• A kayaker paddles on the Patuxent River at the Jug Bay Natural Area. Photo by Middleton Evans.

    Captain John Smith Chesapeake

    National Historic Trail VA,MD,DE,DC

Fees & Reservations

You do not need a permit to boat or paddle the Smith trail, aside from licenses that may be required by the states of Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, or the District of Columbia. There are no fees required to use the trail. However, the sites and access points associated with the trail are owned and managed by many different organizations, including state, federal, local, public, and private. Some sites may charge fees and/or require advance reservations.

For more information about fees and reservations, please contact the sites you plan to visit. You’ll find information and direct links to sites at www.smithtrail.net.

Did You Know?

An image of a typical new housing development.

By 2020 an estimated 18 million people will live in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, bringing ever more roads and sprawling subdivisions. As water and energy needs rise, so will the dangers to the long-term health of the Bay from pollution and other pressures.