Flag Ponds Park

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Last Updated: December 5, 2025

Flag Ponds Nature Park is a 1,200-acre park located in Lusby, Maryland, along the Chesapeake Bay.


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Summary

Some good reasons to visit the park include its beautiful sandy beaches, nature trails, and its diverse wildlife. Visitors can also enjoy kayaking, fishing, and fossil hunting at the park.

One of the main points of interest at Flag Ponds is the Calvert Cliffs, a series of towering cliffs that contain fossils from the Miocene epoch. Visitors can hike along the beach or take a guided tour to explore the cliffs and learn more about the area's geological history.

Another popular attraction at Flag Ponds is the park's wetlands, which are home to a variety of bird species and other wildlife. Visitors can take a guided tour of the wetlands to learn about the local ecosystem and see animals like beavers, otters, and eagles.

Interesting facts about Flag Ponds Park include that it was once a tobacco plantation and that the park's sand dunes were formed by the wind and waves of the Chesapeake Bay. Additionally, the park was named after the flag pond, a small body of water that was used by mariners as a landmark in the 18th century.

The best time of year to visit Flag Ponds Park is during the spring and fall, when the weather is mild and the park's flora and fauna are most active. Summer is also a popular time to visit the park, but it can be crowded and hot. The park is open year-round, but some facilities may be closed during the off-season.

       

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Park & Land Designation Reference

National Park
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
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