Ecology Water Trail

Discover the Natural Wonders of Mallows Bay

Explore Ecology Safety Information Current Conditions Printed Guide

Research specialist Megan McCabe of Mallows Bay-Potomac River National Marine Sanctuary gives an introduction of what to expect while exploring the Ecology Water tour of the Mallows Bay Terrain360 virtual trail. Credit: National Marine Sanctuary Foundation/NOAA.

Mallows Bay Ecology Water Trail

For nearly 100 years, nature has changed the Ghost Fleet into a one-of-a-kind ecosystem. Explore these plant-covered wrecks, now distinctive islands, that change with the tides. These habitats, both above and below the water, are important to fish, beavers, and birds, such as ospreys, blue herons, and bald eagles. Although the sanctuary does not manage or regulate these natural resources, the unique blending of history and ecology attracts and fascinates visitors from around the world.

This virtual tour shows the wonders of the Ghost Fleet and Mallows Bay. As you move through the hotspots, you will see how each wreck creates a different habitat. Click each spot to see photos and videos of the plants and animals that call these wrecks home, and learn more about the research and studies that take place at Mallows Bay.

Emergency & Safety Information

Due to the location of the park, during an emergency please call the Charles County Sheriff's Department, they will connect caller with the county 911 services.

301-932-2222

Please save this number on your device

Emergency Call Station
Emergency Call Station

1442 Wilson Landing Rd
Nanjemoy, MD 20662

GPS: 38.468261, -77.263518

Get Directions

Paddling Safety Tips

  • ALWAYS WEAR YOUR LIFE JACKET.
  • PADDLE WITH OTHERS IF POSSIBLE.
  • COLD WATER TEMPERATURES ARE HAZARDOUS TO PADDLERS. Paddling is recommended between May and September.
  • WHEN PADDLING IN WIND, STAY CLOSE TO SHORE.
  • RESPECT WILDLIFE. Animals and birds should be viewed from a distance.
  • BEWARE OF HIDDEN WRECKS. It is dangerous to travel through the central shipwreck cluster, especially during high tide when ship remains lie just below the waterline and are invisible to the paddler.

Explore the Ecology Trail

Map Legend
Ecology Water Trail Points of Interest

Click a marker to explore the paddle trail

Points of Interest

Launch Point 1

Launch Point

Mallows Bay is a freshwater tidal ecosystem in the Potomac River. It's home to a unique habitat created by the...

Details 360 View
Osprey Nest 2

Osprey Nest

Known as the โ€œfish hawk,โ€ ospreys are mid-sized raptors, or birds of prey, that live near water. Ospreys stay with...

Details 360 View
Pilings 3

Pilings

While paddling past the row of pilings, it is common to see double-crested cormorants drying their wings. This common waterbird...

Details 360 View
๐˜ˆ๐˜ค๐˜ค๐˜ฐ๐˜ฎ๐˜ข๐˜ค 4

๐˜ˆ๐˜ค๐˜ค๐˜ฐ๐˜ฎ๐˜ข๐˜ค

The ๐˜ˆ๐˜ค๐˜ค๐˜ฐ๐˜ฎ๐˜ข๐˜ค is home to two osprey nests. Ospreys like to build their nests in open areas, high off the...

Details 360 View
Water Quality Buoy 5

Water Quality Buoy

In the channel of the river, there is a real-time water quality testing buoy that is managed by the Maryland...

Details 360 View
Acoustic Telemetry Receiver 6

Acoustic Telemetry Receiver

The water quality buoy also uses an acoustic telemetry receiver that collects data on fish that have been tagged with...

Details 360 View
๐˜‰๐˜ฆ๐˜ฏ๐˜ป๐˜ฐ๐˜ฏ๐˜ช๐˜ข 7

๐˜‰๐˜ฆ๐˜ฏ๐˜ป๐˜ฐ๐˜ฏ๐˜ช๐˜ข

๐˜‰๐˜ฆ๐˜ฏ๐˜ป๐˜ฐ๐˜ฏ๐˜ช๐˜ข rests on top of ๐˜Š๐˜ข๐˜ณ๐˜ช๐˜ฃ๐˜ฐ๐˜ถ, another U.S. Shipping Board wreck. The two ships together make for one of the...

Details 360 View
Grady’s Spit 8

Grady’s Spit

At the northernmost edge of Mallows Bay, the remains of several ships have created a landmass known as Gradyโ€™s spit....

Details 360 View
Three Sisters 9

Three Sisters

The wreck sites of ๐˜”๐˜ฐ๐˜ฐ๐˜ด๐˜ข๐˜ฃ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฆ, ๐˜‹๐˜ฆ๐˜ณ๐˜ต๐˜ฐ๐˜ฏ๐˜ข, and an unidentified vessel, are known as the โ€œThree Sisters.โ€ The ships sit near...

Details 360 View
Flowerpot Wrecks 10

Flowerpot Wrecks

These two unidentified ships are called "flowerpot" wrecks. They get their name from the plants growing inside the ships, much...

Details 360 View
Eagle Nest 11

Eagle Nest

Look up, and you might see an eagle's nest high up in the pine trees. Bald eagles like to build...

Details 360 View
Submerged Aquatic Vegetation (SAV) 12

Submerged Aquatic Vegetation (SAV)

The shallow water near the shore is a great place for submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV), or underwater grasses, to grow....

Details 360 View
Liverpool Cove 13

Liverpool Cove

Liverpool Cove provides an entrance to the upstream waters of Mallows Bay. This calm creek is full of aquatic plants...

Details 360 View
Marlow Creek 14

Marlow Creek

Going past the kayak launch and through the Burning Basin takes you into Marlow Creek. Like Liverpool Cove, this creek...

Details 360 View

Current Conditions

December 31, 2025 05:49 PM

Air Temperature

AccuWeather

Water Temperature

Maryland DNR Buoy

Forecast

Water Level

NOAA Data

Additional Weather Data
Today's Tides
Time Tide Height
Tide Predictions - Mallows Bay

Data provided by

NOAA Logo Maryland DNR Logo Maryland Government Logo AccuWeather Logo