See all 3 routes on Gunpowder Falls
Maryland | Baltimore County / Central Maryland
Gunpowder FallsMonkton Road to Phoenix Road
A gentle Upper Gunpowder moving-water section from Monkton through the Glencoe and Sparks corridor to Phoenix Road. It is primarily Class I water with a steady current, wooded banks, limited parking, muddy or steep access carries, and a hard endpoint before Baltimore City property.
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Route location
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Need to know
Why this call
Route overview
Trip details
Access rules, camping, seasonal conditions and trip length.
Distance, difficulty, rules and camping
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 gentle Upper Gunpowder moving-water section from Monkton through the Glencoe and Sparks corridor to Phoenix Road. It is primarily Class I water with a steady current, wooded banks, limited parking, muddy or steep access carries, and a hard endpoint before Baltimore City property.
Access map
Put-in
Monkton Road / Monkton Station Gunpowder accessMonkton Station parking is limited and heavily used; verify current capacity and river carry before treating it as a put-in.
Take-out
Phoenix Road Gunpowder Falls State Park accessGlencoe and Sparks access may be muddy, steep, or occupied by other park users. Confirm a safe carry and public water entry on launch day.
Road shuttle
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Access planner
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Monkton Road / Monkton Station Gunpowder access to Phoenix Road Gunpowder Falls State Park access is about 7.1 mi. Use the planner to compare shorter access pairs.
Access notes and hazards
Access caveats
- Monkton Station parking is limited and heavily used; verify current capacity and river carry before treating it as a put-in.
- Glencoe and Sparks access may be muddy, steep, or occupied by other park users. Confirm a safe carry and public water entry on launch day.
- Phoenix has a small access pad and steep stairs and is the hard endpoint before city property. Do not continue downstream without a separately qualified route and lawful access plan.
Watch for
- USGS 01582500 discharge, stage, and trend
- 105.49–1300 cfs AW correlation, shallow water, cold water, strainers, bridge hydraulics, and fast rise
- Monkton/Merryman/Glencoe/Sparks/Phoenix parking, muddy/steep carries, and the hard Phoenix take-out boundary
Plan this paddle
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Conditions
Water levels, gauge history, and hourly forecast
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USGS measurements
More about this gauge
These measurements come from the gauge station. Water depth and current can differ along your trip.
River camera · USGS
View at the gauge
Gunpowder Falls at Glencoe, MD. This view may be outside your paddling reach. Images are periodic and do not establish safe conditions.
Gauge detail
Water-level history and forecastDetailed view
Gauge
Recent trend
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Gauge source
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Route gallery
Photos
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Score & sources
Why this score
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Why this scoreData reliability: checking
This rating reflects whether the gauge measures this part of the river, whether published water-level guidance is available, and how recently the data was updated.
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Data behind the scoreWater levels, published guidance and update times
These readings and published water-level limits help explain today’s score.
| Gauge site | Gunpowder Falls at Glencoe, 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 |
| Preferred range | 140 cfs to 850 cfs |
| Low threshold | 105 cfs |
| High threshold | 1,300 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 Glencoe 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 corridorMonkton Road to Phoenix Road, 7.1 miles, Class I
American Whitewater names the access chain, route length, flow correlation, parking constraints, river character, and Phoenix hard endpoint.
- Authoritative public accessGunpowder Falls State Park and NCR trail access chain
Maryland DNR identifies the public park facilities and named locations; Maryland recreation guidance provides the Monkton and Phoenix area anchors.
- Direct flow evidenceUSGS 01582500 at Glencoe; American Whitewater 105.49–1300 cfs runnable correlation
USGS is the direct same-river station and American Whitewater explicitly correlates this reach to it.
- Live gaugeUSGS 01582500, Gunpowder Falls at Glencoe, 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 the Glencoe section’s 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
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More routes to check next
Compare another stretch on this river, or explore different rivers within 75 straight-line miles.
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Quick answers
Gunpowder Falls paddling FAQ
What water level is best for the Monkton Road to Phoenix Road route on the Gunpowder Falls?
Paddle Today watches Gunpowder Falls at Glencoe, MD and treats 140 cfs to 850 cfs as the target band for this route, with weather and recent trend included in the final score.
Where does the Monkton Road to Phoenix Road route on the Gunpowder Falls start and end?
This route starts at Monkton Road / Monkton Station Gunpowder access and ends at Phoenix Road Gunpowder Falls State Park access, 7.1 miles from Monkton Road to Phoenix Road on the water.
Is the Monkton Road to Phoenix Road route on the Gunpowder Falls suitable 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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