Visit this preserve and you'll be immersed in a landscape where now-extinct animals like mammoths once roamed. Battle Creek Cypress Swamp harbors bald cypress trees at the northernmost limit of this species' natural range in the United States, making this a uniquely captivating place in the region. The Calvert County Natural Resources Division operates a quarter-mile boardwalk and a nature center to further enhance your visit.
While enjoying Maryland's great outdoors during hunting season, remain mindful of hunters and wear orange for your safety. For more information, visit the Battle Creek Cypress Swamp web site at http://www.co.cal.md.us/BattleCreek.
What to See at the Preserve:
Plants
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In the spring, a blanket of wild flowers covers the ground in the northern part of the swamp
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Bald cypress trees, some standing 100 feet tall
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May-apples, pink lady's-slippers
Animals
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Warblers, including the Kentucky, worm-eating, prothonotary, and others
Keep in mind the preserve guidelines when visiting a Nature Conservancy Preserve:
To protect the health of the preserve for generations to come, and to ensure the safety of all visitors, the following activities are not allowed:
- Picking flowers, mushrooms, etc.; removing rocks or other parts of the landscape.
- Smoking.
- Camping, fires or cookouts.
- Driving motorized vehicles, including ATV’s, except on designated access roads.
- Biking.
- Fishing, trapping, or hunting, except as otherwise posted.
- Bringing dogs onto the preserve.
- Horseback riding.
- Feeding wildlife.
- Releasing animals or introducing plants.
- Disposing of trash or other waste, including biodegradable materials.
In addition, in order to minimize the impact visitors have on the preserve, please:
- Use trails.
- Avoid walking in wet, boggy areas.
- Inspect pant legs and shoes to remove seeds before entering and when leaving the preserve. Failure to do so could introduce unwanted weeds to new locations.
- If you flush a ground nesting bird - stop and avoid walking near the nest area.
- Observe all posted signs.
- Please do not remove stakes, signs, flagging, tape or other objects - they might be part of a research project.
- Please do not trespass on private property adjacent to the preserve.
Thank you for being respectful of the preserve and the geocache, and have fun exploring this preserve!