Paddle TodayFind the best paddle near you today

Live score, water level, and weather.

See all 8 routes on St. Mary’s County Water Trails

Maryland | St. Mary’s County / Southern Maryland

St. Mary’s County Water TrailsPort of Leonardtown Park to Abell’s Wharf

A public-access McIntosh Run and Breton Bay route from Port of Leonardtown Park through Leonardtown Wharf and Camp Calvert toward Abell’s Wharf.

Route location

Loading the route map.

Open access map

Plan this route

DistanceApproximately 6 miles one way; the guide also identifies Leonardtown Wharf and Camp Calvert as intermediate public access points
DifficultyModerate
Typical time3–7 hours depending on tide
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 6 miles one way; the guide also identifies Leonardtown Wharf and Camp Calvert as intermediate public access pointsPort of Leonardtown Park to Abell’s Wharf
DifficultymoderateThe source describes recreational moving water, but shallow rock, current, cold water, debris, and bridge or access hazards remain material.
ShuttleCar shuttleStage at Abell’s Wharf and shuttle to Port of Leonardtown Park. Confirm the soft-launch carry, limited parking, intermediate public landings, and final wharf operations before launch.
PermitsCheck posted rulesFollow current St. Mary’s County public-landing hours, sunset-to-sunrise closure, no-overnight-parking/camping/open-fire rules, Maryland boating/PFD requirements, tide, marine-weather, and posted closure notices.
CampingOptions nearbyPublic landings prohibit overnight parking, camping, and open fires. Use separate lodging or campground; no McIntosh Run or Breton Bay shoreline camping is claimed.
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

A public-access McIntosh Run and Breton Bay route from Port of Leonardtown Park through Leonardtown Wharf and Camp Calvert toward Abell’s Wharf.

Access map

Skip map

Pulling access map tiles. Usually under 5 seconds.

End of map
Start

Put-in

Port of Leonardtown Park soft launch
Open mapDirections to put-in

Port of Leonardtown is a canoe/kayak soft launch with limited public access; confirm current parking and carry.

Finish

Take-out

Abell’s Wharf public landing
Open mapDirections to take-out

The guide’s intermediate access sequence is the hard logistics chain; private homes, duck-blind shoreline, and marina docks are not alternatives.

Road shuttle

Driving shuttle routeShuttle in Apple MapsOpenStreetMap
Access notes and hazards

Access caveats

  • Port of Leonardtown is a canoe/kayak soft launch with limited public access; confirm current parking and carry.
  • The guide’s intermediate access sequence is the hard logistics chain; private homes, duck-blind shoreline, and marina docks are not alternatives.
  • Abell’s Wharf is a public landing but facilities and seasonal restroom operations can change.

Watch for

  • USGS 01594440 Patuxent proxy and current tide/marine forecast
  • shallow water, sand/portage, strainers after rain, wind, waves, current, wakes, cold water, marina traffic, and private shoreline
  • sunrise/sunset landing hours, parking/carry, small public beaches, limited lots, and hard same-launch returns
  • Port of Leonardtown launch, Leonardtown Wharf, Camp Calvert, Breton Bay, duck blinds, Abell’s Wharf, tide, wind, and private shoreline

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 corridorSt. Mary’s County/DNR McIntosh Run Trail, Approximately 6 miles one way; the guide also identifies Leonardtown Wharf and Camp Calvert as intermediate public access points

    The official county water-trail guide names the route, public endpoints, distance or bounded option, and route-specific tide/wind/shallow-water guidance.

    Source

  • Authoritative public accessPort of Leonardtown Park soft launch and Abell’s Wharf public landing

    St. Mary’s County public-landing records and the water-trail guide identify the endpoint facilities. Coordinates are on/near-water access anchors and current operations must be verified.

    Source

  • Proxy flow and tidal evidenceUSGS 01594440 Patuxent River near Bowie, clearly labeled regional proxy

    The station is not local to these routes and supplies no safe-depth or tide cutoff. Use current tide/marine conditions and observed water.

    Source

  • Camping posturePublic landings prohibit overnight parking, camping, and open fires. Use separate lodging or campground; no McIntosh Run or Breton Bay shoreline camping is claimed.

    County landing rules prohibit overnight parking/camping/open fires; camping requires a separate legal site or campground.

    Source

  • Live gaugeUSGS 01594440, Patuxent River near Bowie, 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 context; it does not certify St. Mary’s tide, wind, 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.St. Mary’s County / Southern MarylandJump to routes in this region.

More on St. Mary’s County Water Trails

All 8
Great Mills Launch to St. Mary’s CitySt. Mary’s County / Southern MarylandModerate · Approximately 7 miles one way along the shoreline; guide describes route choices from approximately 1 to 10 milesPiney Point Lighthouse and Museum Creek loopSt. Mary’s County / Southern MarylandModerate · Approximately 5.5 miles round trip within Piney Point Creek; the 4-mile Piney Point Landing extension is excludedSt. Inigoes Landing Jutland Creek loopSt. Mary’s County / Southern MarylandModerate · Approximately 6.75 miles round tripSt. Inigoes Landing Kitts Point loopSt. Mary’s County / Southern MarylandModerate · Approximately 4.5 miles round trip

Nearby routes within 75 miles

Calvert County Water TrailsJefferson Patterson Park to St. Leonard Creek bounded route · about 10 straight-line mi awayModerate · Bounded St. Leonard Creek route from the JPPM south access; confirm the current creek option distance on the park mapCalvert County Water TrailsNan’s Cove to Rock Creek and Broomes Island bounded loop · about 10 straight-line mi awayModerate · Approximately 1 mile for adjacent coves, 2 miles round trip to Rock Creek, or 5 miles round trip to the mouth of Island CreekCalvert County Water TrailsSolomons Island Patuxent River loop · about 10 straight-line mi awayModerate · Approximately 2 miles round trip to Point Patience or Sandy Point, with optional coves and Back Creek extensions excludedCalvert County Water TrailsHallowing Point to Caney Creek and Benedict Community Park · about 14 straight-line mi awayModerate · Approximately 4 miles round trip into Caney Creek; the Hallowing Point to Benedict crossing is just over 1 mile round trip

Quick answers

St. Mary’s County Water Trails paddling FAQ

What water level is best for the Port of Leonardtown Park to Abell’s Wharf route on the St. Mary’s County 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 Port of Leonardtown Park to Abell’s Wharf route on the St. Mary’s County Water Trails start and end?

This route starts at Port of Leonardtown Park soft launch and ends at Abell’s Wharf public landing, Approximately 6 miles one way; the guide also identifies Leonardtown Wharf and Camp Calvert as intermediate public access points on the water.

Is the Port of Leonardtown Park to Abell’s Wharf route on the St. Mary’s County Water Trails 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.

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