See all 2 routes on Patapsco River
Maryland | Howard and Baltimore Counties / Central Maryland
Patapsco RiverWoodstock Road / Old Court Road to Daniels River Access
A bounded central Maryland Patapsco moving-water reach from the common Woodstock Road access area to the Daniels soft launch above Daniels Dam. It is a short, park-adjacent corridor with seasonal high-water dependence and a mandatory dam boundary at the downstream endpoint.
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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
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Plan
Plan your trip
Launch points, shuttle details, distance, and access notes.
Route logistics
Access and shuttle
A bounded central Maryland Patapsco moving-water reach from the common Woodstock Road access area to the Daniels soft launch above Daniels Dam. It is a short, park-adjacent corridor with seasonal high-water dependence and a mandatory dam boundary at the downstream endpoint.
Access map
Put-in
Woodstock Road / Old Court Road bridge near-water access anchorAmerican Whitewater calls Woodstock Road the common put-in, and Maryland DNR describes the high-water connection to Daniels, but neither source guarantees a maintained launch, shoulder parking, or railroad-side access at the bridge. Verify the current public entry and do not trespass.
Take-out
Daniels Area soft launch above Daniels DamMaryland DNR’s Daniels map marks Soft Launch Boat Access, and its paddling page places that launch just above Daniels Dam. Confirm the carry surface, park hours, parking, waterline, and downstream no-go boundary before committing.
Road shuttle
Access notes and hazards
Access caveats
- American Whitewater calls Woodstock Road the common put-in, and Maryland DNR describes the high-water connection to Daniels, but neither source guarantees a maintained launch, shoulder parking, or railroad-side access at the bridge. Verify the current public entry and do not trespass.
- Maryland DNR’s Daniels map marks Soft Launch Boat Access, and its paddling page places that launch just above Daniels Dam. Confirm the carry surface, park hours, parking, waterline, and downstream no-go boundary before committing.
- The direct Hollofield station is on the same Patapsco corridor, but local tributary inflow, dam operations, debris, and access conditions can differ materially from the instantaneous reading.
Watch for
- USGS 01589000 discharge and trend
- high-water dependence, 34 cfs below-recommended context, rain, fast rise, cold water, strainers, slippery banks, and bridge hydraulics
- Woodstock legal parking/carry, Daniels park hours, soft-launch trail, and the Daniels Dam hard take-out boundary
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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
Patapsco River at Hollofield, MD. This view may be outside your paddling reach. Images are periodic and do not establish safe conditions.
Gauge detail
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Gauge
Recent trend
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Route gallery
Photos
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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 corridorWoodstock Road common put-in to Daniels, approximately 4.5 miles; 6.3-mile confluence-to-Daniels reach
American Whitewater identifies the common Woodstock access, route length, Hollofield gauge, and the route’s high-water/strainer context.
- Maryland public paddling guidanceWoodstock Road to Daniels is approximately 4.7 river miles when the river is running high; soft launch above Daniels Dam
Maryland DNR explicitly describes this seasonal reach and the Daniels soft launch.
- Endpoint coordinate evidenceWoodstock/Old Court bridge near-water anchor; Daniels Area park soft-launch anchor
The Woodstock coordinate is a Maryland environmental-record bridge/bank anchor paired with American Whitewater’s common-put-in description. The Daniels coordinate is the DNR Daniels Area access anchor; both require launch-day verification.
- Direct flow evidenceUSGS 01589000 Patapsco River at Hollofield; American Whitewater reports 34 cfs below recommended
USGS is the direct same-river station. American Whitewater supplies route-specific flow context but not a universal minimum.
- Dam boundaryDaniels soft launch is just above Daniels Dam
The endpoint is intentionally bounded above the dam; do not continue downstream without a separate hazard and portage plan.
- Live gaugeUSGS 01589000, Patapsco River at Hollofield, 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
Wikimedia Commons CC BY 2.0 Patapsco Valley State Park river image used as corridor context; it is upstream of the named endpoints and does not certify current flow, access, or dam 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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Quick answers
Patapsco River paddling FAQ
What water level is best for the Woodstock Road / Old Court Road to Daniels River Access route on the Patapsco River?
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 Woodstock Road / Old Court Road to Daniels River Access route on the Patapsco River start and end?
This route starts at Woodstock Road / Old Court Road bridge near-water access anchor and ends at Daniels Area soft launch above Daniels Dam, Approximately 4.5–4.7 river miles from the common Woodstock put-in to Daniels, within American Whitewater’s 6.3-mile confluence-to-Daniels reach on the water.
Is the Woodstock Road / Old Court Road to Daniels River Access route on the Patapsco River 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.
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