Flag Ponds Nature Park
1525 Flag Ponds Parkway
Lusby, MD 20657
Park Office: 410-586-1477
Reservations: 410-535-5327
Directions
Just 10 miles south of Prince Frederick, look for the sign along ROUTE 4 and turn LEFT onto Flag Ponds Parkway.
Flag Ponds Parkway is 3 miles south of the traffic light at Calvert Beach/Ball Rd.
Trail Map (pdf)
| NOTICES & UPDATESPlease check the Park Hours and Trail Closings updates from the Natural Resources Division. Due to high volume of visitation on weekends and holidays, expect temporary closures and delays for vehicular entry into the park. See details below. Jellyfish are present in the Bay's brackish waters. Contact the park for the latest jellyfish update. Those "shark fins" in the water are cownose rays. Read more about them. |
Temporary Closings and DelaysDuring periods of high visitation, when Flag Pond's capacity has reached maximum it will be closed and traffic will be stopped at the entrance and no additional vehicles will be allowed to enter, including those with members of their party who may have already entered. If you are not traveling in the same vehicle with others in your party, we suggest that you all arrive at the same time or carpool. If any vehicle leaves the park it will not be permitted to re-enter until the park reopens. Park RegulationsDogs are permitted in the park and on the beach, but they must be kept on a leash. Owners must pick up after their pets. Groups of 30 or more must make reservations to schedule a naturalist-led program and pay any applicable fees. Contact the Division office at 410-535-5327 to make a reservation. Check the Tide Tables for Long BeachUpcoming Program
Public Beach Advisories Available Online | Entrance FeesThe entrance fee / park pass is per vehicle. (Personal vehicle, such as a car, van, truck, or motorcycle).Society membership does not include free entrance into Flag Ponds. Checks or cash only, exact change is appreciated. We do not accept credit cards. Daily Entrance Fee Fee is per vehicle and good for the day of issue. If a visitor leaves the park, there is no guarantee of re-entry it to the park. January - March: April - October: November - December: $5.00 in-county resident or non resident. Walk-in/Bike: $2 person Bus (commercial, private, or public vehicle able to carry more than 15 people): $30 per bus Annual Park Pass $20 for in-county residents $10 for each additional vehicle registered in the same name. Military Discounts Available. Things To DoSee a Calendar of All Our ProgramsProgram participants do not pay the entrance fee on the day of the program.
Bring a picnic to enjoy on the beach or at the picnic area. No grills are allowed on the beach; we provide grills at the picnic area by the Visitor Center. |
Interesting Facts
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Millions of years ago, sharks, whales, crocodiles and other creatures inhabited the waters and shores of this area.
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Most of these animals are now extinct, others are just no longer found here.
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To the sharp-eyed visitor, sharks teeth and other Miocene fossils may be found along the park's shoreline
Flag Ponds Nature Park is also part of Maryland's history.
- From the early 1900's until 1955, three shanties housed fishermen during the main fishing season who worked a major "pound net" fishery supplying croaker, trout and herring to markets as far away as Baltimore.
- Known as "Buoy Hotel", the last shanty was destroyed in 2012 in a fire. It was rebuilt in 2015.