Paddle TodayFind the best paddle near you today

Live score, water level, and weather.

See all 5 routes on Kent Island Water Trails

Maryland | Queen Anne’s County / Upper Eastern Shore Maryland

Kent Island Water TrailsKent Narrows Landing to Goodhands Creek Landing

The official Kent Narrows Trail South crosses the tidal narrows under Route 50 toward Hog Island and the more sheltered Goodhands Creek public landing.

Route location

Loading the route map.

Open access map

Plan this route

DistanceApproximately 1.7 miles one way from Kent Narrows Landing to Goodhands Creek Landing; optional approximately 2.4-mile Hog Island loop
DifficultyHard
Typical time2–5 hours depending on Kent Narrows current
ShuttleCar shuttle
Two paddlers move downstream on the Monocacy River beneath wooded banks in Maryland.
Route photoMonocacy River Water Trail paddling contextPhoto by Saki / National Park Service

Need to know

Why this call
This route is documented for planning, but does not receive a Paddle Today score.
View Primary Source
Embed this route

Route alerts

Email me when this route improves

We'll email you when this route climbs into Good or Strong. Every email includes an unsubscribe link.

We only email on a new threshold crossing.

Route overview

Trip details

Access rules, camping, seasonal conditions and trip length.

Distance, difficulty, rules and camping
On-water distanceApproximately 1.7 miles one way from Kent Narrows Landing to Goodhands Creek Landing; optional approximately 2.4-mile Hog Island loopKent Narrows Landing to Goodhands Creek Landing
DifficultyhardThe source describes recreational moving water, but shallow rock, current, cold water, debris, and bridge or access hazards remain material.
ShuttleCar shuttleStage a vehicle at Goodhands Creek Landing and launch from Kent Narrows after confirming permits, parking, the tide/current window, and the public endpoint.
PermitsCheck posted rulesA Queen Anne’s County public-landings permit is required for parking at the named landings; confirm current resident/non-resident fees, 24-hour or dawn-to-dusk hours, ramp versus soft-launch restrictions, Maryland boating/PFD requirements, marine forecast, and posted closures. No water-trail camping is claimed.
CampingDay tripNo on-route camping is identified by the Kent Island water-trail materials. Use nearby lodging or a separately confirmed campground; public landings and water-access rest areas are day-use unless current managing-agency rules explicitly say otherwise.
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

Forecasts can change. Check current conditions again before leaving.

TomorrowChecking

Waiting on forecast.

WeekendChecking

Waiting on forecast.

Plan

Plan your trip

Launch points, shuttle details, distance, and access notes.

Route logistics

Access and shuttle

The official Kent Narrows Trail South crosses the tidal narrows under Route 50 toward Hog Island and the more sheltered Goodhands Creek public landing.

Access map

Skip map

Pulling access map tiles. Usually under 5 seconds.

End of map
Start

Put-in

Kent Narrows Landing
Open mapDirections to put-in

Kent Narrows is not a novice cove despite the short mileage; the current and boat traffic are route-defining hazards.

Finish

Take-out

Goodhands Creek Landing
Open mapDirections to take-out

Goodhands Creek is the deliberate public take-out; do not extend into Prospect Bay without a separate marine plan.

Road shuttle

Driving shuttle routeShuttle in Apple MapsOpenStreetMap
Access notes and hazards

Access caveats

  • Kent Narrows is not a novice cove despite the short mileage; the current and boat traffic are route-defining hazards.
  • Goodhands Creek is the deliberate public take-out; do not extend into Prospect Bay without a separate marine plan.
  • The optional Hog Island loop changes distance and exposure and should be treated as a separate weather decision.

Watch for

  • USGS 01491000 Choptank River watershed-context proxy and trend
  • marine forecast, tide, wind, waves, current, shallow water, sandbars, oyster sanctuaries, bridge traffic, motorboats, thunderstorms, and cold water
  • Queen Anne’s County permit, launch hours, parking capacity, soft-launch carries, private shorelines, and hard named take-outs
  • Route 50 bridge, Kent Narrows current, Hog Island entrance, Goodhands Creek shallows, and Prospect Bay wind

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

Times use the selected time zone. Check it against the river’s location before saving or sharing.

Browser plans

Browser plans stay on this device. Sharing opens your device’s share tools or gives you text to copy.

Download GPX Route geometry only; no schedule required.

Conditions

Water levels, gauge history, and hourly forecast

Check the forecast and local water levels before launching.

Gauge detail

Water-level history and forecastDetailed view

Gauge

Recent trend

Checking preferred range.

Checking trend.

------------

Weather

Hourly forecast

Checking weather.

Loading today's forecast.

Next 8 hours

Short-route forecast

Checking the next several hours.

Checking the best short-route window.
----Loading--

Route gallery

Photos

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

Two paddlers move downstream on the Monocacy River beneath wooded banks in Maryland.
Monocacy River Water Trail paddling contextPhoto by Saki / 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 corridorQueen Anne’s County Kent Island Kent Narrows Trail South, Approximately 1.7 miles one way from Kent Narrows Landing to Goodhands Creek Landing; optional approximately 2.4-mile Hog Island loop

    The official county/DNR Kent Island Water Trails brochures name the route, public endpoints, route distance, difficulty, and moving-water setting.

    Source

  • Authoritative public accessKent Narrows Landing to Goodhands Creek Landing

    The official county brochure and landings directory identify the named public endpoints and their launch, carry, parking, permit, and access posture.

    Source

  • Proxy flow and tidal evidenceUSGS 01491000 Choptank River near Greensboro watershed-context proxy

    This station is not on Kent Island and no local numeric cutoff is claimed. Use current tide, wind, observed depth, charts, and route-specific endpoint conditions.

    Source

  • Camping postureNearby basecamp only

    The Kent Island water-trail brochures identify day-use landings, parks, and water-access areas, not route camping.

    Source

  • Live gaugeUSGS 01491000, Choptank River near Greensboro, MD

    This is a clearly labeled proxy or route-context station; local water, tributaries, releases, and weather can differ materially.

    Source

  • 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 Kent Island tide, wind, depth, access, or route hazards.

    Source

Verify it yourselfCheck the source links

Use these links to double-check the gauge, route details, and access notes before you head out.

Reports

Paddler reports

See recent photos and notes from people on the route.

Share your trip

Help build the route page

Add photos or send a quick condition report.

Photos

Upload route photos

Add access, hazard, or on-water photos.

No files selected yet.

Keep exploring

More routes to check next

Compare another stretch on this river, or explore different rivers within 75 straight-line miles.

More in Maryland

All 131 routes
Maryland route guideBrowse every tracked Maryland route.Queen Anne’s County / Upper Eastern Shore MarylandJump to routes in this region.

More on Kent Island Water Trails

All 5
Cabin Creek Landing protected-cove loop with optional CBEC/Prospect Bay extensionQueen Anne’s County / Upper Eastern Shore MarylandModerate · Approximately 1.25 miles round trip in Cabin Creek; optional approximately 2-mile CBEC/Prospect Bay extensionKent Narrows Landing to Jackson Creek Landing with optional cove loopQueen Anne’s County / Upper Eastern Shore MarylandHard · Approximately 2.5 miles one way from Kent Narrows Landing to Jackson Creek Landing; optional 1.5-mile Jackson Creek loopShipping Creek Landing to Romancoke PierQueen Anne’s County / Upper Eastern Shore MarylandHard · Approximately 3.6 miles one way from Shipping Creek Landing to Romancoke PierThompson Creek Landing to Warehouse Creek LandingQueen Anne’s County / Upper Eastern Shore MarylandHard · Approximately 3.6 miles one way from Thompson Creek Landing to Warehouse Creek Landing

Nearby routes within 75 miles

Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center Water TrailsCBEC dock Marshy Creek loop · about 2 straight-line mi awayModerate · Approximately 1 mile mapped CBEC Marshy Creek water trail, same-launch returnChesapeake Bay Environmental Center Water TrailsCBEC dock Prospect Bay loop · about 2 straight-line mi awayModerate · Approximately 2.8 miles mapped CBEC Prospect Bay water-trail setting, same-launch returnEastern Neck Island Water TrailBogles Wharf around Eastern Neck National Wildlife Refuge and return · about 5 straight-line mi awayHard · Approximately 10 miles round trip around Eastern Neck National Wildlife Refuge from Bogles WharfTilghman Island and Bay Hundred Water TrailsClaiborne Landing to Tilghman Creek Landing · about 9 straight-line mi awayHard · Approximately 5.2 miles one way from Claiborne Landing to Tilghman Creek Landing

Quick answers

Kent Island Water Trails paddling FAQ

What water level is best for the Kent Narrows Landing to Goodhands Creek Landing route on the Kent Island Water Trails?

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 Kent Narrows Landing to Goodhands Creek Landing route on the Kent Island Water Trails start and end?

This route starts at Kent Narrows Landing and ends at Goodhands Creek Landing, Approximately 1.7 miles one way from Kent Narrows Landing to Goodhands Creek Landing; optional approximately 2.4-mile Hog Island loop on the water.

Is the Kent Narrows Landing to Goodhands Creek Landing route on the Kent Island Water Trails suitable for beginners?

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

Flag a change

See something outdated?

Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.

Report a changeEmail update