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See all 2 routes on Antietam Creek

Maryland | Washington County / Western Maryland

Antietam CreekMD 34 / Porterstown Bridge to Antietam Creek C&O Campground and Potomac confluence

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.

Route location

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Plan this route

DistanceApproximately 5.8 river miles, American Whitewater Lower Antietam/Burnside Bridge Section
DifficultyModerate
Typical time3–6 hours including scouting
ShuttleCar shuttle
Burnside Bridge spans Antietam Creek at Antietam National Battlefield in Maryland.
Route photoBurnside Bridge over Antietam CreekPhoto by National Park Service

Need to know

Why this call
This route is documented for planning, but does not receive a Paddle Today score.
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Route overview

Trip details

Access rules, camping, seasonal conditions and trip length.

Distance, difficulty, rules and camping
On-water distanceApproximately 5.8 river miles, American Whitewater Lower Antietam/Burnside Bridge SectionMD 34 / Porterstown Bridge to Antietam Creek C&O Campground and Potomac confluence
DifficultymoderateThe source describes recreational moving water, but shallow rock, current, cold water, debris, and bridge or access hazards remain material.
ShuttleCar shuttleStage at the Antietam Creek C&O Campground only with the required reservation/parking arrangement, then shuttle to the MD 34/Porterstown Bridge access. Verify the road-side carry and preserve daylight for the Burnside weir, Furnace Rapids, and Potomac paddle-back.
PermitsCheck posted rulesFollow current Maryland boating/PFD requirements, National Park Service Antietam National Battlefield landing restrictions, C&O Canal National Historical Park campground and parking rules, closures, and private-property boundaries. No route-specific paddling permit is claimed.
CampingOptions nearbyAntietam Creek Campground is the named endpoint campground. Recreation.gov describes walk-in/boat-in sites, toilets, water-season limitations, and Canal Road shoulder parking rather than vehicle access to individual sites; confirm reservations, parking, river landing, and current conditions before building an overnight plan.
SeasonMar-NovSpring through fall is the practical planning season, but Maryland water levels, recent rain, temperature, debris, and daylight control every launch decision.

Plan ahead

Tomorrow and the weekend

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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.

Access map

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Start

Put-in

MD 34 / Porterstown Bridge downstream river-left access anchor
Open mapDirections to put-in

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.

Finish

Take-out

Antietam Creek C&O Campground / Potomac-side take-out anchor
Open mapDirections to take-out

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.

Road shuttle

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Access notes and hazards

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

Plan this paddle

Choose your trip times

No account needed. Check the selected access points above, then choose both dates and times. For an overnight paddle, set take-out to the following date.

Trip schedule

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Conditions

Water levels, gauge history, and hourly forecast

Check the forecast and local water levels before launching.

Gauge detail

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Gauge

Recent trend

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Weather

Hourly forecast

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Route gallery

Photos

Check each caption: some photos show the surrounding area rather than this exact trip.

Burnside Bridge spans Antietam Creek at Antietam National Battlefield in Maryland.
Burnside Bridge over Antietam CreekPhoto by National Park Service
National Park Service public-agency image

Sources

Data and sources

Read the access and hazard notes and check the linked guides. We do not issue a daily score for this trip.

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.

    Source

  • 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.

    Source

  • 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.

    Source

  • 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.

    Source

  • 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.

    Source

  • 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.

    Source

  • 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.

    Source

Verify it yourselfCheck the source links

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Reports

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More on Antietam Creek

All 2
Devil’s Backbone Park to MD 34 / Porterstown BridgeWashington County / Western MarylandModerate · Approximately 7.9 Antietam Creek miles from Devil’s Backbone Park to MD 34

Nearby routes within 75 miles

Potomac RiverTaylors Landing Boat Ramp to Snyders Landing Boat Ramp · about 3 straight-line mi awayModerate · Approximately 4.3 river miles downstream from C&O Canal mile 80.9 to mile 76.6Potomac RiverShepherdstown Princess Street Boat Ramp to Dargan Bend Boat Ramp · about 5 straight-line mi awayEasy · Approximately 7.9 moving-water miles from Shepherdstown to Dargan BendPotomac RiverDam 4 downstream access to Shepherdstown Princess Street Boat Ramp · about 6 straight-line mi awayModerate · Approximately 11.6 moving-water miles from below Dam 4 to ShepherdstownPotomac RiverBig Slackwater Boat Ramp to Taylors Landing Boat Ramp with Dam 4 portage · about 7 straight-line mi awayHard · Approximately 3.4 river miles downstream from C&O Canal mile 85.5 to mile 80.9, with a mandatory Dam 4 portage

Quick answers

Antietam Creek paddling FAQ

What water level is best for the MD 34 / Porterstown Bridge to Antietam Creek C&O Campground and Potomac confluence route on the Antietam Creek?

This planning route has no live Paddle Today score. Review the linked water-level sources, current access notices and route-specific hazards before travel.

Where does the MD 34 / Porterstown Bridge to Antietam Creek C&O Campground and Potomac confluence route on the Antietam Creek 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, Approximately 5.8 river miles, American Whitewater Lower Antietam/Burnside Bridge Section on the water.

Is the MD 34 / Porterstown Bridge to Antietam Creek C&O Campground and Potomac confluence route on the Antietam Creek suitable for beginners?

This is listed as a moderate route. Review the difficulty notes, hazards and current access conditions against your group's skills. No live score assesses this trip.

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