North Point State Park: Family-Friendly, Educational, Wild Fun!

North Point State park is not short on history. It was home to the Bay Shore Amusement Park from 1906 to1947, and before that, soldiers marched along The Defenders Trail during the War of 1812. Today, you’ll find a beautiful waterfront park that features fishing piers, scenic water views, and hiking trails. North Point allows visitors to get a sense of one of Maryland’s great ecosystems.

Over half of the park is designated as protected Wildlands. There you can see local birds and wildlife including muskrats, beavers, foxes, otters, osprey, great blue herons, and bald eagles.​​ Visitors can hike on the easy to navigate Black Marsh Trail to get to the observation trail for the best views of the area. The Hiker-Biker trail, a stone dust surface, runs through the woods behind the old trolley station. It makes a great spot for stroller running or bike riding.

There is some access to the water for wading and swimming, but it is limited. There is a very small beach (maybe 60-90 feet of beachfront) that provides just enough sand to let the kids get their fill and just enough water to dip toes in.

North Point also has tons of picnic tables for sitting, snacking, and relaxing. The Visitor’s Center is open from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Outside of those dates, there are portable toilets available. The park is trash-free so plan to carry out whatever you carry in.

The space is known to reach capacity on the weekends during the summer. Call ahead or arrive early to make sure you’ll be able to gain entry. Price to enter is $3-6 per vehicle and varies by season.

North Point is great for the family that wants to hike and enjoy the beauty of Maryland’s Chesapeake Bay.