Plan Your Visit

Experience all that America’s first national water trail has to offer. Paddle on bright, open waters and through grassy marshes teeming with wildlife. Float down winding river valleys where bald eagles, osprey, and buzzards soar overhead.

These diverse landscapes have stories to tell. Here, visitors discover places that commemorate the cultural traditions and histories of the region’s indigenous peoples. Paddlers follow in the wake of Captain John Smith, who sailed the Bay and its rivers 400 years ago. His 1608 voyages influenced relations between American Indians and English colonists in the years to come.

With an over 3,000 mile route, there are countless ways to enjoy the trail. Paddle or boat along scenic shorelines and rivers; go geocaching at more than 60 sites along the trail; learn about American Indian heritage, John Smith’s voyages, and the colonial period at one of our visitor centers or partner sites; and find hikes in cities and countryside throughout the watershed.

Ways to Plan Your Visit:

 

Places to Go

Discover the trail's visitor centers and contact sites located throughout the Chesapeake region.

Things To Do

The trail offers countless ways to enjoy the rivers, marshes, and coastlines of the Chesapeake Bay.

Trail Map

View a map of the trail's route and key sites along the way.

Upcoming Events

A calendar of events for the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail and its partners.

Virtual Visits

Can't come to the trail in person? Explore photos, videos, and wildlife webcams that will transport you to the rivers and shores of the Bay.