The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is responsible for 1 in every 10 acres of land in the U.S.
The Bureau of Land Management is in charge of overseeing federal lands as an official entity of the U.S. Department of the Interior. The BLM manages more than 247 million acres, which cover approximately one-eighth of the land in the country.
Douglas Point Special Recreation Management Area is one of the last remaining undeveloped sections along the Potomac River. This area offers ample opportunities for recreation and viewing wildlife. There is a nearby re-enactment of a Civil War encampment of approximately 25,000 troops, and you can visit other various archeological sites in the region. Within the park, there are a wide variety of land animals, numerous stands of hardwood trees, a hunting blind, and access to the shipwrecks at Mallow Bay. The 548-acre Douglas Point Special Recreation Management Area also contains aquatic wildlife, wetlands, and the shorelines of the Potomac River. Douglas Point is part of the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail and is a water trail stopover. There are three miles of multiuse trails for hiking, biking, mountain biking, and horseback riding.
Mallows Bay Hiking Trail is a loop trail located near Nanjemoy, MD, that includes the Beaver Trail Nature Loop and Ridge Trail. The hike begins at the trailhead south of the flagpole, and the trails are marked with green diamonds. There are portable toilets in the parking lot.
Length: 1.6 miles
Intensity: Medium
Blue Banks Beach Trail is an in-and-out trail located near Nanjemoy, MD, that leads to the Blue Banks shores of the Potomac River. This is a good trail for finding shark teeth, and the Blue Banks beaches are popular areas for finding various small fossils in the water and the beach rocks.
Length: 1.9 Miles
Intensity: Difficult
Cal Posey and Blue Banks Beach Trail is an in-and-out trail located near Nanjemoy, MD. The first portion of the trail is gravel as far as the Chiles Homestead. The ruins at the homestead have interpretive signs. The trail splits at the Potomac, with the left trail leading to a high spot with a picnic table and the right trail descending to the beach.
Length: 3.3 miles
Intensity: Moderate
The Douglas Point Special Recreation Management Area lies next to the Potomac River, which is a popular fishing destination. Various fishing tournaments take place at the Potomac throughout the year. There are no designated fishing areas in the management area, but anglers can generally access the river to fish.
Hunting is allowed at the Douglas Point Special Recreation Management Area. Common game animals include white-tailed and Sika deer, black bears, and raccoons. There are also various game birds in the area.
There are many migratory and local birds, and bird-watching is easy and fun. There are upwards of 25 species of birds, such as wood thrush, snipe, turkeys, warblers, whip-poor-wills, mourning doves, rails, woodcocks, gallinules, ring-necked pheasants, quail, ruffed grouse, and wood ducks.
The woods around Douglas Point contain the rare angular-fruited milkvine. Inside the wetlands of the management area, you will often see Sely's sunfly and the rare gray petaltail. The Carolina satyr can be found along grassy forest trails.
There are no Bureau of Land Management campgrounds within the Douglas Point Special Recreation Management Area. However, there are several nearby campgrounds. Smallwood State Park has 15 RV camping and tent campsites with electric hookups that are located in the shade of a hardwood forest. The sites each have a picnic table, lantern post, and fire ring. Other park amenities include a marina, boat-launching ramps, nature trails, a picnic area, and a bathhouse with hot showers. The 628-acre park is named for the fourth governor of Maryland, General William Smallwood, who was a Revolutionary War officer. The marina is on Mattawoman Creek and provides access to the Potomac River. Smallwood State Park also hosts special events throughout the year.
Free or dispersed camping is the practice of camping for free at primitive and undeveloped campgrounds that typically do not have conveniences like water and flush toilets. No Bureau of Land Management free camping is allowed within the Douglas Point Special Recreation Management Area, and only limited opportunities for free camping exist in the state of Maryland. The closest place from Douglas Point to park your RV for free is at the Cracker Barrel in Dumfries, VA, located across the Potomac River from Douglas Point.
Whether you are staying at a developed or primitive campground, you should plan on bringing along certain necessities during your BLM RV camping trip. A good working camping supply list should have items like potable water, food, seasonal clothing, a sleeping bag, a lantern, a flashlight, rain gear, sturdy shoes, small camping utensils, and some type of lighter. You should also have a GPS device and maps of the general area. Before you head out on your trip, check out our blog for all you need to know about BLM camping.
Every BLM area has a "leave no trace" policy. You are required to carry out any waste and trash. The main principles of a leave no trace policy are to plan ahead, camp on durable surfaces, dispose of waste in a proper manner, leave the area as you find it, follow fire ordinances and restrictions, and respect the wildlife.
When you depart for "BLM camping near me," take Interstate Highway 95/495 in Maryland, and then take Exit 3 Hwy 210 South to Hwy 225/Connecter Hwy 224. Follow the signs for Nanjemoy and Purse State Park.
Address: 9699 Riverside Road, Nanjemoy, MD 20662
Ready to visit Douglas Point Special Recreation Management Area? An RV rental is a great way to experience your destination. Not only will you be close to all the action, but at the end of a long day exploring, you’ll have your RV to return to for the night where you’ll enjoy a full kitchen, bathroom, and nice soft bed. Not sure about renting an RV? Here’s a step-by-step guide to renting an RV with RVshare.
