Hipsley Mill
Patuxent River State Park
Hipsely Mill Road, Woodbine Maryland 21797
Amenities: Small unpaved parking lot 50 feet east of the river on the south side of the road; may be muddy in wet i away from the parking lot is discouraged on legal hunting days.
Handicapped Access: Extremely limited. Trails along the river are flat; however, they are narrow, rough, and often muddy; downed trees and intruding vegetation during the growing season can be expected. Birding in the vicinity of the bridge and parking lot can be productive.
Habitat: Floodplain is of varying width bordered on the south and west by the Patuxent River and Cabin Branch; on the east by hills and fields. Seeps and small intermittent streams can be found throughout the area.
Layout: Trails are not maintained and not heavily used.
Downstream: Take the trail from the parking lot east toward the mouth of Cabin Branch. The trail parallels the river. Except during extended droughts, portions of this trail will vary from muddy to a quagmire. Hand clippers can be valuable to cut the Multiflora Rose canes which are difficult to avoid. If there has been precipitation, be prepared for waist high wet vegetation in places.
At the mouth of the Cabin Branch tributary in 0.7 miles, there are three choices:
- Cross Cabin Branch and continue on the interconnecting trails. Boots or even water shoes are a necessity as the water may be over ankle depth; attempt the crossing only when the water level is low.
- Turn left on the trail near the intersection and walk north along Cabin Branch. A loop can be made by turning left at the first junction in 0.5 miles and then left again at the next junction in about a hundred yards. Return south to the river by way of the field edges. Or continue north. Eventually this ends at the Hipsley Mill Road intersection with Annapolis Rock Road in about a mile. (This may be more suitable for two cars as it is then a mile back down Hipsley Mill Road to the river parking lot.)
- Turn around and retrace your steps to the parking lot.
Upstream: From the parking lot, cross the road and walk uphill away from the river about 50 feet. Look for an unmarked trail entrance on the left (west) side of the road. Several metal signs (with fishing regulations) are placed on trees just inside the trail entrance. This short trail also can be quite muddy in places as it parallels the river for a hundred yards. It then turns uphill and reaches the bottom of a field that lies along Hipsley Mill Road within 0.2 miles (near the parking lot P5 described in the Annapolis Rock site). After exploring the mown trails crisscrossing the fields, either return on the trail or walk along Hipsley Mill Road. Be aware that traffic is light but at high speeds.
The trails in this section of Patuxent River State Park are not heavily used by either equestrians or anglers. Birders are few, but there are rewards for those willing to battle the Multiflora Rose canes arching across the trail and the often soggy conditions underfoot.
For more information on this state park, see Patuxent River State Park.
Compiler: Scott Berglund
