The extensive corridor between Washington, D.C., and Baltimore has so many densely-populated suburbs, government facilities, and large towns that one can forget that this region of Maryland still boasts some truly remarkable natural wonders. Chesapeake Bay, the largest estuary in the country, may be the area’s most well known natural site, but there’s another noteworthy slice of nature: Patuxent Research Refuge. While the word “research” may conjure sterile images of lab coats and test tubes, the actual refuge is a vibrant, tranquil nature preserve nestled in the D.C.-Maryland-Virginia metros.
Patuxent Research Refuge is located in Laurel, Maryland, just 19 miles from D.C., and 25 miles from Baltimore. It is administered by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Amazingly, it’s also the only U.S. wildlife refuge that exists solely for wildlife research. Despite this, Patuxent Research Refuge is still open to the public for outdoor recreation and free to visit. Visitors can hike and bike on almost 20 miles of trails (some are even open for horseback riding). There are also hunting, fishing, and birdwatching opportunities. No matter how you enjoy the refuge, you can spend your time marveling that you’re less than an hour’s drive from the nation’s capital, while also walking through a live science experiment.
Patuxent Research Refuge is a rare and important East Coast wildlife preserve
Established by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1936, Patuxent Research Refuge now protects just over 12,800 acres of forest, making it the largest contiguous forest system in the D.C.-Baltimore corridor. The refuge — in collaboration with the U.S. Geological Survey’s Eastern Ecological Science Center — has become a a vital wild laboratory, where scientists work to understand the effects of urban development on native wildlife populations and forge the next generation of conservation tools.
The Patuxent Research Refuge protects the largest remaining coastal plain forest ecosystem in the Baltimore and D.C. metro areas. These impressive forests receive essential water from the Patuxent and Little Patuxent rivers. The abundance of snakes in Maryland’s Patuxent River may give some swimmers pause, but it speaks to the impressive biodiversity thriving throughout the system. Patuxent Research Refuge also features beautiful lakes, including the scenic Cash Lake and its picturesque forest-lined shores…