Start of the Marsh Boardwalk Trail

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See the main Hiking Trails web page for a trail map.

Note 1: The March Boardwalk Trail also goes by the name Piscataway Trail.

Note 2: If you look at the Piscataway Park brochure, the map shows a loop branching off from the main trail. Do yourself a favor and skip this, as it is poorly marked, overgrown, and tick infested (I picked up two). Stick to the main trail that runs along the Potomac River.

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Length: 2.4 miles, round trip
Time: 1.5 hours
Difficulty: easy

The Marsh Boardwalk Trail at Piscataway Park is an out-and-back trail located at the end of a road that branches off of Bryan Point Road. There is a parking area as soon as you make the turn, but this is not for the trail, so keep driving all the way to the end of the road.

The Boardwalk Trail starts off on a paved path but hits the namesake boardwalk and crosses Accokeek Creek within a minute of walking.

Start of the boardwalk

Accokeek Creek is a tidal waterway, so depending on when you hike the trail you may see a marsh full of water or one nearly empty and full of mud. Arriving at high tide as I did certainly allows for prettier scenery, but low tide is a good time to see birds that like to pick through the mud looking for food.

Accokeek Creek and the surrounding marsh

Along the way are information panels about the environment and excellent views of the Potomac River. There are also plenty of benches for those who want to sit and contemplate life while viewing the scenery.

The Potomac River

Benches along the Marsh Boardwalk Trail

The boardwalk splits towards the end, with one section branching off to the right. This is one trailhead for the side loop mentioned earlier. You might be tempted to take this loop since it is a boardwalk, but the wooden path only lasts a short distance before ending at a traditional hiking trail. Even if you want to hike the loop, which I advise against, stay straight to hike the Marsh Boardwalk Trail to the end and catch the loop on the way back. (If you are wondering where the other end of the loop is located, it is on the right just before you get to the boardwalk at the start of the hike, though if you are not looking for it, you will walk right past it.)

Boardwalk splits off to the right

The boardwalk lasts for about .3 mile before coming to an end at an open field. Here you will find scattered picnic tables for those who want to stop for a break or a bite to eat. This is a picnic area for those hiking the trail, not one for those looking to have a picnic outing. If picnicking is what you want, try the National Colonial Farm Picnic Area.

Picnic tables in the field at the end of the boardwalk

Piscataway Park encompasses land that once belonged to the Piscataway Indians, and they still use it for various purposes. As soon as you enter the field you will see the shell of a wigwam, or at least what I am going to call a wigwam, as I don’t really know what it is for sure. The trail passes the wigwam and the grave of Chief Turkey Tayac, who died in 1976. I assume the wigwam and various Indian items in the area are part of a tribute to the Chief. The dreamcatchers and other knickknacks hanging on the trees reminded me of something right out of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre.

Grave of Chief Turkey Tayac

Chief Turkey Tayac

Another grave with a dreamcatcher hanging from the tree

Shell of a wigwam

From here on out the trail is an old dirt road. It runs along the field for .4 mile, so a good bit of the hike is exposed to the sun (you return this way as well). You are walking along the Potomac River, but a thick stand of trees blocks the view. However, if the sun is angled the right way, the trees may cast a shadow over the trail and provide a much sought after shade.

The Marsh Boardwalk Trail becomes a dirt road

At .75 mile into the hike the trail enters a forest and remains in the woods until the end.

Forest portion of the Marsh Boardwalk Trail

In another tenth of a mile the trail begins a big curve to the right, leaving the Potomac River as it cuts off the tip of Mockley Point and heads for Piscataway Creek—a river in my book—another tenth of a mile away. As with the views along the Potomac, trees block the view of the creek for much of the way. Only at the very end of the trail do you get a good glimpse of the water.

As I continued to walk I began wondering if the trail had an actual end or if I was going to hike into the heart of Maryland. Yes, it does come to a distinct end, one marked by a clearing that may have once been a parking area. It is here that I saw my second snake of the day. Unlike most snakes that scram as soon as they see a human, those at Piscataway Park don’t seem to care much about people and are reluctant to move.

Snake on the trail

Per the map on the Piscataway Park brochure, there is a canoe launch at Mockley Point. I didn’t see anything that designated any particular spot as a canoe launch, at least not along the trail, though there were plenty of clearings on the shore, including one at the end of the trail. However, I wouldn’t go so far as to call any place on Mockley Point a canoe “launch,” for who in the world would haul a canoe over a mile when there are three other easily accessible launch spots at Piscataway Park. It’s more like a canoe landing-to-take-a-break spot. Anyway, this is the end of the line, so once you are done looking around, head back the way you came.

Clearing at the end of the Marsh Boardwalk Trail

The distance to the end of the trail is 1.2 miles, so you have a 2.4-mile hike without adding the side loop. The trail is entirely flat and easy to hike, but in truth, there is no point in going all the way to the end unless you just want exercise. However, the views along the boardwalk are certainly worth your time, and I do suggest walking as far as the Chief Turkey Tayac grave, as that is pretty cool.

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