See all 2 routes on Antietam Creek
Maryland | Washington County / Western Maryland
Antietam Creek
MD 34 / Porterstown Bridge to Antietam Creek C&O Campground and Potomac confluence
Check current paddling conditions for this Antietam Creek route, including water level, recent gauge trend, weather, and route details.
Route location
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Need to know
Why this call
Conditions
Gauge history and hourly forecast
The top card is the quick read. This lower section keeps the longer gauge trend, gauge context, and hourly forecast together.
Gauge detail
Gauge history & hourly forecastDetailed view
Gauge
Recent trend
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Gauge source
--Checking timestampMN DNR provides the current paddling level here, but not chart-ready recent samples.
Weather
Hourly forecast
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Next 8 hours
Short-route forecast
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Route overview
Quick facts and what's next
Distance, difficulty, shuttle basics, and the near-term outlook before you commit to the drive.
Quick facts
Plan ahead
Upcoming outlook
These are early planning reads. Re-check live conditions before you commit to the drive.
Waiting on forecast.
Waiting on forecast.
Plan
Plan your trip
Launch points, shuttle details, distance, and access notes.
Route logistics
Access and shuttle
A bounded Lower Antietam moving-water route from the MD 34/Porterstown Bridge access to the C&O Antietam Creek Campground near the Potomac confluence. The Class I–II creek has dam ruins, a two-foot Burnside weir, sharp turns, strainers, and a hard campground endpoint that requires a short downstream Potomac connection followed by an upstream paddle to land.
Prepare this trip
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Put-in
MD 34 / Porterstown Bridge downstream river-left access anchorThe MD 34 coordinate is an official Porterstown Bridge monitoring anchor paired with AW’s downstream river-left put-in description; it does not by itself establish legal roadside parking or a maintained launch. Confirm the current public carry and do not use private driveways or bridge shoulders without authorization.
Take-out
Antietam Creek C&O Campground / Potomac-side take-out anchorAntietam Creek Campground is a public C&O campground, but Recreation.gov states that campers walk from Canal Road and that the creek and Potomac can rise or flood. Confirm the legal campsite/vehicle arrangement and actual river landing before choosing it as a take-out.
Plan this segment
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Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- The MD 34 coordinate is an official Porterstown Bridge monitoring anchor paired with AW’s downstream river-left put-in description; it does not by itself establish legal roadside parking or a maintained launch. Confirm the current public carry and do not use private driveways or bridge shoulders without authorization.
- Antietam Creek Campground is a public C&O campground, but Recreation.gov states that campers walk from Canal Road and that the creek and Potomac can rise or flood. Confirm the legal campsite/vehicle arrangement and actual river landing before choosing it as a take-out.
- Most bridge crossings and banks outside the named public endpoints have landowner or historic-preservation access issues. Do not treat the battlefield, bridge, or private bank as an intermediate bailout.
Watch for
- USGS 01619500 stage and discharge trend
- 2.8 ft scrape-free planning context, recent rain, fast rise, cold water, downed trees, strainers, sharp turns, and bridge hydraulics
- Burnside Bridge no-landing rule, intact weir, Furnace Rapids, C&O campground reservation/parking, Potomac paddle-back, and private-bank boundaries
Route gallery
See this route on the water
Photos help show what the access looks like and what the route actually feels like on the water.
Score & sources
Why this score
See the gauge, weather, and source notes behind today's call.
Why this scoreToday's evidence strength is checking
Evidence strength mostly comes down to three things: how direct the active gauge is, how clear the range is, and how fresh the data is.
- Checking evidence-strength notes.
- Checking evidence cautions.
Data behind the scoreGauge, thresholds, and timing
These are the live readings and threshold notes behind today's score.
| Gauge site | Antietam Creek near Sharpsburg, MD |
| Gauge height | Checking |
| Discharge | Checking |
| 24h trend | Checking |
| 24h change | Checking |
| Current band | Checking |
| Rain last 24h | Checking |
| Rain last 72h | Checking |
| Air temp | Checking |
| Water temp | Checking |
| Wind | Checking |
| Gusts | Checking |
| Rain timing | Checking |
| Ideal range | Needs paddler reports |
| Known low-water floor | 2.80 ft |
| High threshold | Not calibrated yet |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Official data source |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | American Whitewater Lower Antietam flow and trip guidance |
| Gauge source | Checking |
| Weather source | Checking |
| Rainfall source | Checking |
NotesWhat to know before you go
These notes cover the access details, route quirks, and source caveats most likely to matter once you get there.
- Named moving-water corridorMD 34 to Potomac, approximately 5.8 miles, Class I–II
American Whitewater names the route, endpoint access, Burnside no-landing rule, weir, Furnace Rapids, wood hazards, and Potomac paddle-back.
- Maryland public paddling guidanceRoute 34 to the Potomac is a popular float when suitable flow is available
Maryland DNR identifies the Antietam Creek Water Trail soft-launch network and specifically calls the Route 34-to-Potomac float popular, while warning that other banks are often private.
- Endpoint coordinate evidencePorterstown Bridge official monitoring anchor; C&O Antietam Creek Campground coordinate
The put-in coordinate is the official Maryland environmental bridge/monitoring anchor. The take-out coordinate is the C&O Canal Trust campground coordinate, paired with AW’s confluence/take-out description and Recreation.gov campground access rules.
- Direct flow evidenceUSGS 01619500 Antietam Creek near Sharpsburg
USGS identifies a continuous stage/discharge station on the same creek approximately four miles upstream of the mouth; local inflows and storm response still require visual inspection.
- Camping postureAntietam Creek C&O Campground at the endpoint
Recreation.gov documents the campground, walk-in/boat-in posture, facilities, and Canal Road shoulder parking.
- Live gaugeUSGS 01619500, Antietam Creek near Sharpsburg, MD
This is a direct same-river station. Readings are provisional and must be combined with trend and visual conditions.
- Approved route imageryRights-cleared public-agency or public-domain corridor image
National Park Service public-agency image of Burnside Bridge over Antietam Creek used as corridor context; the image does not certify current flow, landing status, weir conditions, or battlefield rules.
Verify it yourselfCheck the source links
Use these links to double-check the gauge, route details, and access notes before you head out.
- American Whitewater Lower Antietam/Burnside Bridge Section
- Maryland DNR Antietam Creek paddling and access
- USGS Antietam Creek near Sharpsburg current conditions
- Recreation.gov Antietam Creek Campground
- C&O Canal Trust access and camping context
- USGS 01619500 monitoring location
- USGS 01619500 current conditions
- Approved corridor image
Paddler reports
Recent notes from paddlers
A few quick notes from people who were on this route recently.
Reports
Paddler reports
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More routes to check next
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Quick answers
Antietam Creek paddling FAQ
What water level is good for paddling Antietam Creek?
Paddle Today watches Antietam Creek near Sharpsburg, MD and uses 2.80 ft as the conservative low-water floor for this route. The ideal range still needs more paddler reports.
Where does this Antietam Creek route start and end?
This route starts at MD 34 / Porterstown Bridge downstream river-left access anchor and ends at Antietam Creek C&O Campground / Potomac-side take-out anchor, about Approximately 5.8 river miles, American Whitewater Lower Antietam/Burnside Bridge Section on the water.
Is this Antietam Creek route good for beginners?
This is listed as a moderate route. Expect more planning than an easy float, and use the live score, route notes, and source links before committing.
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Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.