Along the Sassafras River • • • Historic Trail, Which Is Managed by T He National Pa Rk Service
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The Star-Spa ngled Banner National Historic Trail The Sassafras River Wat er Trail follows a portion of t he St ar-Spangled Ba nner National Along the Sassafras River • • • Historic Trail, which is managed by t he National Pa rk Service . The Star-Spangled Banner About t he River The War of 1812 Sassafras Natural Resources Trail t races the War of 1812 Management Area in the Chesa peake. From 1812 to 1815 Americans Over 20 miles long, the Sassafras River traces On May 61 1813, British Rear Adm iral Sir George fought to protect t heir rights and economic the shores of Maryland's Cecil and Kent Sassafras Natural Cockbu rn led his naval independence, facing superior enemy forces on counties before reaching its confluence with Resources Management Water Safety forces up the Sassafras the homefront and t he high seas. The st rategically the Chesapeake Bay between Howell Point and Area contains nearly River t o raid the twin Grove Point. The tributary begins near the town 1,000 acres of Safety is your responsibility. However, if you choose important Chesapeake region felt the brunt of t he ports of Georgetown wetland s, woodlands, to explore the Sassafras River, make sure you have the / 6u!Jppod/ uo.QoaJJaJ/ WoJ ·tf+unoJwa>J "MMM war. Along the trail you will encounter tangible of Sassafras, where the heavily wooded corridor and Fredericktown. :11sfA t!iunoJ 1ua>1 u1 6u11pp od inoqo and agricu ltural fields. appropriate boating skills before setting out and always evidence of the war and stories that bring people features shallow water and the average width is After quickly defeating ;now u1oa1 01 ·11011 l aJDM J<IM/J 1<1Jsa4J f.q1oau p uo The site is ma naged by use good judgement. Here are a few tips to remember: 110111a10M J<>Afl:I soJjossos a41 uo s1u1od ssa:xJO J!fqnd and event s to life. Find o ut more at: only around 20 feet. After passing under the Route the loca l militia, t roops a41 Jo O)fJO(ow D SUJO)UfOW 'pUD/AlDIN 'ii.wno) JUiJ)/ the State Forest and 301 Bridge, the river widens and the landscape torched loca l homes, pue1AJe1A1 'A~uno) ~ua)I Maryl and Park Service • Always carry and wear your life jacket. transitions from woodland to farmland with a few food stores, and boats. As legend has it, a brick home www.starspangledtrail.net and provides pu blic residential communities interspersed along the t t he top of the hill in Georgetown was saved by local Research your route and leave an itinerary with a 61o·s+Ja[o1douo+1ns·MMM recreational opportunities including hiking, biking, way. he roine Kitty Knight, who pleaded wit h the British friend or loved one '/!Dll J<>J DM l31mc1 equestrian t ~ail r' iljlfb, rd. , IJ , -. • .,. M anagement s.1 rwrrn officers for mercy n'1'le repea'tetlly putting out the JCMJH so,;J ·:~r ill/ ,, IWLJJJ,;jffJnJJll 'I/Hr''~ ~~SIUJWPD Area also contains nearly three miles of hor lin t1l ong SJ:Jil(OJd OUOJ/115 'UOL)DZJUObJO /OUOLJOJnpa J.t/OJd LIOU V flames wit h he r broom. Today that home is known as • Avoid boating or paddling alone. The Captain John Smith The twin ports of Georgetown and Fredericktown the Sassafras River and Tu rn er's Creek, er ating orw 'JUI 'spafoJd eue~ 1n s the Kitty Kn ight House (shown above), a popular inn dominate the scenery downriver of the Route 213 of the most pristine view-sheds on t he cnt1r riv 'r. and restaurant. In May 1813 and agai n in Ju ly 1814, • Check the weather and tide before you leave and Chesapeake National For more information about t he Sassafras N, tural 810 ·a>Jo adosa1p a4Jjosa11o+s 'MMM Bridge, with both communities serving as busy homes and residents up and down t he Sassafras and make sure you are prepared for inclement weather. ·oa1v a60lfJaH a>(oadosa4J a41 Jo sa11015 a41 pLIO centers for recreational boating. Between Turn er's Resources Management Area visit: ii.1110 4inv soa1v afJDl fJ<!H pUO/AJDIN a41 Jo iJJUOJSISSO neigh boring creeks were subjected to ra ids and the www.dnr.state.md.us/publiclands/eastern/sassafras.asp • Paddle/boat on bodies of water thtit arc a41 'll!M paioaJJ soM 11011 1a10M JoAJl:J soJjossos a41 Historic Trail Creek and the mouth of the Sassafras, dramatic whims of British forces. appropriate for your skill level. Al!JO\nnv seaJ'if aSewaH pue1A1ew a41 cliffs line both sides of the river. The f orested cliffs The Sassafras Ri ver Water Trail provide ideal habitat for nesting bald eagles, and Turner's Creek County Park For a full listing of Maryland boating regulations visit: +au ·stfoMa+oBtfoq·MMM is part of t he Captain John American Lotus the birds can often be spotted soaring overhead. www.dnr.state.rnd.us/boating/regulations/ '>(JOMJoN S/JOl JJ<JJOM puo SADM iJJ09 Ii.Of! iJ>(Oadosa4J Smit h Chesa peake National In addition to being one of the premier launch s1t0" n a41 46no141 aJJM<JS >fJDd 1ouoµoN a41 Aq papJ"OJd The beautiful American SDl\1 /IDJl l<!JDM J<>AJ/J s0Jjosso5 a41 JO/ <!JUOJS/SS\;f Historic Trail, Am erica 's first Despite its relatively small size, the Sassafras is a t he lower Sa ssafras River for paddlers and r er (lt1on(ll a:>!l\Jas >1Jed 1euo91?N a41 lotus (Nelumbo lutea) national w at er trail. The 3,000 boaters, Turner's Creek County Park conta ins 143 .i r , popular destination for powerboats, paddle craft, produces the largest flower Suggested Paddling Gear mile John Sm ith Trail, managed of land featuring hiking t rai ls, bathroom f ciliti s, and and workboats. As such, it can be especially busy of any plant in North a picnic pavilion. The site was once a thriving Ioctl I by t he National Park Service on weekends from May through October. For America, with a peak 11111 JH l II SIJl.LI Vd shipping port where loca l agricult ural products wN Life Jacket First Aid Kit in collaboration w it h many partners, t races t he paddlers seeking peace and quiet, the Sassafras blooming season of mid disbursed throughout the region . Today, a gr n<J r y till Whistle Extra Paddle exploratory voyages Sm ith conducted of t he July t hrough mid-August. offers numerous creeks whose shallow waters are stands on t he original site where an earlier comm1 , 1y Chesapeake Bay and m any major rivers bet w een ~· - ~ This plant wa s once a Ample Drinking Water Bai ler/Bilge Pump accessible by only the smallest vessels. shipped supplies to George Washington's Army dur mg 1607 and 1609. Along t he John Smit h Tra il are hoto by Chri rino favored food source for Cha rt, Compass & GPS Cell Phone the American Revolution. Kent Museum is located American Indians, who ate parks, m useums, historic sites, and w at er t rails just up the hil l from the park, contai ning antique Dry Bag w/ Extra Clothes Sunscreen & Hat American Indians on t he Sassafras the starch-rich roots and large seeds. Today, America n offering opport unities for recreation and discovery. agri cult ural implements from Kent County's form ing Tow Rope Water Shoes lotus is found in only three locations on the Ch esa peake Explore Smith's voyages, American Indian cultures, past . For Museum hours, visit : Prior to the arrival of European Bay: the Elk/Bohemia River syst em, Mattawoman Creek and the 17t h century Chesapeake. www.kentcounty.com/farmmuseum settlers, America n Indians on the Potomac River, and the Sassafras River. Find out more at: Leave No Trace lived along the waters of the Sassafras River for over 10,000 Puritan Tiger Beetle Mount Harmon Plantation When padd ling or boating on the Sassafras River it www.sm ithtra ii. net years. The river's tidal fresh might not seem like one person's actions could have SASSAF RAS RIV ER wat ers provided rich food a meaningful impact on the environment. However, Of the 5,000 Purit an tiger beet les left on Earth, 4,500 Located on th C ell sources for the indigenous when your actions are combined with those of reside in t he state of Maryland. In the Chesa pea ke, Co unty side f th peoples, including emergent thousands of others, t hey can ultimately do great harm t hese beetles ca n only be found along Calvert Cliffs and Sassafras Rive1 on a wetland plants such as arrow to the river's ecosystem. gorgeous peninsula And the Associated Creeks of Northern Kent Cou nty arum (Tuckahoe), yellow pond lily, Am erican lotus, and the high, sandy bluffs of t he Sassafras River. Puritan tiger beetles lay their eggs in t hese natural ly eroding bordered by Back pickere l weed. Spring spawning runs of sha d, herring, Individuals voyaging on the Sassafras River are cl iffs, whil e adu lt s spend t heir lives on t he sandy and McGill Cr0c ks, striped bass, and perch served as an important source encouraged to follow Leave No Trace idea ls and beaches below. Mount Harmon of protein, while woodland ga me such as whitetail practices. Here are a few suggestions for how you can Plantation trac rt <> deer, w ild t urkeys, and black bear were hu nted for help preserve the Sassafras: their meat and furs .