MARYLAND AT A GLANCE

WATERWAYS

BOATING WATERS

[photo, USS Constellation, Inner Harbor, Baltimore, Maryland]
  • Boating in Maryland
  • Boating Safety
  • Sailing
    • Maryland's 23 rivers and bays combine with more than 400 miles of water tributary to the Chesapeake Bay, and coastal bays. To and from the Atlantic Ocean, some 35 miles of water are accessible.


    USS Constellation, Inner Harbor, Baltimore, Maryland, November 2009. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.

    [photo, Anchors, Havre de Grace Maritime Museum, 100 Lafayette St., Havre de Grace, Maryland]

    Information about licensing, boat titles, and boat registration is available from the Licensing and Registration Service of the Department of Natural Resources. The Department also provides information about public boat launch facilities in Maryland. Within the Department, the Maryland Water Trails Program coordinates the development, promotion, and protection of a system of water trails throughout the State.


    Anchors, Havre de Grace Maritime Museum, 100 Lafayette St., Havre de Grace, Maryland, June 2015. Photo by Sarah A. Hanks.

    [photo, Boat rack along St. Mary's River, St. Mary's City, Maryland] As of 2017, approximately 550 marinas and some 248 public boat ramps were found in Maryland along with 226 additional public access sites for boating, including soft launches, transient docking facilities, and wharves. Maryland also has 753 miles of designated water trails.


    Boat rack along St. Mary's River, St. Mary's City, Maryland, May 2009. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.

    [photo, Crab boat with crab pots (traps), Chesapeake Beach, Maryland] As of 2017, more than 212,000 boats are registered in Maryland, including over 12,550 personal watercraft.


    Crab boat with crab pots (traps), Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, June 2010. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.

    [photo, Skipjack H. M. Krentz on Miles River, St. Michaels, Maryland] On the Eastern Shore, the Cambridge Classic powerboat races are held. Dating from 1910, they are the nation's oldest active powerboat races. The next race will be held in May 2019.

    Cambridge will host another powerboat race, the Thunder on the Choptank, on July 28-29, 2018.

    Skipjack H. M. Krentz on Miles River, St. Michaels, Maryland, February 2005. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.

    [photo, Sailboats, Back Creek, Annapolis, Maryland] The Baltimore Boat Show is held each winter at the Baltimore Convention Center. The next show will be held January 24-27, 2019.

    Each Spring, the Bay Bridge Boat Show is held on Kent Island at Stevensville. It is the largest Mid-Atlantic Spring boat show and will next be held April 2019.


    Sailboats, Back Creek, Annapolis, Maryland, September 2009. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.

    [photo, Boats at piers, Severn River, Crownsville, Maryland] Annapolis, Maryland's capital city, hosts the Spring Sailboat Show each April and the Annual United States Sailboat Show and the Annual United States Powerboat Show each October at the City Dock.

  • Spring Sailboat Show: April 2019
  • U.S. Sailboat Show: Oct. 4-8, 2018
  • U.S. Powerboat Show : Oct. 11-14, 2018

    • The Helly Hansen National Offshore One-Design (NOOD) Regatta is held in Annapolis each May. The next Regatta will be held in May 2019.


    Boats at piers, Severn River, Crownsville, Maryland, May 2015. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.

    [photo, Youghiogheny River, Friendsville, Maryland] In Western Maryland's Garrett County, the Youghiogheny Scenic and Wild River provides some of the best whitewater rafting east of the Mississippi. Its 20-mile stretch below the Youghiogheny River Reservoir offers whitewater rafting, beginning with class I and II rapids for the first 9 miles, and ending with a class III and IV section the next 7 miles.

    Also in Garrett County, the International Canoe Federation (ICF) 2014 Canoe Slalom World Championships were held in McHenry. That international event, on Sept. 17-21, 2014, required competitors to navigate a 300-meter whitewater course in either a canoe or kayak.



    Youghiogheny River, Friendsville, Maryland, October 2015. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.

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