 Maryland Outdoor Recreation Business Directory Now Live!
The Maryland Outdoor Recreation Business Directory is an digital map featuring more than 600 outdoor recreation businesses, designed to connect guides, outfitters, manufacturers, and rental providers with the public, strengthening Maryland’s outdoor industry.
You can search for businesses by name, location, business type, or recreation type. Zoom in on your area to learn which businesses operate near you, or play with the filters to explore all the different ways to spend time outdoors in Maryland! Businesses can also use the tool to identify and connect with other outdoor recreation partners.
Help us grow the Outdoor Recreation Business Directory! If you would like to add your business or update your information in this directory, please click to fill out the Business Directory Update Request form.
Director’s Note: From the Desk of Sandi Olek
What a great time to be outside in Maryland. This year, I tried many new things, met so many new friends and really challenged myself.
I got a chance to further develop my mountain biking skills, spent some time on the Appalachian Trail, learned more about the history of our lands and the inspiring work of Frederick and Anna Murray Douglass, and got the chance to serve on both the Maryland Statewide Transportation Trail planning group and the Maryland 250 Commission.
I am looking forward to a great 2026 and celebrating our country's semiquincentennial, along with Maryland's great history of civic engagement and service. As we plan ahead for 2026, we are excited about new partnerships and meeting new people. I hope to see you outside soon.
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Maryland Outdoor Recreation Summit Coming to the Eastern Shore in Fall 2026!
 Three individuals spin on a merry-go-round, part of a challenge to use public outdoor rec equipment during the 2025 Rec Trek.
Maryland Outdoor Recreation Summit Coming to the Eastern Shore in Fall 2026
Thank you to the nearly 200 representatives of Maryland’s outdoor recreation community who came together in late October for our second annual Maryland Outdoor Rec Summit in Baltimore! The energy doesn’t stop there–we’re already in the thick of planning the 2026 Maryland Outdoor Recreation Summit on Maryland’s Eastern Shore.
Interested in participating as an attendee, speaker, or sponsor? Complete our 2026 Summit Interest Form to be among the first to receive all new updates.
Missed the 2025 Maryland Outdoor Recreation Summit? Check out our recap post on Facebook to learn more about our first-ever Rec Trek and inspiring speakers. Better yet, view the 2025 Maryland Outdoor Recreation Summit Photo Album on Flickr!
 Paddleboarders on a Live Water Foundation excursion. Live Water Foundation’s mission is to provide equitable access to the water and paddling sports. The foundation received a Maryland Outdoor Recreation equity mini-grant last year for a veteran-focused program.
Maryland Department of Natural Resources’ (DNR) Outdoor Equity Mini Grant program is doubling its impact in 2025, providing $65,000 to projects that are introducing more Marylanders to camping, mountain biking, outdoor education, and nature-based wellness. Sec. Josh Kurtz announced the recipients during the second annual Maryland Outdoor Recreation Summit, which took place in Baltimore, Oct. 28-30.
“This work really is about ensuring every Marylander has the opportunity to get outside and to enjoy our incredible natural resources,” Kurtz said.
The mini-grant program supports equitable access to outdoor recreation for communities that have been historically underserved. These grants fund community-based projects that help Marylanders overcome social, geographic, cultural, physical, and economic barriers to the outdoors.
Read more about the 11 grant recipients and their innovative projects on the DNR website.
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Lights on the Bay, Nov. 23–Jan. 1 – Sandy Point State Park
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Gaithersburg Winter Lights Festival, Nov. 28–Dec. 31 – Seneca Creek State Park
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2026 First Day Hikes, January 1, 2026 – State Parks and public lands across Maryland
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Free State Fly Fishers of Maryland: Getting Started in Fly Tying and Beyond, Jan. 10, 2026 – Davidsonville
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Inner Harbor Ice Rink, Nov. 7, 2025 –Jan. 19, 2026 – Baltimore City
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Polar Bear Plunge, Jan. 23-31, 2026 – Sandy Point State Park
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Deep Creek Dunk, Feb. 19-21 – Deep Creek Lake
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Black History Month Celebration, February 2026 – Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad State Park
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Maryland’s Best! Sip and Shuck in FeBREWary (Feb. 1-28) and March 2026
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Eastern Shore Outdoor Expo, Feb. 21, 2026 – Cambridge
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Friends of Patapsco Valley State Park/Catalyst Adaptive Cycling, March 7, 2026 – Patapsco Valley State Park, McKeldin Area
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Maple Syrup Festival, mid-March 2026 – Cunningham Falls State Park
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The Maryland Fly Fishing Show, March 21, 2026 – Towson University
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Chesapeake Cycling Club’s Tri-County Ice Cream Classic, May 2, 2026 – Easton
2026 First Day Hikes
 Kids and an adult pose in front of a sign at Patapsco Valley State Park celebrating First Day Hikes.
Start the new year off on the right foot with time spent outdoors! Maryland State Parks will be offering First Day Hike opportunities across the state. Learn more about the trails with themed and ranger-led hikes, or venture on a self-guided hike at your own pace. Explore First Day Hike programming in your area on the First Day Hikes webpage.
Layer up…and check out these five tips for winter hiking from the American Hiking Society!
Explore the Shore Outdoor Expo
 Celebrate 250 years of life on the Eastern Shore with a new tradition in outdoor adventure! Join us for the inaugural Explore the Shore Outdoor Expo on Saturday, February 21 in Cambridge.
Set in the beautifully restored Packing House, this one-day festival will unite outdoor brands, local businesses, DNR staff, and community members for a lively celebration of outdoor adventures. The day’s immersive program will include outdoor gear exhibits, introductory workshops, a wild game cooking event, and a Bucks-Bears-Stags official measuring event. Fun for the whole family!
Learn more about the event at thepackinghousecambridge.com/outdoor-expo.
Things You Should Know About Cold Water Boating
Be prepared if you venture out on our waterways during the winter months! Cold-water immersion is the cause of many boating-related fatalities.
- Check the weather forecast before boating.
- Always wear a life jacket.
- When at all possible, always boat with a buddy.
- File a float plan.
- Bring additional clothing and dress appropriately for the weather/water.
- Even the most experienced boaters have unexpected accidents. Be prepared for anything.
More cold water boating tips can be found on the boating safety webpages.
Congratulations to the “25 in 2025” Adventure Challenge Winners!
 The Maryland State Parks “25 in 2025” Adventure Challenge was a rousing success with more than 1,000 photo entries! Eager outdoor adventurers explored themed challenges and photographed iconic features across dozens of Maryland State Parks, complete with a random prize drawing for those who successfully completed at least 25 challenges.
Check out the lucky “25 in 2025” winners and some of their amazing shots from the photo scavenger hunt. 📸 A special congratulations to Ken, the “25 in 2025 Ultimate Adventurer” for submitting more than 50 different successful challenges!
Eager to explore more Maryland state lands? From pristine nature photography to ice fishing at Deep Creek Lake to quaint cold-weather camping, there are many ways to recreate in the winter.
#MoreKidsOnBikes: NICA Eastern Regionals at Fair Hill
 The National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA) celebrated the culture of mountain biking across the eastern seaboard with its third annual Eastern Regional Event at the Fair Hill Natural Resources Management Area this past November!
Fair Hill offers over 80 miles of multi-use singletrack, making it one of the premier mountain biking destinations in the Mid-Atlantic. This regional event attracted over 2,000 NICA community members, including coaches, families, and high school athletes from 11 states racing throughout the weekend. The competition doesn’t just empower young people to grow both on and off the bike; in 2024, NICA’s Eastern event brought an estimated $835,000 in economic impact to the communities around Fair Hill near Elkton, Maryland. Check out both the racing results and photo galleries on the NICA Eastern Regionals event page!
Deep Creek Lion Club’s Blind Ski Program at WISP
 The Deep Creek Lions Club is preparing to host its 53rd annual Blind Ski Program! In 2024, they welcomed 22 visually impaired skiers and their families to the slopes over just a few short days. Guided by a bamboo pole held on either end by the volunteers, these eager participants start their skiing experience on the easy bunny slopes. After a few hours, participants adventure onto the more difficult green beginner or even blue intermediate trails connected to their guides by a tether for speed control. By the next day, many skiers feel confident enough to navigate the slopes with minimal assistance, relying only on verbal cues from volunteers to flag turns and edges.
“The goal is to have the vision-impaired skier ski with friends and family,” said Program Director Mike O’Brien. “These kids are amazing. They are great skiers that happen to be visually impaired.”
This program is made possible through collaboration with a dedicated team of local community volunteers and the generosity of WISP Resort! If you are interested in participating or volunteering, please contact Deep Creek Lake Lions Club at dcllions@gmail.com.
Outdoor Recreation is accessible in Maryland! There’s a way for everyone to enjoy time outdoors. Our state lands have various resources, including accessible fishing piers, designated areas for handicapped hunting from a vehicle, and adaptive recreation equipment. Partners like Friends of Patapsco State Park host accessible recreation programs year-round, from accessible First Day Hikes to exploring Maryland’s oldest state park on adaptive mountain bikes and kayaks. Check out more resources for accessible recreation on the DNR website.
 Like many others, Asia Bright, founder and CEO of Black Girls Hike, started spending more time outdoors during the pandemic.
“It was then that it became apparent to me that there weren’t many Black and brown people out on the trails, and I attributed that to a lack of representation in the media, a lack of community, and many historical and cultural barriers that disconnected Black Americans from the outdoor and natural spaces,” said Bright.
Bright started Black Girls Hike right in the middle of the forest at Catoctin Mountain Park as a way to highlight and represent black women in nature–in Maryland and throughout all areas of the world. Since then, the Black Girls Hike community has gained more than 20,000 members who participate in guided hiking experiences, nature-based trips and retreats, and health and wellness activities. So far, Bright has helped establish nine Black Girls Hike chapters in other cities around the country. She is looking to expand programming to all 50 states.
“The most impactful feedback I’ve received from participants is to ‘keep doing what I’m doing,’” Bright shared. “Because hiking and being out in nature has so many positive physical and mental health benefits, it affirms my belief that the Black Girls Hike community is needed and appreciated by those that participate and support.”
This winter, check out Bright’s favorite hiking location at the Patapsco Valley State Park McKeldin area, a “quiet but really beautiful” place to see all types of native wildlife and plants. To learn more about Black Girls Hike, including upcoming international experiential travel opportunities, check out their website.
Please let us know of any outdoor recreation business that we should consider for this section; note that the Office of Outdoor Recreation does not endorse any specific businesses nor accept any kind of payment or in-kind donation to be featured.
Fall 2025 Social Media Highlights
Don’t forget to get your hunting and fishing license - and now also to register your boat - at DNR's new licensing website, MD Outdoors.
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