Annapolis Rock Road Intro | Howard County Bird Club

Size: A portion of the linear 6,700 acre Patuxent River State Park.Habitat: Extensive pine plantings and deciduous woods, scrub and second-growth, upland and floodplain, cultivated fields, streams, a pond, a beaver-created wetland, and bird feeders in winter at the headquarters building on Annapolis Rock Road.Best Months: Late April–May, September–October; December–March. All months can be of interest.Coverage Time: From under an hour to much of a day.Trails/Paths: A network of well-established horse trails throughout the area; some cross tributaries such as Cabin Branch. Crossing narrow tributaries generally does not require waterproof footgear; however, crossing Cabin Branch does. During rainy periods some trails can be extremely muddy. Trails along the Patuxent River are described in the Hipsley Mill section.Notable Birds: Wild Turkey, American Woodcock, Barn Owl, Long-eared Owl, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Eastern Whip-poor-will, Red-headed Woodpecker, Common Raven, Winter Wren, Gray-cheeked Thrush, nesting warblers, White-winged Crossbill.Amenities: A small sign on the north side of Annapolis Rock Road indicates parking for horse trailers and other vehicles on the south side of the road. Enter through a metal gate and follow a deeply rutted lane to the grassy (sometimes muddy) parking lot (P1 on the map). Upland trails originate here. Roadside parking along Annapolis Rock Road and Hipsley Mill Road (P2 – P5) provides closer access to floodplain trails. No facilities. Trails are unmarked. Cell phone coverage can be spotty.Handicapped Access: Limited. The large horse trailer parking lot and roadside pullouts offer a chance to see and hear nearby species; some offer a good view of
the sky. Most trails are uneven, some rutted.Operation and Hours: State parkland; dawn to dusk. Use by horse riders is heaviest on weekends, holidays, and summer evenings. Dog trainers with barking dogs can be a bigger problem than horses. Call 301-924-2127 for park information or 1-800-828-PARK (7275) to report problems.Special Attractions: Extensive pine plantings regularly produce breeding and wintering owls; American Woodcock display in late winter and early spring; and a
variety of warblers (including Cerulean) nest in the floodplain forest. This was the county’s last stronghold of nesting Eastern Whip-poor-wills. Migrants may still be detected occasionally.Hunting: Although there is hunting in most of the park, it is not allowed in this section. See map for boundaries.Nearby Sites: Long Corner Road,ipsley Mill Road, Howard Chapel Road.Compilers: Joanne Solem & Scott Berglund.

Howard County Bird Club

Annapolis Rock

Patuxent River State Park

Annapolis Rock Road, Woodbine Maryland 21797 (horse trailer parking lot)

Annapolis Rock Road, Woodbine Maryland 21797
(horse trailer parking lot)