ECC Visitor Guide 2026 - Flipbook - Page 11
WHERE HISTORY SURFACES
in Surprising Ways
Just an hour south of D.C., the Potomac River
takes a turn for the unexpected. This isn’t your
average day on the water! Welcome to Mallows
Bay, a National Marine Sanctuary, Piscataway
heritage site, and one-of-a-kind destination.
PREPARE FOR AN EPIC PADDLE
The best way to experience Mallows Bay is by kayak. Just
a heads-up: every other paddling trip might feel a little
underwhelming after this extraordinary excursion! Few places
offer such a breathtaking blend of history and nature. Take
yourself on a self-guided trip or book a kayak rental and tour
with Atlantic Kayak. Their knowledgeable guides lead highly
rated trips that share the fascinating story behind the nearly 200
ships—collectively known as the “Ghost Fleet”—and why they
were burned and abandoned here.
Some ships break through the surface, rusted beams and rotted
wood on full display—others lie just beneath, their outlines
visible through the water below your kayak. Tangles of iron nails
and rotted wood give the weathered relics an eerie appearance.
But there’s more at Mallows Bay than meets the eye. Over time,
nature has reclaimed the wrecks—trees, plants, and wildlife
now thrive among them, giving the “ghosts” new life as part of
the Chesapeake Bay’s ecosystem.
BRING YOUR BINOCULARS
Whether you’re exploring Mallows Bay by kayak or taking a walk
on one of the three hiking trails through forests and wetlands,
be sure to look up! Mallows Bay is a birdwatcher’s paradise. You
might spot bald eagles soaring over the trees, great blue herons
skimming the water, or ospreys diving for 昀椀sh.
18 SQUARE MILES
OF HAUNTING BEAUTY
In 2017, The Ghost Fleet of the Potomac was
deemed a National Treasure by the National
Trust for Historic Preservation.
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