Historic Waterfront Park on the Port Tobacco River — Site of St. Ignatius Church (Oldest Continuously Operating Catholic Parish in the United States Founded 1641), Scenic Walking Trails Along the Bluffs, Views of the Port Tobacco River and Potomac River Watershed, Historic Cemetery, Birding and Wildlife Viewing, Picnicking in a Peaceful Woodland Setting, Free Admission Year-Round, Near Port Tobacco Charles County Southern Maryland
Chapel Point State Park is a historic waterfront state park on the Port Tobacco River (a tributary of the Potomac River) in Charles County, southern Maryland, managed by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. The park features scenic walking trails along the bluffs overlooking the Port Tobacco River, adjacency to St. Ignatius Church — the oldest continuously operating Roman Catholic parish in the United States, founded in 1641 by Jesuit missionaries, a historic cemetery with graves dating to the colonial era, excellent birding and wildlife viewing along the river bluffs and tidal marshes with bald eagles, ospreys, great blue herons, and migrating warblers, picnic areas in a peaceful woodland setting, panoramic views of the Port Tobacco River and surrounding tidal marshlands, free admission year-round, and a deeply historic atmosphere in one of Maryland’s earliest colonial settlements.
St. Ignatius Church (adjacent to the park) has been continuously operating since 1641 — making it the oldest Catholic parish in continuous operation in the United States. The Jesuit missionaries who founded it arrived with Lord Baltimore’s original colonists aboard the Ark and the Dove in 1634.
The park’s blufftop trails offer stunning views of the Port Tobacco River — one of the most scenic tidal rivers in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. In winter, bald eagles are frequently spotted soaring over the river.
What to See
- St. Ignatius Church — oldest US Catholic parish (1641)
- Bluff trails — river views
- Historic cemetery — colonial era
- Birding — eagles, ospreys, herons
- Picnicking — woodland setting
- Free admission — year-round
Park Information
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Location | Port Tobacco River, Charles County, MD |
| Historic Site | St. Ignatius Church (1641) |
| Trails | Blufftop walking trails |
| Wildlife | Bald eagles, ospreys, herons |
| Camping | ❌ No — day-use only |
| Admission | Free — year-round |
| Managed By | Maryland DNR |
| Coordinates | 38.4667° N, 77.0167° W |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the oldest Catholic parish in the United States?
St. Ignatius Church adjacent to Chapel Point State Park in Charles County, Maryland is the oldest continuously operating Roman Catholic parish in the United States, founded in 1641 by Jesuit missionaries. The state park on the Port Tobacco River features blufftop walking trails with river views, a historic colonial-era cemetery, excellent birding for bald eagles, ospreys, and great blue herons, and picnic areas. Free admission year-round. Managed by Maryland DNR.
Last updated: May 2026
Nearby state parks: If you have extra time, Wolf Den Run State Park is a short drive away, and Matthew Henson State Park is a short drive away.
Camping reservations: Book campsites and cabins for Maryland state parks online at parkreservations.maryland.gov.
Park Location
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