Duration: 1.5 hours
Distance:: 1.5 miles
Address: Hip Roof Rd Church Creek, MD 21622
Coordinates: 38.417902, -76.198691
Link to county page:https://www.fws.gov/uploadedFiles/Region_5/NWRS/South_Zone/Chesapeake_Marshlands_Complex/Blackwater/TubmanTrail.pdf
Difficulty: Hard
Tubman Road Trail offers a diverse landscape and ample wildlife-viewing opportunities. Chesapeake Marshlands NWR Complex manages the trail, which is part of Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge (BNWR). Some areas are difficult because the physical trail path is tough to walk along. Pets are not allowed, as it is a pedestrian-only trail. Additionally, the trail path is not wheelchair-accessible, and there are no amenities. The parking lot is not marked but is instead a gravel loop. The trail is, however, free to enter.
This trail is part of the BNWR, an area created in 1933 to protect wildlife. The road is not named after Harriet Tubman (although you may wish to visit the nearby Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historic Park) but instead is an old dirt road once used to reach homesteads. In the late 1600s, the land now used for the trail was cleared for farming by the Tubman family.
Overall, the Tubman Road Trail is very challenging. There are fallen trees on the path, and some of the trail is very narrow. The trail is not well-maintained. There are also swampy and muddy areas. If you visit shortly after a rain or during a rainy period, be aware that the path will become even more challenging. Despite these obstacles, you can spot sika deer and hear many species of frogs on the trail.
