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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.

Get a Directions to the Park

Trail Map (pdf)

Calvert County Natural Resources Flag Ponds page


Hours*:

Memorial Day weekend-Labor Day weekend

  • Mon-Fri: 9am-6pm
  • Sat-Sun: 9am-8pm

After Labor Day until Memorial Day weekend

  • Fri & Mon: 9am-4pm
  • Sat-Sun: 9am-5pm
  • Tue, Wed,Thu: closed

*Please note that the beach and gate closes one half hour before the park closes. 

Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year Day.

NOTICES & UPDATES

Please 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 Delays

During 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. 

Interesting Facts

  • Millions of years ago, sharks, whales, crocodiles and other creatures inhabited the waters and shores of this area.
  • Most of these animals are now extinct, others are just no longer found here.
  • 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.

Upcoming Program

09/06/2019 10:00 AM • Flag Ponds Nature Park
09/06/2019 1:30 PM • Flag Ponds Nature Park
10/04/2019 10:00 AM • Flag Ponds Nature Park

Entrance Fees

The 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: 
$5.00 in-county resident or non resident.

April - October: 
$5.00 for in-county residents
$8.00 for non residents

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
$30 for non residents.
Vehicle registration is required for annual pass holders.

$10 for each additional vehicle registered in the same name.

Military Discounts Available.

Things To Do

See a Calendar of All Our Programs

Program participants do not pay the entrance fee on the day of the program.

  • Beach
  • Beach Combing
  • Birdwatching
  • Cross-country skiing
  • Observation piers at pond and on the bay
  • Fossil Hunting
  • Managed Hunting (permits through Maryland DNR)
  • Metal detecting (beach only)
  • Nature Study
  • Scuba diving
  • Swimming (no lifeguard on duty)

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.

Park Regulations

Dogs 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 Beach

Public Beach Advisories Available Online 
The Calvert County Health Department conducts routine water samplings of the county’s public bathing beaches from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Before you head to the beach this summer, check for advisories by visiting the health department online. 

Call Calvert County Environmental Health 410-535-3922 or 301-855-1557 or visit www.calverthealth.org.

Calvert Nature Society is dedicated to the protection and preservation of Calvert County’s natural heritage and the creation of an environmentally literate and aware community. We provide opportunities for appreciation and understanding of our natural world through our outreach initiatives and in support of the mission of the Calvert County Natural Resources Division.  The Society is a 501(c)3 organization.

Copyright Calvert Nature Society.
Mailing address: PO Box 122, Port Republic, MD 20676. info@calvertparks.org
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