Cox Point Park

Cox Point Park in Essex, Baltimore County offers free public access to the Back River with no permit required. Located at 820 Riverside Drive, this facility provides a convenient launch point for kayakers, canoeists, and motorboats. The park includes paved parking and boat ramp facilities suitable for various vessel sizes.

The Back River is a medium-sized waterway (Stream Order 4) with a gentle gradient of 0.2 ft/mile and average flow of 107 cubic feet per second, making it generally manageable for paddlers of varying skill levels. With an elevation drop of only 4 feet across its 21-mile length and average current velocity of 1.32 feet/second, the river offers relatively calm conditions typical of tidal Chesapeake Bay tributaries. The 96-square-mile drainage area supports a stable water environment suitable for recreational paddling and boating.

The location places you near historic sites along the Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail and within the Baltimore National Heritage Area, offering opportunities to explore the region's War of 1812 heritage and maritime history while on the water.