Tilghman Island Passage

The Tilghman Island Passage is a 10-mile circumnavigation of Tilghman Island, near the mouth of the Choptank River.  The trip includes paddling in protected coves of the island, but also on open waters of the Choptank and Chesapeake Bay.  Shorter segments of the route can be followed for a trip of any length and paddling skill level.

Tilghman Island is rich in the history of Chesapeake Bay watermen and their close connection with the natural resources of the bay -- water, crabs, oysters, and waterfowl. The route starts at Knapps Narrows with its unusual “bascule counterweight” bridge and closely packed workboats and working wharves.

Dogwood Harbor offers a close look at the home port of the last fleet of boats still working under sail -- the Chesapeake Bay skipjacks.

The southern tip of the island is rich in natural history around Blackwalnut Cove, Barney’s Cove, and the Blackwalnut Point Natural Resources Management Area.  And you can watch out for electronic warfare scientists in the tower at a WWII-era research site.

Distance:

10.0 Mile circumnavigation, or shorter segments

River:

Lower Choptank, Chesapeake Bay

Start:

Tongers Basin, Knapps Narrows

Destination:

Circumnavigate Tilghman Island; or nearer destinations of Dogwood Harbor or Blackwalnut Cove.

Route Description:

Launch from the Talbot County public landing at Tongers Basin.  Head east out of Knapps Narrows, then southeast to Lower Harbor and Dogwood Harbor. Return to Tongers Basin or continue to Blackwalnut Cove at the south end of the island.  Explore Fairbank, Tilghman Island Landing, and Barney’s Cove.  Take out at Fairbank or continue around the west side shore to circumnavigate the island.

Themes:

Small Town Life, Riverine Trade, Nature/Environment

Best Seasons:

Summer, Autumn

Sites on This Trip

Site

Miles From Start

Features

Knapps Narrows

0.0

Chesapeake Bay skipjacks and workboats, working watermen’s wharves and docks, waterfowl, bascule vertical draw bridge

Lower Harbor (Dogwood Harbor)

.75

Public ramp, Chesapeake Bay skipjacks, Rebecca T. Ruark,  workboats, working watermen’s wharves and docks, waterfowl

Blackwalnut Cove

4.2

Wetlands, waterfowl

Tilghman Island Landing, Fairbank

4.6

Historic site occupied by the British in 1813-1814.

Barney’s Cove

4.8

Wetlands, waterfowl

Blackwalnut Point Natural Resources Management Area

6.6

Wetlands, waterfowl, wildlife, conservation programs, picnic tables, interpretive walks.

Tilghman Island Field Site (NRL)

6.8

Observation tower, laboratory and ship buildings (restricted)

Pawpaw Cove

8.0

Chesapeake Bay open waters, wetlands, wildlife

 

River Trip
Itineraries on the:

 Lower
Choptank

Middle
Choptank

Upper
Choptank

Tuckahoe
River

Planning
Guides