Have you ever imagined what it’s like to paddle through a bald cypress swamp? With spring’s arrival, now is a great time to plan a trip to Pocomoke River State Park in Worcester County to uncover the secrets of the Great Cypress Swamp. Travel just 20 minutes outside of Salisbury and three miles south of Snow Hill, and you will stumble upon Shad Landing where you can begin your journey to learn more about the history and inhabitants of this often-misunderstood ecosystem.

Mysterious and lush, mature stands of bald cypress draped with Spanish moss represent the primeval nature of the southern swamps. These forested wetlands are found in the southeastern Coastal Plain along streams, rivers, spring runs or ponds with still or slow moving water. The Great Cypress Swamp originates on the Maryland-Delaware border and flows southwest for 73 miles before emptying into Pocomoke Sound. It is the northernmost bald cypress swamp in the United States.