Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary

I was really impressed. This place really strikes a nice balance between letting nature do its thing, letting scientists do their things, and letting the visitor get something out of being here. It’s just off of route 4 (Pennsylvania Ave; you could drive straight here from the White House if you wanted to). Wrighton road is an easy turn to miss, and the «dead end» sign is easier to see than the sign for the park, which is at the end of a long unpaved road. Fair warning: they are only open to the public on Weekends, Wednesday, and (as of recently) Friday; and often only 9 – 5. Check schedule before coming.
They have a moderately sized but well-​kept visitor center. The entrance fee is $ 5, which is per person not per vehicle like most government-​owned parks. However, it’s still well worth it. I got a thorough map and friendly guidance on where to go, and there are a solid eight miles of trails, plus plenty of places to stop and take in the sights. And the sights are pretty impressive. There are a few towers visible in the distance and the odd house on the other side, but by and large it’s a very substantial, uninterrupted wetland and woodland. There’s a boardwalk and a trail that used to be a railway that get you very close to the water. There are several sites where one can stop and read or relax. The view of the sunset was worth staying for. A year-​long membership is only $ 15 (the good: they counted my entry fee towards it; the bad: it runs May to May no matter what time of year you sign up); I suspect getting in three visits to make it worthwhile won’t be hard.
The trails are reasonably clear and well-​marked as trails go, and the boardwalks, while not new, seemed sturdy enough. They do not allow pets or bikes (which protects the sanctuary and makes it a quieter and more pleasant hike, but is important to know in advance not to bring those things); this is strictly for traveling on foot. Despite being a wetland with little wind, the bug factor was not that bad; I heard a lot of them and brushed away some spider webs, but wasn’t really bitten or stung by anything and only had to slap a single mosquito. As someone who meanders through all manner of waterside parks in the area, this one slipped under my nose for a while. It’s a substantial hike with great views and diverse wildlife, and it’s within an hour of DC. That’s pretty special.
Addendum: The nearby Parris Glendening Preserve is under the same ownership and is free. However, the trails I went on were relatively nondescript, maps were not available at the main entrance, and the views of the water weren’t the same. There is a small butterfly garden, and the butterflies were plentiful. Oddly enough, it has a desert. Seriously, a desert, a forest, and a wetland in the same park. It isn’t worth a big trip by itself, but it could be an interesting stop in addition to the main sanctuary.

Sometimes you have to get out of the city and remember that there are like, trees, out there. I was invited on a private tour of Jug Bay one Saturday. It’s a quick 45 minute drive from DC — I would suggest checking directions on their website because apparently the GPS directions can be incorrect. The Sanctuary is a great example of a productive estuary within the Chesapeake Bay watershed. There are a number of hiking trails, many of which are straight and flat due to the railroad that used to run through the property. There are many blinds (wildlife viewing areas) where you can watch birds and other wildlife. There are otters, beavers, muskrats, salamanders, toads, deer, and many species of birds that you might see during your visit. Depending on how slow you walk, it would probably take between 2 – 4 hours to walk all the trails here, though there are plenty of quicker walks you could do. Great for trail running too, if that’s your thing. I have a feeling that this place is never that crowded so I imagine that you could walk the trails and see practically no other people. There’s a lot of ecological research going on here that you can volunteer with if you’re interested. They also facilitate bigger volunteer groups (there was a group of Girl Scouts doing invasive species removal while I was there). The staff is very friendly and helpful. There’s a great and very informative vistors center. They have guided canoe trips during the warmer months and free professional development events for teachers. They’re not open everyday, so be sure to check that they’re open before you head out here. Highly recommended, definitely a hidden gem in the DC metro area.