Elk Neck State Park

About this park

Elk Neck State Park occupies the southern tip of the Elk Neck Peninsula in Cecil County, bordered on both sides by the Chesapeake Bay and the Elk River, in a landscape once home to semi-permanent Native American fishing and hunting camps used by the Nanticoke and Lenni Lenape peoples. William Abbott bequeathed his holdings along the Elk River to the state, forming the core of what became the park. The park's signature hike leads to the historic Turkey Point Lighthouse, one of several Chesapeake-region lighthouses built by contractor John Donahoo in the 1830s, perched on a bluff overlooking the confluence of the bay and river with sweeping panoramic views in every direction. Six miles of trails wind through the peninsula's forest and along its bluffs, and both a boat launch and unguarded swimming area give visitors direct access to the surrounding water. With more than 250 campsites, mini cabins, and rustic cabins, Elk Neck offers one of the larger camping capacities in the Maryland system, drawing steady visitation for canoeing, kayaking, and fishing alongside the lighthouse hike. A nature center and park store round out the visitor facilities, and the park's position near the top of the Chesapeake Bay, not far from the Pennsylvania and Delaware borders, makes it a natural stop for visitors exploring the upper bay region.