See all 2 routes on Catoctin Creek
Maryland | Frederick County / Central Maryland
Catoctin Creek
Doub's Meadow Park to Catoctin Creek Park & Nature Center
Check current paddling conditions for this Catoctin 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
Checking preferred range.
Checking trend.
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 long but gentle upper Catoctin Creek moving-water section from the public Doub’s Meadow Park access near US 40 to Frederick County’s Catoctin Creek Park & Nature Center. American Whitewater rates the full corridor Class I–II and documents multiple public or park access contexts, but shallow water and fallen trees demand a conservative, daylight-rich plan.
Prepare this trip
Take the plan with you
Download the canonical route, add a calendar hold, or send a simple float plan to your group.
Put-in
Doub's Meadow Park near US 40 / MD 17American Whitewater recommends Doub's Meadow Park rather than the US 40 bridge shoulder. Confirm town-park parking, carry, and water entry before launch.
Take-out
Catoctin Creek Park & Nature Center water accessCatoctin Creek Park’s official map marks Water Access but does not guarantee a convenient boat landing for every craft. Verify the trail, bank, hours, and current restrictions.
Plan this segment
Pulling access map tiles. Usually under 5 seconds.
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- American Whitewater recommends Doub's Meadow Park rather than the US 40 bridge shoulder. Confirm town-park parking, carry, and water entry before launch.
- Catoctin Creek Park’s official map marks Water Access but does not guarantee a convenient boat landing for every craft. Verify the trail, bank, hours, and current restrictions.
- The direct USGS station is on the same Catoctin Creek near MD 17, but tributaries, local rain, wood, and shallow upper-reach conditions can differ materially.
Watch for
- USGS 01637500 stage and trend
- 2.4 ft conservative planning floor, shallow riffles, low-water bridges, fallen trees, bridge hydraulics, cold water, and fast rise
- Doub’s Meadow and Catoctin Creek Park hours, parking, water-access carry, 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 | Catoctin Creek near Middletown, 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 | 2.40 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 Catoctin Creek flow 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 corridorDoub's Meadow Park to Catoctin Creek Park, approximately 16.2 miles, Class I–II
American Whitewater describes the route, recommended endpoints, public park access, gauge, shallow-water context, and bridge/strainer hazards.
- Authoritative public accessDoub’s Meadow town park and Frederick County Catoctin Creek Park water access
Town and county park sources establish the public park context; current water entry remains a launch-day check.
- Direct flow evidenceUSGS 01637500 Catoctin Creek near Middletown; approximately 2.4 ft conservative planning floor
USGS documents the same-river stage station at MD 17; American Whitewater provides route-specific low-water context.
- Live gaugeUSGS 01637500, Catoctin Creek near Middletown, 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 Maryland moving-water image used as regional corridor context; it does not certify Catoctin Creek conditions or access.
Verify it yourselfCheck the source links
Use these links to double-check the gauge, route details, and access notes before you head out.
Paddler reports
Recent notes from paddlers
A few quick notes from people who were on this route recently.
Reports
Paddler reports
See recent photos and notes from people on the route.
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Keep exploring
More routes to check next
Compare another stretch on this river, or jump to nearby options before you pick a plan.
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Quick answers
Catoctin Creek paddling FAQ
What water level is good for paddling Catoctin Creek?
Paddle Today watches Catoctin Creek near Middletown, MD and uses 2.40 ft as the conservative low-water floor for this route. The ideal range still needs more paddler reports.
Where does this Catoctin Creek route start and end?
This route starts at Doub's Meadow Park near US 40 / MD 17 and ends at Catoctin Creek Park & Nature Center water access, about Approximately 16.2 river miles from Doub’s Meadow Park to Catoctin Creek Park & Nature Center on the water.
Is this Catoctin 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.
Flag a change
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Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.