Located near Crisfield on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, Janes Island State Park offers visitors a unique opportunity to enjoy the beauty and bounty of the Chesapeake Bay. Within the mainland portion of the park are the campground, rental cabins and conference center, picnic areas and pavilions, and the boat ramp and marina. The island portion of the park – Janes Island – includes over 2,900 acres of saltmarsh, over 30 miles of water trails, and miles of isolated pristine beaches. Although people have harvested the resources of the island for thousands of years, today the island is wild and seemingly untouched. A haven for birds, fish, crabs, and other saltmarsh dwellers, Janes Island provides visitors a tranquil setting to explore the wildlife of the Bay while enjoying the expansive vistas and stunningly beautiful sunsets. Whether fishing or crabbing, motor boating or paddling, or simply relaxing, visitors to Janes Island will experience a world still ruled by the weather, the tides, and the wildlife that first drew people to this very special place. The park offers accessible restrooms, and four accessible campsites. The Park Store and Nature Center, picnic pavilions and recreation area, fish cleaning station, and dock area are also accessible.
Picnicking and Pavilions
Several picnic areas with tables and charcoal grills are available at no charge.
Two picnic pavilions, each with a capacity of 120 persons, are available for rent.
A volley ball court, and ball field are available for all to enjoy.
Camping
The mainland portion of the park offers over 100 campsites, 49 of which are equipped with electrical hook-ups to accommodate tent or vehicle campers.
Each site is equipped with a camping pad, picnic table, fire ring, and lantern post.
Three centrally located bath houses have hot water showers and flush toilets.
Back Country Campsites and Permits
The primitive back country campsites are equipped with tent platforms and boat landings; campers at these environmentally sensitive sites must obtain a permit from the park and strictly follow Leave No Trace Outdoors ethics. Call the park at 410-968-1565 for more information about back country permits.
Youth Group Camping
The park offers youth group camping on selected sites in “C camp loop" for groups of up to 30 people.
Boating
Janes Island provides multiple services for boaters:
A launching ramp
Boat slips for campers
Free canoe and kayak launch
Canoe and kayak rentals
Easy access to Crisfield Harbor, Tangier Sound, and the Annemessex River.
A boat dock located off of the Yellow Trail at Flatcap Beach on Janes Island offers boaters access to the five miles of unspoiled beach on the Bay side of the island.
Water Trails
Janes Island State Park offers more than 30 miles of marked water trails that wind throughout the island’s saltmarsh. Most of the waterways are protected from wind and current, providing ideal conditions for both experienced and novice paddlers.
Janes Island water trail system was named to the American Canoe Association’s inaugural list of North America's best paddle trails. Three back country camp sites are located along the trails for overnight expeditions.
Fishing and Crabbing
Whether from the docks at the marina or on the many marshy creeks on Janes Island or on the open waters of Tangier Sound, anglers can fish for striped bass, sea trout, spot, croaker, flounder, and bluefish.
The Chesapeake Bay blue crab also abounds in the waters surrounding the park, offering opportunities for tasty and rewarding family fun.
An accessible fish cleaning station is conveniently located at the marina.
Swimming
The unguarded beaches of Janes Island offer visitors the opportunity to swim in the waters of the Chesapeake, but only at their own risk.
Swimming is only allowed on the Tangier Sound side beaches of the island and the area is accessible only by boat.
You must provide your own boat. Kayak/canoe rentals are available at the park during the season.
No swimming is allowed from the mainland park shoreline.
Birding
The island is an ideal environment for shore birds, migratory waterfowl, and a variety of other birds.
An observation tower is located next to the Nature Center.
Bring your binoculars and pick up a birdwatcher checklist at the Park Store.