When the Magothy River comes up in boaters’ conversations, often the popular anchorage at Dobbins Island quickly follows. Yet several other lovely, though perhaps less visited spots beckon along the Magothy’s winding, bridge-free 12 miles. To better acquaint water lovers with the river’s charms, the Magothy River Association (MRA) will launch a water trail this summer detailing favorite spots along the river and its creeks.
The Magothy River is a lot like a hand, says MRA president Paul Spadaro, with a narrow opening at the wrist between Persimmon and Mountain Points. Then there’s the wide palm with plenty of room for sailing around Sillery Bay and Dobbins Island and fingers of narrow winding creeks. In all, the Magothy offers around 65 miles of shoreline to explore. The new water trail will highlight many of the natural and historic points of interest in the Magothy River watershed.
The water trail will run from Beachwood Park on the upper Magothy to Spriggs Farm Park on the south shore across from Dobbins Island. At the Beachwood Park end, MRA volunteers have cleared and mulched a trail in the park with direct access to the water for kayakers. A major effort behind the water trail involves tying digital accessibility to trip planning and to enhancing boaters’ real-time experience on the water. The MRA website will feature a trail map with links to aerial videos of the river and its creeks on YouTube. It will also point out amenities such as anchorages, marinas, and restaurants on the river. The map will describe eight of what Spadaro calls the Magothy’s “hidden places”: secluded lakes, marshes, and wetlands accessible only to shallow-draft vessels such as skiffs, dinghies, kayaks, or SUPs.
Near the mouth of the Magothy lies Sillery Bay, visited by Captain John Smith in June 1608 during his first voyage exploring the Chesapeake. Bounded by Gibson Island to the east and Dobbins Island to the southwest, Sillery Bay plays host to several lovely anchorages with plentiful natural areas. Eagle Cove, which lies between Holland and Purdy Points on the north side of Gibson Island, is a well-known “secret,” so it can fill up on weekends. Nearby, Cornfield Creek may offer more solitude at night; though waterskiers enjoy its protected waters during the day. Gray’s Creek also invites exploration; however, it is shallower and trickier to enter than Cornfield Creek or Eagle Cove. Within easy reach by dinghy or kayak from Dobbins Island is Cooley’s Pond, one of the Magothy’s hidden places.
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A hidden corner of Broad Creek[/caption]
Several more creeks with their own hidden places merit exploration. Just as its name implies, Broad Creek is deep, wide, and easily accessible. Among its attractions are the house made of floor to ceiling glass panels on the northern shore and another hidden wetland with its entrance near the glass house. One creek further west, Blackhole Creek offers a nice spot to anchor once the narrow entrance to the creek is cleared. The creek gets shallow upstream, making it another hidden place to explore by a shallow-draft vessel.
Nature and mystery are not the only things the Magothy has to offer. Full-service marinas and excellent food await as well. Lawrence and Priscilla McAndrews have ranked a trip to Ferry Point Marina on Mill Creek as one of their favorite outings on the Chesapeake. “On a weekend we will frequently get a slip at Ferry Point and eat at the Point Crab House and Grill and then sail to Rock Hall and eat at Waterman’s or vice versa depending on the wind,” said McAndrews.
The Magothy also boasts a commitment by its residents to preserving the legacy and living history of the river. The MRA is spearheading an effort to collect old photos and oral histories from residents along the Magothy and share them online. The group’s web site features interviews with longtime residents along with a fascinating visual tour of a 1934 scrapbook in which a bald eagle’s nest was photographed over the course of a season (see the video at magothyriver.org/projects/living-history). If you grew up around the Magothy and have stories or scrapbooks to share, please contact MRA through their web site: magothyriver.org. #
