Things to Do: Staying in Annapolis: Hike Greenbury Point

Hike at Greenbury Point

(Original June 2019, updated April 2020) Ever stand at City Dock and look out over towards the Bay Bridge and wonder what are those towers all about? You can get up close and personal with them by taking a hike at Greenbury Park, a US Navy property that’s open to the public. Yesterday we had a lovely day of 75 degrees, lots of sun and wind so we decided to explore.

This detailed blog gives the whole history, in summary, there were originally 19 towers, originally built starting in 1919 until 1968, and was used for communications after World War I, most importantly used for communications to the entire Atlantic Fleet in World War II. It was discovered by the Defense Dept back in the 1920’s that a low frequency underwater signal could be sent to the Fleet from Greenbury Point. At one point antennas were strung between the original towers that were as much as a mile long to generate the signal

Before you leave, call 410 293 9861 or 410 293 9304 or check the NSA Annapolis twitter feed to verify that the area is open as sometimes it is used for Navy/military operations…

As you get close to Greenbury Point, you will drive through US Naval Academy golf course, and drive past their rugby fields. Park up at the Nature Center and walk thru a gate to take the trail just beyond the center. You’ll go on a nice ~2.5 mile loop, first with vistas across the Severn River & Annapolis harbor towards Annapolis, and later out to the Chesapeake Bay and beyond to the Bay Bridge…..

Enter the trail at the restricted gates

It’s a flat, packed gravel walk with several small trails off the main trail to some wonderful vistas with benches. There are other trails nearby, check with the Nature center if it’s open

On a second trip, we also went down a road opposite the Nature Center to a dock and trail that goes into Whitehall Bay on the other side of the peninsula from the Chesapeake Bay. With this you can add a mile or more the walk.

We’ll keep exploring the area and report back!

(Original June 16, 2019, updated April 18, 2020)