With cliffs that rise above fossil-filled beaches, lighthouses standing watch over mysterious waters, and a bounty of wildlife that inhabits lush woodlands and flowing rivers, Charles County is a natural wonderland that will invite, excite, and satisfy! Practice your swing at a beautiful golf course. Go hiking, fishing, or birdwatching in any of the many nearby parks. Join a bike club and tour through scenic trails. Experience Central Parke at Colonial Charles; you’ll have the backyard of your dreams!

Golf
Choose from many nearby golf courses that will offer you the
challenge and breathtaking views you’re looking for!

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Parks
A natural wonderland awaits you at any of the scenic parks you’ll find minutes from your front door! With acres of wooded landscapes, open space, and water views, Charles County’s parks have plenty of activities for you to enjoy! Spend a warm, sunny day boating or bass fishing. Enjoy a picnic lunch on the river’s edge. Go treasure hunting on a fossil-laden sandy beach. Hike along a scenic trail canopied by grand trees. Take your binoculars and spy on a majestic Bald Eagle, a Barred Owl, colorful songbirds, or the official bird of Charles County, the Great Blue Heron.

The following are just a sample of the many parks you’ll find in your new neighborhood!

Cedarville State Park, Brandywine
Visit the warm-water fish hatchery. Hike, bike, or ride horseback along the 19.5 miles of marked trails. Explore the forest for the legendary Piscataway Indian Tribe burial ground that has yet to be discovered!

Oak Ridge Park, Hughesville
Cheer on a local team at a ball game played on one of many athletic fields. Also enjoy equestrian trails and events.

Chicamuxen Wildlife Management Area, Indian Head
Come and enjoy this birdwatcher’s haven with over 380 acres of prime marshlands as well as upland and rolling forested habitats. Don’t forget your binoculars!

Gilbert Run Park, La Plata
Go fishing on the 60-acre fresh-water lake. Rent a paddle boat, canoe, or aqua bike and enjoy the beautiful scenery! Visit the Nature Center featuring a 150-gallon aquarium and a variety of natural specimens.

Laurel Springs Regional Park, La Plata
Fitness enthusiasts will love the 1.6 mile running and walking trail that loops through the wooded perimeter of this park.

Myrtle Grove Wildlife Management Area, La Plata
Here you’ll have over 1,400 acres of forests and fields for prime birdwatching and nature photography. Also enjoy an eight-station firearms shooting range, a three-station archery range, and a 23-acre lake filled with fish.

Smallwood State Park, Marbury
Enjoy over 600 acres of recreational area offering fishing, boating, hiking, picnicking, and a large marina. Be sure to visit the restored home of Revolutionary War hero General William Smallwood, located right in the park!

Doncaster Forest, Nanjemoy
Catch butterflies as you enjoy a picnic under the trees. Almost 1,500 acres of nature at its best!

Friendship Farm Park, Nanjemoy
Fish license-free from the pier or shoreline! Take your boat down the winding creek as you enjoy viewing the abundance of wildlife.

Purse State Park, Nanjemoy
Walk the shoreline at low tide and search for 55 million year old fossils, shark’s teeth, bones, and shells. Bring a map and compass and follow the trails through the forest and along the wetlands' edge.

Chapel Point State Park, Port Tobacco
Enjoy 600 acres of scenic beauty! Use the sand launch area for your small boat, canoe, or kayak.

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Fishing
Whether you jig, cast, or troll, anglers of all skill levels will find the waters of Charles County challenging and rewarding! As the second largest tributary of the Chesapeake Bay, the Potomac River offers plenty of space to fish for over 60 species, including the Maryland state fish, the Striped Bass. Choose from popular waterways like Mattawoman Creek, Nanjemoy Creek, Piscataway Creek, and Port Tobacco River in Maryland, and Aquia Creek, Gunston Cove and the Occoquan River on Virginia's side of the Potomac. There are many marinas and public boat ramps along the county’s edge.

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Biking
Take your bike for a spin along the many beautiful bike trails in Charles County! Enjoy natural scenery and local, historic sites along many of the routes! Go solo, with a loved one, or with a local bicycle club…

Potomac Pedalers Touring Club

Patuxent Area Cycling Enthusiasts (PACE)

Patuxent Velo

Oxon Hill Bicycle & Trail Club

Snow Valley Cycling

Click here to request a bicycle map for Charles County!

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