Trails at Furnace Town Historic Site
Furnace Town Historic Site sits along Nassawango Creek, a tributary to the Pocomoke River, nestled between the Pocomoke State Forest and The Nature Conservancy’s Nassawango Creek Preserve. These forests are characterized by large areas of loblolly pine, mixed pine-hardwood, bottomland hardwood, and bald-cypress trees. Here you will find one of the last places of true wilderness on the Eastern Shore.
Information was developed by Furnace Town, in partnership with Maryland State Forestry and The Nature Conservancy.
Please consult each organization’s guidelines, prior to visiting the trails for hours, closures, etc.
The NAture Conservancy Trails
Paul Leifer Nature Trail - 1 mile
This Trail is a wonderful opportunity to explore the Nassawango Bald Cypress Swamp. The trail leads you through the Pocomoke Forest on a figure-eight path with boardwalks over the swamp. The route around the bottom of the “8” will give you a taste of the swamp without boardwalks. The forest trees and undergrowth, nature’s cleaning system, abound with plant and animal life. Dogs are also able to use the trail, but must be kept on leash and waste must be picked up.
The trail parallels the canal once used to transport shells, used as a flux in iron production, harvested from the Chesapeake Bay up the Pocomoke River and then up Nassawango Creek to a lock created by the Nassawango Iron Furnace owners. Workers pulled the barges up and down the 1 mile canal several times a day. The canal was dug twenty feet wide and eight feet deep to accommodate the 20 foot long barges full of shells coming to the site and for iron headed to ports along the East coast.
Ridge Trail - 1.2 miles
The Ridge Trial is a .06 mile wooded trail located to the right of entrance to Furnace Town Historic Site on Millville Rd. The trail offers a filtered sun path through a great example of the inland dune and ridge habitat type, which is home to species such as Shortleaf Pine and a variety of Oaks. The trail offers a glimpse at some of the unique topography that can be found in this area. Seasonal migratory songbirds and woodpeckers in the forest. Easy, family friendly trail for walking, hiking and birdwatching the trail is accessible year-round. Trail ends on Millville Rd. and is intended to be an in/out hike totaling 1.2mi.
Nassawango Joe Trail - 2.4 miles
The Nassawango Joe Trail is a 1.5mi wooded trail along Nassawango Creek. The trail can be accessed from the Furnace Town Historic Site along Old Furnace Rd. or from the trail head located at the intersection of Red House Rd and Pennewell Rd., 1.5mi south of Furnace Town. This trail offers a shaded hike along the floodplain of Nassawango Creek where the uplands meet the Bald Cypress Swamp. The trail offers a great view into the Bald Cypress swamp and crosses small tributaries feeding into Nassawango Creek. This trail is an easy, family friendly trail great for walking, hiking, birdwatching, and is accessible year-round. Trail can be wet/muddy in areas so please wear appropriate footwear. This is an in/out trail totaling 2.4mi.
Maryland Forest service Trails
Red Furnace Loop - 6.2 miles
The longest of the three loop trails connects Furnace Town with the Algonquin Cross County Trail, with about half of the red loop concurrent with the Algonquin Cross County Trail. The red loop trail begins north of Furnace Town on Millville Road. Park in the Furnace Town parking then carefully proceed north about ¼ mile on Millville Road to the entrance. A variety of unique forest communities are found on this trail, including inland sand dunes, low land swamps, and pine flats. Forestry management activities such as controlled burns and commercial thinning can be seen on this trail. The trail crisscrosses horse trails as the loop connects with both the Orange and Yellow Loops for additional opportunities. No pet restrictions.
Orange Furnace Loop - 3.9 miles
This loop begins at the intersection of the Algonquin Cross County Trail and Forest Road. Parking for this trail is located off Sand Road. The trail traverses through multiple forest types and ages. At intersection with Forest Road, turn right and walk for additional 0.6 miles to connect this loop. No pet restrictions.
Yellow Furnace Loop - 1.8 miles
The yellow loop trail is the shortest of the three loops. Easy, family friendly trail for walking, hiking and birdwatching. The yellow loop trail passes through a globally rare shortleaf pine and mixed oak forest community that developed on an inland sand dune. Different forest management activities have been used to improve and conserve this community, including seed tree harvests, prescribed fire, and commercial thinning. No pet restrictions.
FURNace Town Historic Site
This Village of historic structures, at the site of the Nassawango Iron Furnace, is open to the public April through October of each year. The 26 acre outdoor museum and recreation area is open daily, in season, and hosts special events throughout the year.
