Elk Neck State Forest West

This loop hike will be in an amazingly secluded 3,000-acre forest tract.  The main flora differs significantly from our area forests and is almost all native.  It’s primarily: mountain laurel, pitch pines, lowbush blueberry, huckleberry, fan clubmoss, ferns, sweet gums, and several types of oaks.  We’ll stop at a lookout tower, native tree arboretum,  and old creek overlook.  Mostly rolling trails with some brilliant mosses.  Expect some roots and small water crossings.  About 80% trail and 20% dirt roads.  No paved roads even crossed.  There is a new mountain laurel trail connector section.  Much of the hike will follow a section of the 199 mile Mason Dixon Trail.  Possible noise from the shooting range.  Lunch at 6 miles and an easy early out of 7 miles.

From US-40 at the DE/MD state line. Proceed west on US-40 for 4.2 mi. Turn left onto Old Elk Neck Rd and proceed 4.0 mi. Turn right onto Irishtown Rd and proceed 2.3 mi. Turn right into the park entrance (very difficult to see from this direction) and proceed 240 ft on the dirt road. Parking lot is on the far left.

This is one of the tracts of the State FOREST, not the State PARK!  Elk Neck State Forest and Elk Neck State Park are very often confused. The State Forest’s area is much larger, with the main tract running all the way between Elkton and North East, MD. It has a climbable wooden lookout tower. The State Park is past the Forest and further from Delaware.  At its farthest section, it has a white lighthouse on a 120 foot bluff, overlooking the Chesapeake Bay.