See all 3 routes on Gunpowder Falls
Maryland | Baltimore County / Central Maryland
Gunpowder Falls
Masemore Road to Monkton Road
Check current paddling conditions for this Gunpowder Falls 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
Checking the next several hours.
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 Upper Gunpowder moving-water corridor through Gunpowder Falls State Park from Masemore Road to Monkton Road. The reach mixes cold Class I–II water, a quarry rapid, shallow sections, multiple public access points, and recurring wood/parking constraints.
Plan a shorter segmentOptional
Access planner
Pick a shorter segment
This changes launch and take-out logistics, not today's river score.
Peltier Lake to Long Lake is the full route. Shorter access pairs are useful when wind, time, or group energy changes the 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
Masemore Road Gunpowder Falls State Park accessMasemore Road and the other access areas are designated public recreation/parking anchors, but lot capacity, bank condition, and water entry can change. Confirm on launch day.
Take-out
Monkton Road / Monkton Station Gunpowder accessBlue Mount parking has been reported as constrained; do not treat it as guaranteed bailout access without a current check.
Plan this segment
Pulling access map tiles. Usually under 5 seconds.
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- Masemore Road and the other access areas are designated public recreation/parking anchors, but lot capacity, bank condition, and water entry can change. Confirm on launch day.
- Blue Mount parking has been reported as constrained; do not treat it as guaranteed bailout access without a current check.
- The direct Parkton gauge is upstream of the lower part of the reach, and the reservoir-regulated system still responds to local tributary rain, wood, and shallow channel conditions.
Watch for
- USGS 01581920 discharge, stage, and trend
- 72.5–1230 cfs AW correlation, shallow quarry water, low-water scraping, strainers, cold water, and fast rise
- Masemore/Bunker Hill/York/Big Falls/Blue Mount/Monkton lot capacity, carries, private property, and daylight margin
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 | Gunpowder Falls near Parkton, MD |
| Discharge | Checking |
| Gauge height | 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 |
| Target band | 105 cfs to 800 cfs |
| Low threshold | 73 cfs |
| High threshold | 1,230 cfs |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Official data source |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | American Whitewater Upper Gunpowder flow correlation |
| 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 corridorMasemore Road to Monkton Road, 7.8 miles, Class I–II
American Whitewater names the reach, six access points, route character, wood and quarry hazards, gauge, and 72.5–1230 cfs correlation.
- Authoritative public accessGunpowder Falls State Park Hereford Area access network
Maryland DNR and Maryland public recreation guidance identify the designated river-crossing parking/access areas and park rules.
- Direct flow evidenceUSGS 01581920 near Parkton; American Whitewater 72.5–1230 cfs runnable correlation
USGS provides live same-river discharge/stage and American Whitewater ties the correlation to this reach.
- Live gaugeUSGS 01581920, Gunpowder Falls near Parkton, 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
Rights-cleared Maryland public river image used as regional moving-water context; it does not certify Upper Gunpowder access or current conditions.
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
Gunpowder Falls paddling FAQ
What water level is good for paddling Gunpowder Falls?
Paddle Today watches Gunpowder Falls near Parkton, MD and treats 105 cfs to 800 cfs as the target band for this route, with weather and recent trend included in the final score.
Where does this Gunpowder Falls route start and end?
This route starts at Masemore Road Gunpowder Falls State Park access and ends at Monkton Road / Monkton Station Gunpowder access, about 7.8 miles from Masemore Road to Monkton Road on the water.
Is this Gunpowder Falls 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.