{"id":"nps-cajo","slug":"captain-john-smith-chesapeake-national-historic-trail","name":"Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail","designation":"National Historic Trail","category":"historic-site","categoryLabel":"Historic Site and Historical Park","agency":{"code":"NPS","name":"National Park Service","department":"U.S. Department of the Interior","url":"https://www.nps.gov"},"managedBy":[{"code":"NPS","name":"National Park Service","department":"U.S. Department of the Interior","url":"https://www.nps.gov","unitCode":"CAJO","designation":"National Historic Trail","sourceId":"nps-cajo"}],"states":["VA","MD","DE","DC","PA","NY"],"stateNames":["Virginia","Maryland","Delaware","District of Columbia","Pennsylvania","New York"],"location":{"lat":38.971601,"lon":-76.483355},"bbox":[-76.6576,37.4068,-76.6379,37.4177],"acres":{"value":243,"kind":"gis-estimate","source":"Computed from the simplified boundary","note":"Approximate. The managing agency publishes official acreage."},"firstProtected":null,"established":null,"administrations":[],"designationHistory":[],"summary":"People first arrived in the Chesapeake Bay during the last ice age. As glaciers melted, diverse societies learned to thrive in a world of water. When Englishman Captain John Smith explored the Bay in 1608, he documented hundreds of American Indian communities. Today, sites on his map are archeological treasures and sacred sites for tribal citizens. Come join us on the shores of the Chesapeake Bay!","summarySource":"National Park Service","guide":{},"trConnection":null,"trConnections":[],"trTypes":[],"links":{"official":"https://www.nps.gov/cajo/index.htm","social":{},"recreationGov":null,"alltrails":null,"alltrailsExplore":"https://www.alltrails.com/explore?b_tl_lat=37.4177&b_tl_lng=-76.6576&b_br_lat=37.4068&b_br_lng=-76.6379","recreationGovSearch":"https://www.recreation.gov/search?q=Captain%20John%20Smith%20Chesapeake%20National%20Historic%20Trail","directions":"https://www.nps.gov/cajo/planyourvisit/directions.htm"},"cover":{"url":"https://www.nps.gov/common/uploads/structured_data/3C823100-1DD8-B71B-0B3AE3516DDF485B.jpg","title":"Heron at sunset at Blackwater NWR","alt":"A heron at sunset in the waters and marshes of Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge","credit":"NPS Photo / Middleton Evans","license":"Public domain (U.S. government work)","licenseUrl":null,"filePage":"https://www.nps.gov/cajo/index.htm","tier":1,"source":"National Park Service"},"images":[{"url":"https://www.nps.gov/common/uploads/structured_data/3C823100-1DD8-B71B-0B3AE3516DDF485B.jpg","title":"Heron at sunset at Blackwater NWR","alt":"A heron at sunset in the waters and marshes of Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge","credit":"NPS Photo / Middleton Evans","license":"Public domain (U.S. government work)","licenseUrl":null,"filePage":"https://www.nps.gov/cajo/index.htm","source":"National Park Service","cover":true},{"url":"https://www.nps.gov/common/uploads/structured_data/3C823278-1DD8-B71B-0B1E9F8326884E3B.jpg","title":"Kayaker at Jug Bay","alt":"A lone kayaker explores the Patuxent River","caption":"The upper reaches of the Patuxent River at Jug Bay give visitors a view of the Chesapeake region that feels similar to a time before European settlement.","credit":"NPS Photo / Middleton Evans","source":"NPS"}],"activities":["Arts and Culture","Craft Demonstrations","Cultural Demonstrations","Boating","Sailing","Boat Tour","Camping","Canoe or Kayak Camping","Car or Front Country Camping","RV Camping","Compass and GPS","Geocaching","Fishing","Food","Picnicking","Guided Tours","Boat Tour","Hands-On","Arts and Crafts","Hiking","Front-Country Hiking","Paddling","Canoeing","Canoe or Kayak Camping","Kayaking","Stand Up Paddleboarding","Whitewater Rafting","Junior Ranger Program","Tubing","River Tubing","Swimming","Wildlife Watching","Birdwatching","Museum Exhibits"],"topics":["Archeology","Arts","Colonization and Settlement","Commerce","Trade","Dams","Explorers and Expeditions","Farming and Agriculture","Maritime","Native American Heritage","Religion and Spirituality","Science, Technology and Innovation","Transportation","Bridges","Roads, Routes and Highways","Wars and Conflicts","Colonial/European Contact Conflicts","Animals","Birds","Fish","Climate Change","Coasts, Islands and Atolls","Estuaries and Mangroves","Forests and Woodlands","Deciduous Forests","Geology","River and Riparian","Scenic Views","Trails","Water Trails","Unique Species","Rare","Endangered","Watersheds","Headwaters","Waterfalls","Wetlands","Marshes","Swamps"],"fees":[],"passes":[],"hours":[{"name":"Trail Operating Hours","description":"The water trail is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year! To launch your kayak or other vessel on the trail, access a local boat launch along one of the trail's many tributary rivers and coastlines. Local boat launches, state parks, and other locations have specific operating hours and seasons. Always check weather and conditions before going out on the water - take care during the winter months to dress appropriately for the weather and the possibility of submersion in cold water.","standardHours":{"wednesday":"All Day","monday":"All Day","thursday":"All Day","sunday":"All Day","tuesday":"All Day","friday":"All Day","saturday":"All Day"},"exceptions":[]}],"directions":"The water trail is 3,000 miles long and there are countless places to explore it. The trail's headquarters and main visitor center is at Colonial National Historical Park - Historic Jamestowne. For an internet map search or GPS, use the following: Historic Jamestowne Visitor Center, 1368 Colonial Parkway, Jamestown, Virginia 23081.","weatherInfo":"During the summer season, visitors should dress in light, comfortable, moisture-wicking clothing, and use sunscreen. High temperatures and humidity create a higher risk of heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heatstroke. We strongly recommended you carry a bottle of water with you and wear a life jacket at all times. During the winter, be aware that submersion in freezing cold water can be deadly. If you are going out, bring safety gear such as a wetsuit and practice techniques to avoid tipping over.","contacts":{"phone":null,"email":"cajo_info@nps.gov"},"visitorCenters":[{"name":"Zimmerman Center for Heritage","description":"The Zimmerman Center for Heritage sits on the banks of the Susquehanna River and is part of the Susquehanna National Heritage Area. The Susquehanna River has long been a gateway to exploration and a corridor of culture and commerce. As rich in history as it is in breathtaking scenery, spectacular wildlife and soul restoring recreation, the river is a place for experiencing the stories of America.","url":"https://susqnha.org/explore-2/zimmerman-center/","lat":39.9773831865,"lon":-76.4966440201},{"name":"Historic Jamestowne - Trail Headquarters","description":"The trail shares a headquarters with Historic Jamestowne, an historic site and visitors center managed by Colonial National Historical Park. Visitors to this coastal Virginia island can explore the site where English colonists built their first successful settlement. Jamestown was the starting point of John Smith's voyages, which form the basis for the trail's route today. Take in the natural beauty of the James River, bike around the loop road, go on a guided tour, and more.","url":"https://www.nps.gov/jame/index.htm","lat":37.2114879,"lon":-76.7765498018}],"campgrounds":[],"thingsToDo":[],"nearby":[{"slug":"chesapeake-bay","km":0},{"slug":"eastern-neck-national-wildlife-refuge","km":23},{"slug":"patuxent-research-refuge","km":27},{"slug":"baltimore-washington-parkway","km":33},{"slug":"fort-mchenry-national-monument-and-historic-shrine","km":34},{"slug":"greenbelt-park","km":36}],"hasBoundary":true,"boundarySource":{"name":"NPS Land Resources Division","url":"https://irma.nps.gov/DataStore/Reference/Profile/2224545"},"sources":[{"name":"NPS Data API","url":"https://developer.nps.gov/api/v1/parks?parkCode=cajo"},{"name":"NPS Land Resources Division boundaries","url":"https://services1.arcgis.com/fBc8EJBxQRMcHlei/arcgis/rest/services/NPS_Land_Resources_Division_Boundary_and_Tract_Data_Service/FeatureServer/2"}],"editorialStatus":"draft","synced":"2026-11-09T02:12:45.609Z","alerts":[],"url":"https://directory.labs.trlibrary.com/sites/captain-john-smith-chesapeake-national-historic-trail/","boundaryUrl":"https://directory.labs.trlibrary.com/boundaries/captain-john-smith-chesapeake-national-historic-trail.geojson"}