Fort Smallwood Park
4.6(1.6K)google
3.7(26)yelp
parkHistoryMilitaryFishingwalkingSunset
Overview
Fort Smallwood Park is a county park in northeastern Anne Arundel County, near Riviera Beach and Pasadena, Maryland, United States. It is located on the outer Patapsco River as it meets the Chesapeake Bay, on a peninsula known as Rock Point. On April 1, 2006, it became a regional park in the Anne Arundel County Park System, after being transferred from the Department of Recreation and Parks of Baltimore City after extensive decades-long negotiations.
Practical Info
Suggested Duration1.5-3 hours
Best TimeSpring (April to May) and the mid-autumn bird migration window (September to October) are prime. Photographers should arrive for dawn between 6:00 AM and 8:30 AM; standing on the historic gun batteries where the Patapsco River meets the Chesapeake Bay rewards you with dazzling sunrises and active osprey and bald eagle fishing runs.
Getting ThereSet out at the extreme tip of the peninsula in Pasadena; no public transit extends here. From Baltimore, follow I-695 S to Exit 1 (MD-173 S / Fort Smallwood Road). Drive south and east on Fort Smallwood Road until it dead-ends entirely inside the park gates, leading to gravel trail lots.
Travel Tips
- A 6 USD vehicle fee is required; due to its exposed location at the Patapsco River mouth, sustained winds exceed 20 mph, requiring heavy-duty ground stakes for all pop-up canopies.
- The 380-foot Bill Burton fishing pier crowds during fall perch runs; DNR rangers strictly check fish lengths, and keeping undersized catches triggers hefty fines per fish.
Photo Tips
Photo Spots
- 6:00 AM is the prime window to view passing container ships; frame shots from the historic brick ammunition bunker ruins to contrast industrial hulls against weathered masonry.
Reviews
Positive
- Boasts a prime waterfront location where the river meets the bay, featuring a long stone jetty and a fantastic new fishing pier with great views.
- The park is clean and well-maintained with shaded areas, pristine restrooms, functional picnic tables, and a large playground that is perfect for young kids.
- A hidden gem for birdwatchers and photographers; the park is a renowned bird-of-prey viewing site (Hawk Watch Station) with abundant eagles and waterfowl.
- Excellent and affordable pricing at just a few dollars per car, offering ample ground parking and generous opening hours from dawn to dusk.
Heads up
- The actual beach area is tiny and filled with large erosion-control rocks and sharp shells, making it unsuitable for swimming or sunbathing.
- Due to proximity to shipping lanes, hot summer days occasionally bring floating sea vegetation and a strong fishy odor, and the water can look murky.
- During summer evenings, mosquitoes and biting flies become extremely aggressive near the woods and marsh, making bug spray absolutely mandatory.
- While main areas are paved, pathways leading to the historical military barracks lack ADA accessibility, with rough gravel paths tough for strollers.