There’s a great article here on both Native American history and Capt. John Smith’s first exploration in 1608.
The Chesapeake today is home to watermen, sailors, power boaters and paddlers.
And there’s no better place for a paddler to find their own version of the Appalachian Trail than the 200+ miles of Chesapeake.
You’ll find serene nature; eagles (over 3,000 bald eagles nest along the Bay), ospreys, fish, crabs, herons, cownose rays, dolphins and more while paddling along coastal shorelines, beaches and historic towns from clear lake-like waters to the Atlantic Ocean.
A few of us have recently made the 200+ mile journey and still talk about it as one of our greatest adventures.
You can join the Through Paddle team by paddling the Bay on your own or by being a part of the annual Bay Paddle race. This map is the route most of us took to paddle the 200+ miles of the Bay.
The Bay Paddle 150 race covers all but 2 days of this course. You can paddle the entire 200+ miles by starting on Friday Aug 26th at Concord Point Lighthouse in Havre de Grace and heading to Haven Harbor South in Rock Hall. It’s about 34 miles.
You’ll join the Bay Paddle 150 until you reach Cape Charles, VA. You’re 15 miles to the Atlantic from Cape Charles.