The Audubon Maryland-DC designated Jug Bay in 2016 as an Important Bird Area. Jug Bay is a site of statewide importance for bird conservation as its extensive tidal freshwater wetlands support important populations of freshwater marsh bird species such as least bittern, sora, and Virginia rail.

Hours
9:00am - 5:00pm

OPEN:
Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday (Closed Sundays Dec-Feb)

CLOSED:
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday

Admission

$6 per vehicle

• Free for Friends of Jug Bay Members (become a Friend today)
• Free entrance for active military, veterans, and their families (ID required)
• AACO Lifetime Senior Citizen permit accepted, but not sold here

Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary (JBWS or Sanctuary) is located within the tidal reaches of the Patuxent River, in southern Anne Arundel County. It was established in 1985 and is operated by the Anne Arundel County Department of Recreation and Parks. The Sanctuary protects about 1,700 acres of unique tidal freshwater marshes, forested wetlands, upland and riparian forest, creeks, meadows, pine and sand barrens, and fields along the Patuxent River. This protected land provides a safe haven for a high diversity of plants, insects, mammals, amphibians, reptiles, birds, fish and microbes, and to rich Native American cultural resources.