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Surprise! There's a new kayak launch at Fort Smallwood Park in Anne Arundel County!
The new launch is on the west / Rock Creek side of Fort Smallwood Park and really opens up Rock Creek for the casual paddling, plus allowing easier access for paddlers who want to go for miles. Nearby sheltered White Pond offers lovely paddling, with the option of continuing to land on the main Weinberg Park beach and drag over the sandbar into the Weinberg Park tidal pond. If you duck around the Maryland Yacht Club point and head left into Wall Cove past the commercial marina, you'll find wooded shores with lots of birds.
The new launchsite is near the fishing pier. Park in the fishing pier parking lot (NOT the trailered boat parking lot) and look for the renovated historic concession stand with the red metal roof on the right of the paved walkway to the fishing pier. The new launchsite path is on the left across the paved walkway from the concession stand. Bring wheels if you can. It's a longish flat carry to the sandy put-in.
Fort Smallwood website: https://www.aacounty.org/departments...ort-smallwood/
Park admission is $6 a car. If you're over 60 you can get a lifetime regional park pass for $40. Cash and checks accepted at the gate, no cards accepted at the gate. Details at the link above.
The county opened this new launch sometime this summer and didn't tell anyone. With most of the park, including the east side kayak launch near the swimming beach, closed off for the summer, no one noticed the new launch on the west side. I'm worried the county will say no one used it and close it again.
It's a great launch and gets you into Rock Creek without paddling around the Fort Smallwood point with its rough water and fishing lines. White Pond is really pretty. Please try it out.
Lisa
The new launch is on the west / Rock Creek side of Fort Smallwood Park and really opens up Rock Creek for the casual paddling, plus allowing easier access for paddlers who want to go for miles. Nearby sheltered White Pond offers lovely paddling, with the option of continuing to land on the main Weinberg Park beach and drag over the sandbar into the Weinberg Park tidal pond. If you duck around the Maryland Yacht Club point and head left into Wall Cove past the commercial marina, you'll find wooded shores with lots of birds.
The new launchsite is near the fishing pier. Park in the fishing pier parking lot (NOT the trailered boat parking lot) and look for the renovated historic concession stand with the red metal roof on the right of the paved walkway to the fishing pier. The new launchsite path is on the left across the paved walkway from the concession stand. Bring wheels if you can. It's a longish flat carry to the sandy put-in.
Fort Smallwood website: https://www.aacounty.org/departments...ort-smallwood/
Park admission is $6 a car. If you're over 60 you can get a lifetime regional park pass for $40. Cash and checks accepted at the gate, no cards accepted at the gate. Details at the link above.
The county opened this new launch sometime this summer and didn't tell anyone. With most of the park, including the east side kayak launch near the swimming beach, closed off for the summer, no one noticed the new launch on the west side. I'm worried the county will say no one used it and close it again.
It's a great launch and gets you into Rock Creek without paddling around the Fort Smallwood point with its rough water and fishing lines. White Pond is really pretty. Please try it out.
Lisa
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