I’ve run on the Cross Island Trail on Kent Island several times, and it’s great! But more recently, I learned of another several-miles-long trail on Kent Island — the South Island Trail. On my way home from Baltimore in April, I stopped for a run on the new-to-me trail.
I found out about it from Delmarva Trails and Waterways. The trail is several miles; the Queen Anne’s County website says seven miles, but the map shows six miles. A sign at the start reads “Kent Island South Trail,” though it’s referred to on the site as the South Island Trail.
To reach the trail, I followed directions to a spot on Google Maps called “Kent Island – Start of South Island Trail.” The trail starts just off Route 8, and most of the trail runs pretty much parallel to the road. The northern trailhead is off Marine Academy Drive in Stevensville.
The Cross Island Trail, which was part of The Islands Tour, goes east to west and can be seen from Route 50, while the South Island Trail goes north to south on the island and starts about 2.5 miles south of Route 50. Both trails are paved.
During my recent run, I started at Mile 0, and I think the beginning was the most scenic part, being surrounded by trees, but I enjoyed the whole run and was excited to experience a new-to-me place. I decided to do a mile warm-up, then did six 800s with 4:40 of recovery (walking/then slower running) in between each. My 800 times ranged from 4:32 to 4:40, with three coming in at 4:37.
I had a good workout, but it was warm, and I didn’t want to do as long of a cool-down as I did a warm-up, so I turned around a little past three miles, ending with a total of 6.36 miles. There were stone mile markers every half-mile. I even saw Wisteria Lane on my way back (Desperate Housewives fans will get it!).
Much of the section of the trail I ran on was pretty open and not shaded, so I would consider that when choosing to run here in the summer. I’d be interested in seeing the rest of the trail, and to do that, I’d plan to drive to the other end and run out-and-back from there.
She Runs by the Seashore 