Nanjemoy, MD – Friendship Park/Forest Landing is located in western Charles County off of Route 6 and Route 425.
The 382-acre park is open to public access and that includes permit-free fishing.
John Snow, acting chief of parks for Charles County said the land was donated to county before his time.
“I’ve been here since 1990,” Snow said. “I think it was initially a boat ramp but in recent years we have expanded the park to include 7.1 miles of hiking trails. All but one of the hiking trails are open to equestrian activity.”
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources had concerns about horses using the yellow trail, which passes close to the shoreline of Nanjemoy Creek and wetland areas, which prompted them to close that trail to horses, he noted.
The trails are wonderful, and I mean that in the very essence of the word.
Allow me, however, to introduce you to the concept of the spider stick.
This time of year on Southern Maryland’s many hiking trails, wood spiders are spinning their intricate webs in search of dinner. To walk on these trails takes paying attention, because webs are strewn across what would normally be clear paths.
The spider stick is just a branch you pick up off the forest floor about three feet long. Break the excess branches and twigs off until you have a straight stick. This you 
extend in front of you as you walk to take out the webs. You’ll be wearing spiders if you don’t.
The good news is that wood spiders are completely harmless. They’re just doing their thing. And don’t feel bad about destroying their nests. By the time you get in your car and reach home, that web in all likelihood will already be reconstructed.
The effort is worth it.
At Forest Landing, there is evidence of beavers, once abundant in the region but now a more elusive sight.
There are whitetail deer about. Wildlife is everywhere, a good place to see critters up close.
For sportfishing enthusiasts, Friendship Park/Forest Landing offers permit-free fishing in designated areas of Nanjemoy Creek.
“It’s the only one in the county that offers that,” Snow pointed out.
A new kayak launch was added to the park last year.
He added there are baseball fields that are available for public use.
Plans for future development at the park are on hold in order to determine what archaeological surveys reveal about the site.
There is evidence of Native American inhabitants there in Maryland’s distant past, he noted.
Friendship Park/Forest Landing is one of 41 park sites in Charles County. Some are only a ball field.
Quite a few, like Friendship Park, have hiking trails through massive oaks and beautiful scenery.
So go take a hike.
Beauty awaits.
Contact Joseph Norris at joe.norris@thebaynet.com
