Elk Neck State Park North East River is a saltwater beach in Cecil County, Maryland. Across 369 bacteria samples collected between 2021 and 2025 at nearby monitoring stations, it earns a Beach Safety Grade of D — Poor.
About 14% of samples at Elk Neck State Park North East River exceeded the EPA Beach Action Value of 104 CFU/100 mL for Enterococcus — the threshold at which water managers typically post a swimming advisory. In practice that means the safe-swimming limit was frequently crossed here over the monitored period. Bacteria samples frequently exceed the safe-swimming threshold; swimming advisories are common here.
Elk Neck State Park North East River was not under a swimming advisory in the most recent EPA snapshot. Conditions can change quickly after heavy rain or high runoff, so it's still worth checking the current advisory the day you go.
📍 39.4950, -75.9890 · Open in Google Maps. Coordinates mark the monitored shoreline, not a specific access point.
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Common questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Elk Neck State Park North East River earns a Beach Safety Grade of D (Poor), based on 369 bacteria samples where about 14% exceeded the EPA safe-swimming threshold. Always confirm the current advisory before swimming, especially after heavy rain.
Water samples near Elk Neck State Park North East River are tested for Enterococcus, uploaded to the EPA Water Quality Portal. A sample above the Beach Action Value (104 CFU/100 mL) signals a higher risk of illness from swimming. BeachGrade summarizes multiple years of those results into one grade.
Elk Neck State Park North East River is a saltwater beach in Cecil County, Maryland.
Beach inventory and advisory status from the U.S. EPA BEACON program; bacteria samples from the Water Quality Portal. The Beach Safety Grade summarizes multiple years of monitoring — see our methodology. Water quality changes quickly, especially after rain; always check the official state or county advisory before swimming. BeachGrade is informational and not a substitute for official public-health guidance.