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Reviews: Horseshoe Bend - St. Marys River
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Review for Horseshoe Bend - St. Marys River
Reviewed by: Simon Rycroft on Sep 15, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 40'
Draft: 3.7'Overall Rating:5Holding:4Wind Protection:4Current Flow:4Wake Protection:4Scenic Beauty:4Ease of Shopping:1Shore Access:4Cell Service:3Very scenic spot...did not see shops or look for them...little activity. That said college was not in session! The Maryland Dove (replica 1633 sailing vessel) makes a lovely addition to the skyline.
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Review for Horseshoe Bend - St. Marys River
Reviewed by: Rick Vicars on Jul 25, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 45'
Draft: 5.0'Overall Rating:3Holding:5Wind Protection:4Current Flow:5Wake Protection:5Scenic Beauty:4Shore Access:5Cell Service:56-19-24 Easy access and good holding in mud.
Jellyfish can be an issue if swimming, and well marked oyster beds are located near the anchorage. This is a primitive colonial settlement and not a town. The history and walking through the restored settlement was interesting.
There are no restaurants or a downtown area, but the college cafeteria is open to the public with a buffet style setting and very good food at reasonable prices. We sat on our boat and listened to the outdoor concert.View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer
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Review for Horseshoe Bend - St. Marys River
Reviewed by: John Parsons, Pelican, on Aug 29, 2023
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 41'
Draft: 4.0'Overall Rating:5Holding:5Wind Protection:5Current Flow:5Wake Protection:5Scenic Beauty:5Ease of Shopping:3Shore Access:5Pet Friendly:5Cell Service:3WiFi:1Great, wide anchorage very convenient to land. St. Mary's College dinghy dock (free) was open, and sailing department staff was very welcoming. Walk around campus or to the adjacent historical village gave us plenty of exercise and dog walking opportunities. Unfortunately, the bakery is closed, but the College still has a cafeteria and convenience store at campus center, a 10 min walk from dock. The bay is used by the various College aquatics programs, so expect to have swimmers, rowing crew, and sailing happening if anchored directly in front of docks - very entertaining! Not a No Wake zone, but not many local boats even on the weekend. Most of remainder of bay is natural or widely spaced houses, so quiet. Poor cell connectivity (AT&T or T Mobile). Good holding in sand and mud, and protected from all sides.
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Review for Horseshoe Bend - St. Marys River
Reviewed by: Melinda Zehr, Surface Interval, on Jul 2, 2023
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 39'
Draft: 3.8'Overall Rating:4Holding:5Wind Protection:5Current Flow:4Wake Protection:4Scenic Beauty:4Ease of Shopping:1Shore Access:5Pet Friendly:5Cell Service:1WiFi:1Good anchorage with room for lots of boats. St. Mary's College dock couldn't be more handy. Restrooms with one shower each are provided by the college, but may not open until noon each day (women's was open before that but men's opened after noon). Seniors over 60 pay $9 to tour the historic city. You can also eat at the college student center for $15; hours and menu are listed here: https://www.smcm.edu/campus-life/dining/. Also on Friday nights for four consecutive weeks in the heart of summer, concerts are provided by the Chesapeake Orchestra under a portable white bandshell. We were fortunate to hear the band and see July 4 fireworks (on June 30, 2023).
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Review for Horseshoe Bend - St. Marys River
Reviewed by: Drew Goddin, Jenelle, on Jun 15, 2021
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 45'
Draft: 5.8'Overall Rating:5Holding:5Wind Protection:5Current Flow:5Wake Protection:5Scenic Beauty:5One of the best anchorages we've visited. Very quiet and right across from the college. Will come back when we have more time to explore.
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Review for Horseshoe Bend - St. Marys River
Reviewed by: Bruce Stewart, Escape, on May 8, 2021
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 42'
Draft: 3.0'Overall Rating:5Holding:5Wind Protection:4Current Flow:5Wake Protection:5Scenic Beauty:5Ease of Shopping:2Shore Access:3Pet Friendly:3Cell Service:2WiFi:1Good holding mud, wind protection minimal, current and wake were not an issue.
Room for many boats, with lots of swing room.
Held great through a small blow.View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer
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Review for Horseshoe Bend - St. Marys River
Reviewed by: Pearl on May 3, 2021
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 48'
Draft: 4.0'Overall Rating:5Holding:5Wind Protection:5Current Flow:5Wake Protection:5Scenic Beauty:5Ease of Shopping:1Shore Access:5Pet Friendly:5Cell Service:5WiFi:3Dinghy to the sailboat dock are located in front of the Anchorage. There is a bakery on the historic side of the campus open Monday through Friday 9 to 1 with fabulous homemade breads and cookies including English muffins, and croissants on Wednesdays. There is a trolley that goes to all the small towns in the county. It runs from 7 to 7 daily. St. Mary's College is route 7. Schedule and routes can ge found at
https://www.stmarysmd.com/dpw/stsfares.asp
Beautiful, peaceful anchorage with great sunsets and clear water. 2 bars of WiFi.View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer
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Review for Horseshoe Bend - St. Marys River
Reviewed by: Paul Smyers, SV Nova, on Jul 6, 2020
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 43'
Draft: 4.0'Overall Rating:4Holding:5Wind Protection:4Current Flow:4Wake Protection:4Scenic Beauty:5Ease of Shopping:1Shore Access:3Pet Friendly:3Cell Service:2Excellent protection, holding, and scenery, but there are no services nearby and even the cell service is curiously poor in this area.
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Review for Horseshoe Bend - St. Marys River
Reviewed by: Eddy Johnsen, Spiritus, on May 15, 2018
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 36'
Draft: 4.0'Overall Rating:4Holding:5Wind Protection:5Current Flow:4Wake Protection:4Scenic Beauty:5Ease of Shopping:1Shore Access:3Pet Friendly:5Cell Service:5The best part of dropping the hook here, other than the countryside scenery, protected waters and fabulous sunsets, is the visit to the college. Makes you think about how cool it would have been to be part of this type of scholastic environment.
An easy row to shore. White pvc pipes mark several underwater obstructions.View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer
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Review for Horseshoe Bend - St. Marys River
Reviewed by: Jon Shaver on Oct 27, 2016
LOA: 70'
Draft: 8.0'Overall Rating:5Holding:5Wind Protection:5Current Flow:5Wake Protection:5Scenic Beauty:5Ease of Shopping:3Shore Access:3Pet Friendly:3Cell Service:5WiFi:2This is one of the most beautiful places to spend a night while traveling the Chesapeake. We anchored there last September on the way up the Potomac to National Harbor and then again on the way downriver.
Our boat is a beauty and the kids from the sailing program at St Mary's College came out to greet us and see the boat. The Dean invited us to use the college pier for dinghy tie up and shopping for provisions in town.
Physical beauty is unmatched. So much so that we are going to anchor there this week (Oct 30) as we move the boat from Annapolis to Norfolk and then on to Charleston.
I hope by recommending this that it doesn't end up overrun!View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer
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