Letterboxing at Cedarville State Forest - Solve Our Mystery

Introduction to Quest

Letterboxing is an intriguing “treasure hunt” style outdoor activity for families. Letterboxes are small, weatherproof boxes that usually contain a log book, a rubber stamp and an ink pad. They are hidden in publicly accessible places and the clues will be made available to Park Quest participants. The finders make an imprint of the letterbox's stamp on their stamp sheet or personal log book, and leave an imprint of their personal stamp on the letterbox's logbook. And yes, you can participate even if you don’t have your own stamp or logbook.

Quest Information

To begin the Quest, go to the Cedarville State Forest Headquarters Office and receive your Park Quest packet. The office will be open Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday noon to 5 p.m. Your packet will include a Cedarville Trail Map, a Park Quest information sheet and a letterbox work sheet to collect the letterbox stamps. The following items are suggested to get your team started letterboxing: an ink pad with your choice of color, your team’s rubber stamp and log book so that you can leave your mark for all to see and keep record of the letterboxes you have visited. These items are not required to complete the Quest.

The Park Quest, finding the first two letterboxes, should take approximately one to 1.5 hours. The Bonus Quest (finding all four letterboxes) should take approximately 2.5 to 3 hours. We recommend starting this Quest by 2 p.m. in order to finish in time to return to the Forest office by 4 p.m. to receive your Park Quest Passport stamp. While participating in this Quest wear comfortable shoes and clothing, use sunscreen and insect repellant. Make sure you bring water and a snack or picnic lunch to keep the team going. This Quest is recommended for families with small children. To learn more about letterboxing visit www.Letterboxing.org.

Park Information

Cedarville State Forest is located at the headwaters of the Zekiah Swamp, Maryland’s largest freshwater swamp. The swamp extends southward through Charles County for 20 miles, emptying into the Wicomico River. The swamp is one mile wide, and serves as a haven for wildlife. The surrounding land is mostly agricultural fields. In colonial times and there after efforts were made to drain the swamp for cultivation. Drainage ditches are still evident. To this day, the swamp remains wooded bottomland.

The Piscataway Indian Tribe made this section of Southern Maryland its winter camping ground because of the mild climate and abundance of game. Legend says there is an ancient Indian Burial Ground at Cedarville, but to date it has not been found.

In 1930, the State of Maryland purchased 2,631 acres of land for a forest demonstration area. Later 879 more acres were added to bring the total to 3,510 acres. Cedarville was the postal address for the area, hence the name given to the State Forest.

In 1933, The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), under the direction of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, developed roads and trails for fire protection and future access for recreational development of the area. From 1933 to 1935, approximately 160 men, mostly African Americans from Baltimore and Washington, D.C. worked at Cedarville. They were paid $30 per month, most of the pay was sent home to support their families. Across the nation, the CCC offered jobs to thousands of unemployed men during the Great Depression.

In the 1950’s, Cedarville operated three charcoal kilns burning wood from the forest to produce up to 3,600 pounds of charcoal each week. The charcoal was used in many other state parks throughout Maryland to produce heat. On Forest Road, the remains of one kiln can still be seen today.

Cedarville State Forest invites exploration of its diverse natural, recreational and historic features. Hikers, mountain bikers and equestrians can enjoy approximately 19.5 miles of trails.

Pets are allowed at Cedarville State Forest and must be on a leash at all times. Picnic tables and grills are available along Forest Road. Maryland State Parks are Trash-Free, please take your trash with you and Leave No Trace.

Overnight campsites (electric and non-electric) are available at the Cedarville Family Campground. For reservations, please call the Maryland Park Service Reservation Service at 1-888-432-2267 or go to http://reservations.dnr.state.md.us

Cedarville State Forest
10201 Bee Oak Road
Brandywine, MD 20613
Main Office: 301-888-1410

Directions to Cedarville State Forest

• From Annapolis: Follow Route 50 West to Route 301 South. From Route 301 South travel to Cedarville Road (at the very end of Prince George's County). At traffic light, take a left on Cedarville Road. As a landmark there will be a large white warehouse located on the left hand side. Take Cedarville Road to Bee Oak Road (on you right) which will be the main entrance to the forest.
• From Prince George's County: Travel Route 301/5 South and take a left on Cedarville Road. Follow directions above from Cedarville Road.
• From Waldorf (Charles County): Follow Route 5/301 north into Prince George's County. As soon as you cross into Prince George's County turn right onto Cedarville Road. Follow Cedarville Road to Bee Oak Road (on your right) which is the main entrance for the forest.
• From Washington, D.C.: Follow either Branch Avenue (Route 5) or Pennsylvania Avenue (Route 4). If using Route 5, follow Route 5 for directions from Prince George's County above. If using Pennsylvania Avenue (Route 4), follow Route 301 south from Prince George's County. At the end of Prince George's County and before you enter Charles County, turn left onto Cedarville Road. Follow Cedarville Road to Bee Oak Road (on your right) which is the entrance to the forest.
• Camp at Cedarville: Make a reservation to stay at the park.