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PLAN YOUR VISIT
CAMPUS HOURS
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Monday - Saturday: 9 AM - 4 PM
Sunday: Closed
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Extended Hours: 9 AM - 8 PM
(On the first Friday of every month)
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Click HERE to see a trail map. Please note Eagle Restrictions begin generally in November and are in place until the summer.
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LOCATION
ADMISSION & PARKING
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Admission and parking are FREE at Masonville Cove.
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Visitors must sign in at the Education Center when they arrive. Thank you in advance!
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ARRIVAL BY WATER
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Kayakers are welcome to arrive by water! Please note that landing is only allowed at the beach by Captain Trash Wheel.
Please view the campus hours and site rules on this page.
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On arrival, please sign in with the form linked here. Happy trails!
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OVERVIEW
Masonville Cove is an Urban Wildlife Refuge Partnership located in Baltimore, Maryland. The area has a rich history, but by the 1960s had fallen into disrepair and was littered with large amounts of discarded materials. Restoration of the Cove by MDOT MPA began in 2007, and continues today. The project aims to provide benefits to local wildlife and the surrounding community in return for their support of Port operations.
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Today Masonville Cove includes
70 acres of water and 54 acres of restored wetlands and nature trails. The site also features an Education Center with a back deck overlooking the Cove, outdoor picnic tables, a fishing pier,
and more.
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AMENITIES
Admission and parking are free to all visitors at Masonville Cove. Parking is located directly in front of the Education Center. We do ask that all visitors sign in at the Education Center so that we can provide safety information and keep track of everyone visiting the site. Restrooms and water can also be found in the Education Center.
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ACCESSIBILITY
Masonville Cove is designed to be accessible to visitors. Some accessibility features include an elevator in our Education Center, as well as ramp access to the outdoor areas of the Cove. Please let us know if you have specific questions about site accessibility.
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GENERAL FACILITY & ACCESSIBILITY INFORMATION
OVERVIEW
The Masonville Cove Environmental Education Center (MCEEC) provides enjoyable exhibits and information for our site visitors, and plays an important role in the environmental education the Living Classrooms Foundation provides for students.
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We invite all our visitors to explore this state-of-the-art green building to learn about the history of Masonville Cove and the wildlife that now call it home.
AMENITIES
In the main education room you'll find interactive (hands-on) kid-friendly displays and see our animal ambassadors. Historic artifacts found during the environmental restoration of the Cove are also on display on the main floor.
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Restrooms and water are available inside the Education Center on the first floor, and an elevator in the building can transport visitors downstairs to access the back deck, if needed.
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Downstairs in the Education Center are two student laboratories that Living Classrooms Foundation uses to provide rich, hands-on environmental education experiences for visiting classes.
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EDUCATION CENTER
SIGHT-SEE FROM THE BACK DECK
The large back deck behind the Education Center is the perfect place to look out over the Cove, enjoy a snack, or bird watch.
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HIKE AND EXPLORE THE COVE
Take a walk along the beautiful trails that run across the property. Most trails are very level and easy to walk.
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Masonville Cove is home to hundreds of different kinds of birds and other wildlife, so keep your eyes open while you're exploring— you'll be amazed by how much you see!
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EAT A PICNIC
Pack a meal or snack to eat at the picnic tables located outside the Education Center. Food is not permitted on the waterfront campus/trails.
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BIRD WATCH
Masonville Cove is one of the top birding "hot spots" (places with the most different types of birds observed) in the entire state of Maryland! Over 230 different kinds of birds have been found at the Cove, from song birds to waterfowl to raptors.
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In 2019, Masonville Cove was home to Baltimore City's first known pair of nesting bald eagles, which raised two eaglets.
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MEET CAPTAIN TRASH WHEEL
Stop by, say hello, and take a selfie with our trash-gobbling, googly-eyed hero! Click here to learn more about Captain before your visit.
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FIND MASONVILLE'S GEOCACHE
Explore Masonville while "geocaching," a fun activity that enables players to use phones (or other GPS-enabled devices) to participate in real-life, outdoor treasure hunts.
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The hunt for Masonville's geocache will lead you on a scenic exploration of the Cove and eventually to a "treasure chest" (geocache container)!
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Click here to view a video to learn more about Geocaching at Masonville Cove.
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FISH AT THE PIER
Visit our fishing pier to get a closer look at the river. You can walk along the trails to the pier, or can access it from the water by non-motorized boat.
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You can also go fishing from the pier (state laws regarding required fishing license apply). Bring your own poles or ask at the Education Center to borrow one.
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OUTDOOR SIGHTS & ACTIVITIES
OVERVIEW
If you're interested in learning more about the Port of Baltimore's role in the restoration of Masonville Cove, consider a behind-the-scenes tour of the nearby Masonville Dredged Material Containment Facility (DMCF). Tour groups go on a guided riding tour of the DMCF, which is located adjacent to the restored areas of the Cove.
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TOUR CONTENT
During the tour you'll learn about how the creation of the DMCF and the stewardship of the Port of Baltimore helped transform the Cove from a neglected waste to the habitat you see today. Because the DMCF is a construction site, these are prearranged guided riding tours only.
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MASONVILLE DMCF TOURS
THE FOLLOWING ARE NOT PERMITTED:
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Smoking
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Fires
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Alcohol
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Drugs
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Weapons
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Illegal activities
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Swimming/ wading
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Skateboarding/ skating
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ATVs, bicycles, or horses
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Motorized boats
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Digging
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Pets*
*Trained service animals (as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act) are allowed.
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We ask that all visitors follow our site rules in order to ensure that Masonville Cove remains safe and protected for our resident wildlife and other visitors enjoying the site.
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Please help us keep the Cove beautiful by not littering, and by leaving nature where you find it. Don't collect plants or animals, either alive or dead (they're still important for the ecosystem).
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