Elk Neck State Park
History
The park had its genesis when, in 1936, naturalist Dr. William Abbott bequeathed his holdings along the Elk River to the state for use as a state park. Although he originally intended the land to be a gift to the Boy Scouts, a meeting with State Forester Fred W. Besley in 1935 persuaded Abbott to change the terms of his will. Following the state's purchase of additional acreage, the Civilian Conservation Corps created park improvements from 1937 to 1941.
Activities and amenities
- Turkey Point Lighthouse
Dating from 1833, the Turkey Point Lighthouse sits on a 100-foot (30 m) bluff overlooking the Upper Chesapeake Bay. The 35-foot (11 m) tower is a "private aid to navigation" maintained by a non-profit organization, Turkey Point Light Station, Inc., which offers weekend tours seasonally.
- Campgrounds
The park offers more than 250 campsites, rustic cabins, camper cabins, and youth group sites.
- Water recreation
The park offers a swimming beach, fishing, and crabbing, plus a boat launch and launch area for canoeing and kayaking.
- Trails
The park has 12 miles (19 km) of trails for hiking and biking.
Trail Name | Length | Difficulty |
---|---|---|
White Banks Trail | 3 miles (4.8 km) | Difficult |
Pond Loop | 1 mile (1.6 km) | Moderate |
Beaver Marsh Loop | 4 miles (6.4 km) | Difficult |
Lighthouse Trail | 2 miles (3.2 km) | Easy |
Ecology
The park is part of the Northeastern coastal forests ecoregion, with a landscape characterized by deep forests, bluffs, beaches, and marshlands.
In popular culture
The park was used as a filming location for the 1997 Clint Eastwood movie Absolute Power, The Curve, and as the setting of an episode of the television series Hannibal.