’s County Water Trails paddling FAQ

What water level is best for the Tall Timbers Landing and Herring Creek loop route on the St. Mary’s County Water Trails?

This planning route has no live Paddle Today score. Review the linked water-level sources, current access notices and route-specific hazards before travel.

Where does the Tall Timbers Landing and Herring Creek loop route on the St. Mary’s County Water Trails start and end?

This route starts at Tall Timbers public landing and ends at Tall Timbers public landing return, Bounded Herring Creek loop along approximately 10 miles of shoreline; confirm the current route distance and turnaround on the county map on the water.

Is the Tall Timbers Landing and Herring Creek loop route on the St. Mary’s County Water Trails suitable for beginners?

This is listed as a moderate route. Review the difficulty notes, hazards and current access conditions against your group's skills. No live score assesses this trip.

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