Mark’s Score 8.5
Not every hike has to be about woodlands, mountain peaks, or open marshland. What I like most about this hike is that it includes all of the attributes that make Delmarva such a special place. This hike includes water vistas, sailboats, marshland, farmland, pine forests, historic charm, and even excellent food and drink. Yet it is a short hike. You can walk the entire trail in under an hour. My version of this walk, is even shorter.
St Michaels is on a thin isthmus; this trail runs along the old Baltimore and Eastern Railroad line on the backside of St Michaels, the side that faces San Domingo Creek, for 1.3 miles (2.1 kilometers). The rail line once connected Claiborne (on the bay) to Ocean City, and was used for transporting people and goods to and from the beaches. When the bay bridge opened in 1952 the railroad went into a slow decline. St Michaels opened the modern trail in 2010 as a “non-automobile transportation route” linking the north end of St Michaels to the south end.
I do some work for Bordeleau Winery, which on occasion, takes me to their tasting room in St. Michaels. The tasting room is on the corner of West Chestnut and South Talbert Streets, which happens to be near the half way point on the trail. If I am in St Michaels around lunchtime and if it a nice day, I will do my version of the St Michaels Nature Trail hike. I turn down West Chestnut and walk to Waterfront Park, at the tip of San Domingo Creek, I then turn north and follow the trail to its northern end on Railroad Ave. I then turn right on Railroad Ave and walk to Talbot Street where I then have multiple choices for lunch. I then walk south on Talbot returning to Bordeleau’s tasting room.
The first part of my walk is all about historic charm, brick sidewalks, tree lined streets, and stately Victorian homes. Then you come to the bay with kayaks, sail boats and forested shoreline. I turn north on the trail, which quickly brings you to rural Maryland with farmland, stables, and horses grazing in their paddocks. Once past the paddocks you come upon St Luke’s Cemetery which contains gravesites dating back to the 1700s. The trail ends at Bradley Park, where I turn right down Railroad Ave which brings you to the best part of the walk, food. I follow Railroad to South Talbot Street and turn south. There are multiple restaurants, shops, and several historic churches.
I then follow Talbot back to my starting point, along this stretch of the street you will find wine tasting rooms, craft brewers and even a distiller. Can you think if a better way to end a walk? This walk has it all, you can commune with nature, and God, gain some historical perspective, and at the end fill your belly and raise a glass or two. What more can you ask of a hike?
What else is there to do in St Michaels?
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