Trail Projects
A county-by-county look at the trails taking shape across Maryland’s Eastern Shore.
Across Maryland’s Eastern Shore, momentum is building for a connected regional trail network. From rail corridors being reimagined as multi-use paths to new bikeways linking downtowns, waterfronts, and natural areas, local governments, land trusts, and community partners in all nine Eastern Shore counties are advancing trail projects at every stage, from early planning to completed construction. The projects below reflect some of that work in progress. If you know of a project that should be added to this list, or want to get involved in trail planning in your county, contact MESTN.
| County | Location | Project Details | Project Contact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kent | Chestertown, along the Chester River | Chestertown Heritage Trail (Phase 1) – a roughly 1,000-foot riverside bike and walking path with an observation platform near Washington College and the Armory site on S. Cross Street. Future phases aim to extend through the wetlands and connect to the Gilchrest Rail Trail network. | Town of Chestertown Council – townofchestertown.com |
| Queen Anne’s | Kent Island, from Terrapin Park to the Chesapeake Exploration Center, Kent Narrows | Queen Anne’s County Department of Parks & Recreation | |
| Caroline | Denton | Denton American Discovery Trail Town – in April 2024, Denton became the first U.S. town designated an official American Discovery Trail Town, marking it as a waypoint on the 6,800-mile coast-to-coast route. Related work continues on downtown wayfinding and trail connections. | Downtown Denton Main Street – Jessica Willoughby, Executive Director |
| Talbot | Easton to Oxford (approx. 8 miles) | The Oyster Trail – a planned shared-use trail on a former rail corridor linking Oxford and Easton. The first phase, the Oxford Parks Connector Trail, is funded by a 2023 Kim Lamphier Bikeways Grant. | Talbot Thrive – web@talbotthrive.org |
| Talbot | Black Dog Alley (north of Easton) to Tuckahoe State Park, along MD 309/Cordova Road, extending into Queen Anne’s County | Frederick Douglass Rail Trail – a planned 9.5-mile shared-use path on a railbanked corridor connecting Easton to Tuckahoe State Park, with trailheads planned in Cordova and Queen Anne. The route passes near Frederick Douglass’s birthplace. Currently in feasibility and design, funded by a Federal Carbon Reduction Grant. | John Delaney, Project Manager, MDOT SHA – JDelaney@mdot.maryland.gov |
| Dorchester | Cambridge to Linkwood, and Hurlock to Preston | Dorchester & Caroline County Rail Trail – a proposed 14.7-mile rail-trail in three segments on a former rail corridor. Currently in the rail-banking/planning phase, with a Notice of Interim Trail Use submitted. | Rail-trail proceeding inquiries: Flint Cooper, LLC – railstotrails@flintcooper.com |
| Wicomico | Salisbury (Carroll Street, Eastern Shore Drive corridor, and area east of US-13 Business) and the UMES campus | State-funded bikeway improvements: Carroll Street bikeway construction (Riverside Circle to Snow Hill Road), a quick-build bikeway network east of US-13 Business, multi-use path design along the Eastern Shore Drive Rail Trail section, and a shared-use path encircling the UMES campus (design phase). | City of Salisbury Department of Infrastructure & Development; UMES Facilities Planning |
| Somerset | Westover to Crisfield (initial segment: Crisfield to Marion Station) | Somerset County Hiker-Biker Trail – a planned 16-mile trail across the county. The first 5-mile segment, Crisfield to Marion Station, neared completion in 2020, funded by roughly $5 million in combined federal and state grants. | Somerset County Recreation & Parks – Clint Sterling, Director |
| Worcester | Berlin to Assateague Island National Seashore | Assateague Gateway Trail – a proposed off-road trail and greenway connecting Berlin to Assateague, including safety signage and conservation easements along the corridor. | Lower Shore Land Trust – Kate Patton, Executive Director – (410) 641-4467 |