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Maryland | Talbot County / Eastern Shore Maryland

Tilghman Island and Bay Hundred Water TrailsNeavitt Landing Balls Creek loop

The official Balls Creek Trail is a roughly 3-mile loop from Neavitt Landing through contrasting residential, agricultural, marsh, and natural shorelines.

Route location

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Plan this route

DistanceApproximately 3 miles round trip from Neavitt Landing around Balls Creek
DifficultyModerate
Typical time2–5 hours depending on Balls Creek/Choptank/Broad Creek wind
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 distanceApproximately 3 miles round trip from Neavitt Landing around Balls CreekNeavitt Landing Balls 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 Neavitt after confirming permit, extremely limited parking, bulkhead condition, and marine forecast.
PermitsCheck posted rulesFollow current Talbot County landing permits, hours, parking, launch/carry rules, Maryland boating/PFD requirements, tide and marine forecasts, and posted closures. The official guide prohibits camping at public landings; no route camping is claimed.
CampingDay tripNo camping is permitted at Talbot County public landings. Use nearby lodging or a separately confirmed campground; do not treat private shoreline or marsh as overnight access.
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

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Plan

Plan your trip

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

Route logistics

Access and shuttle

The official Balls Creek Trail is a roughly 3-mile loop from Neavitt Landing through contrasting residential, agricultural, marsh, and natural shorelines.

Access map

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Finish

Take-out

Neavitt Landing return
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The guide mentions longer extensions into Choptank or Broad Creek; those are not included in this bounded loop.

Road shuttle

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Access notes and hazards

Access caveats

  • Neavitt is remote with limited parking and bulkhead access.
  • The guide mentions longer extensions into Choptank or Broad Creek; those are not included in this bounded loop.
  • No camping is permitted at the public landing.

Watch for

  • USGS 01491000 Choptank watershed-context proxy and trend
  • wind, waves, wake, tide, current, shallow water, sandbars, bridge/drawbridge traffic, commercial watermen, thunderstorms, and cold water
  • Talbot County permits, 11 p.m.–4 a.m. landing closures, limited parking/carries, private property, and hard endpoint access
  • Balls Creek mouth, Choptank/Broad Creek exposure, private residential shore, Neavitt bulkhead, and limited parking

Plan this paddle

Choose your trip times

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Conditions

Water levels, gauge history, and hourly forecast

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Gauge detail

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Gauge

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Weather

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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 corridorTalbot County/DNR Balls Creek Trail, Approximately 3 miles round trip from Neavitt Landing around Balls Creek

    The official Talbot County/DNR water-trail guide names the corridor, route option, distance, difficulty, public endpoints, and wind/tide posture.

    Source

  • Authoritative public accessNeavitt Landing to Neavitt Landing return

    The official guide gives the managed public landing, GPS, launch type, permit/hours, parking, and carry posture for the named endpoints.

    Source

  • Proxy flow and tidal evidenceUSGS 01491000 Choptank River near Greensboro watershed-context proxy

    This station is not local to every Talbot route and no numeric safe-depth cutoff is claimed. Use current tide, wind, observed depth, charts, and endpoint conditions.

    Source

  • Camping postureNearby basecamp only

    The Talbot guide states camping is prohibited at public landings; no on-route campsite is claimed.

    Source

  • Live gaugeUSGS 01491000, Choptank River near Greensboro, 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 moving-water context; it does not certify Talbot County tide, wind, depth, 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.

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Maryland route guideBrowse every tracked Maryland route.Talbot County / Eastern Shore MarylandJump to routes in this region.

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Nearby routes within 75 miles

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Quick answers

Tilghman Island and Bay Hundred Water Trails paddling FAQ

What water level is best for the Neavitt Landing Balls Creek loop route on the Tilghman Island and Bay Hundred 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 Neavitt Landing Balls Creek loop route on the Tilghman Island and Bay Hundred Water Trails start and end?

This route starts at Neavitt Landing and ends at Neavitt Landing return, Approximately 3 miles round trip from Neavitt Landing around Balls Creek on the water.

Is the Neavitt Landing Balls Creek loop route on the Tilghman Island and Bay Hundred 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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