Maryland | Talbot County / Eastern Shore Maryland

Tilghman Island and Bay Hundred Water TrailsClaiborne Landing to Tilghman Creek Landing

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

Route location

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Plan this route

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
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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Trip details

Access rules, camping, seasonal conditions and trip length.

Distance, difficulty, rules and camping
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.

Tomorrow and the weekend

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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.

Access map

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Start

Put-in

Claiborne Landing

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

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

Road shuttle

Access notes and hazards

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

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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Water levels, gauge history, and hourly forecast

Check the forecast and local water levels before launching.

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Data and sources

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

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 best for the Claiborne Landing to Tilghman Creek Landing 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 Claiborne Landing to Tilghman Creek Landing route on the Tilghman Island and Bay Hundred Water Trails start and end?

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

Is the Claiborne Landing to Tilghman Creek Landing route on the Tilghman Island and Bay Hundred Water Trails suitable for beginners?

This is listed as a hard 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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