Maryland | Talbot County / Eastern Shore Maryland

Tilghman Island and Bay Hundred Water Trails

Claiborne Landing to Tilghman Creek Landing

Route planning details, access notes, and local verification guidance.

Route location

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DistanceApproximately 5.2 miles one way from Claiborne Landing to Tilghman Creek Landing
DifficultyHard
Typical time4–8 hours depending on Eastern Bay/Miles River wind
ShuttleCar shuttle
Blackwater River at Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge in Maryland.
River contextBlackwater River tidal-marsh corridor; Maryland regional context only — not necessarily this exact reach.Photo by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Northeast Region via Wikimedia Commons

Need to know

Why this call
This route is documented for planning, but does not receive a Paddle Today score.
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Gauge history and hourly forecast

Use the gauge context and hourly forecast to verify local conditions before launching.

Gauge history & hourly forecastDetailed view

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Quick facts and what's next

Distance, difficulty, shuttle basics, and the near-term outlook before you commit to the drive.

DifficultyhardThe source describes recreational moving water, but shallow rock, current, cold water, debris, and bridge or access hazards remain material.
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.

Upcoming outlook

These are early planning reads. Re-check live conditions before you commit to the drive.

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Plan your trip

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

Access and shuttle

The official Eastern Bay and Tilghman Point route follows the exposed peninsula from Claiborne Landing around Tilghman Point into Miles River and Tilghman Creek.

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Start

Put-in

Claiborne Landing
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Claiborne has a public ramp and beach; Tilghman Creek is a shallow bulkhead access requiring boats to be lowered to water.

Finish

Take-out

Tilghman Creek Landing
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The shoreline is extensively private; do not land on farms, beaches, or piers.

Plan this segment

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Access caveats and watch for

Access caveats

  • Claiborne has a public ramp and beach; Tilghman Creek is a shallow bulkhead access requiring boats to be lowered to water.
  • The shoreline is extensively private; do not land on farms, beaches, or piers.
  • The route is closed at the named endpoints outside current Talbot hours and should not be extended into unplanned open water.

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
  • Claiborne Jetty, Tilghman Point, Eastern Bay wakes, Miles River, Tilghman Creek shallows, and hard public take-out

Data and sources

See the gauge, weather, and source notes behind today's call.

Read quality
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Today's evidence strength is checking

Evidence strength mostly comes down to three things: how direct the active gauge is, how clear the range is, and how fresh the data is.

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Gauge, thresholds, and timing

These are the live readings and threshold notes behind today's score.

Gauge siteChoptank River near Greensboro, MD
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Ideal rangeNeeds paddler reports
Known low-water floorNot calibrated yet
High thresholdNot calibrated yet
Evidence strength behind the rangeOfficial data source
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Paddle Today updatedChecking
Main source behind this scoreTalbot County and Maryland DNR water-trail wind, tide, and access guidance
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What 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 Eastern Bay and Tilghman Point Trail, Approximately 5.2 miles one way from Claiborne Landing to Tilghman Creek Landing

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

    Source

  • Authoritative public accessClaiborne Landing to Tilghman Creek Landing

    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

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Tilghman Island and Bay Hundred Water Trails paddling FAQ

What water level is good for paddling Tilghman Island and Bay Hundred Water Trails?

Paddle Today watches Choptank River near Greensboro, MD and uses Not calibrated yet as the conservative low-water floor for this route. The ideal range still needs more paddler reports.

Where does this Tilghman Island and Bay Hundred Water Trails route start and end?

This route starts at Claiborne Landing and ends at Tilghman Creek Landing, about Approximately 5.2 miles one way from Claiborne Landing to Tilghman Creek Landing on the water.

Is this Tilghman Island and Bay Hundred Water Trails route good for beginners?

This is listed as a hard route. Treat the live score as a planning aid, then confirm conditions, hazards, access, and group skill before launching.

See something outdated?

Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.