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Maryland | Prince George’s and Anne Arundel Counties / Central Maryland

Patuxent RiverJackson’s Landing to Selby’s Landing

A compact Jug Bay section of the Patuxent Water Trail connecting two documented public M-NCPPC launches. It is a broad, shallow tidal-freshwater route with strong access documentation, seasonal park controls, and reservation-based primitive camping at both endpoint areas.

Route location

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Plan this route

DistanceApproximately 2.7 river miles from Jackson’s Landing to Selby’s Landing
DifficultyEasy
Typical time1.5–4 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.
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Route overview

Trip details

Access rules, camping, seasonal conditions and trip length.

Distance, difficulty, rules and camping
On-water distanceApproximately 2.7 river miles from Jackson’s Landing to Selby’s LandingJackson’s Landing to Selby’s Landing
DifficultyeasyThe source describes recreational moving water, but shallow rock, current, cold water, debris, and bridge or access hazards remain material.
ShuttleCar shuttleStage at Selby’s Landing, then shuttle to Jackson’s Landing. Confirm the same-day park permit, seasonal status, parking, and waterline at both sites; this short route still depends on marsh-channel depth and wind.
PermitsCheck posted rulesFollow current county-park and Patuxent River Park hours, day-use or special-use permit requirements, launch reservations, Maryland boating/PFD rules, weather advisories, and posted closures. No route-specific paddling permit is claimed beyond the named park requirements.
CampingOptions nearbyPrimitive camping is available by reservation at the named Patuxent River Park sites. Confirm which site is assigned, overnight parking, access hours, and current no-tie-up rules before treating either endpoint as an overnight plan.
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.

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Plan

Plan your trip

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

Route logistics

Access and shuttle

A compact Jug Bay section of the Patuxent Water Trail connecting two documented public M-NCPPC launches. It is a broad, shallow tidal-freshwater route with strong access documentation, seasonal park controls, and reservation-based primitive camping at both endpoint areas.

Access map

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Start

Put-in

Jackson’s Landing, Patuxent River Park
Open mapDirections to put-in

Jackson’s Landing is seasonally closed January–March and requires park confirmation.

Finish

Take-out

Selby’s Landing, Patuxent River Park
Open mapDirections to take-out

Selby’s Landing is public and lists parking, permits, toilets, and camping, but water entry and current park operations remain launch-day checks.

Road shuttle

Driving shuttle routeShuttle in Apple MapsOpenStreetMap
Access notes and hazards

Access caveats

  • Jackson’s Landing is seasonally closed January–March and requires park confirmation.
  • Selby’s Landing is public and lists parking, permits, toilets, and camping, but water entry and current park operations remain launch-day checks.
  • The upstream Bowie gauge does not represent local tidal stage; do not use it as a standalone go/no-go number.

Watch for

  • USGS 01594440 upstream proxy discharge/stage and trend
  • tide and wind direction, shallow mud, marsh vegetation, strainers, cold water, thunderstorms, and water-quality advisories
  • park hours, permits/reservations, parking/carry distance, current launch depth, private-bank boundaries, and daylight
  • Jackson seasonal closure, Selby/Jackson permits, sunset, camping reservation, and wildlife-area restrictions

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

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Conditions

Water levels, gauge history, and hourly forecast

Check the forecast and local water levels before launching.

Gauge detail

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Gauge

Recent trend

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Weather

Hourly forecast

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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 corridorJackson’s Landing to Selby’s Landing, approximately 2.7 miles in Jug Bay

    Both launches are listed in the official Patuxent Water Trail directory and NPS boating guidance.

    Source

  • Authoritative public accessM-NCPPC Jackson’s Landing and Selby’s Landing launch records

    The records identify the operator, public hours, seasonal/permit controls, parking, facilities, and camping posture.

    Source

  • Tidal flow guidanceFavorable local tide/wind and water depth; USGS 01594440 is upstream proxy context only

    The NPS describes Jug Bay’s broad/shallow conditions and access; no universal numeric local cutoff is claimed.

    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 moving-water context; it does not certify Patuxent tide, wind, access, or water-quality conditions.

    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

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Photos

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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.Prince George’s and Anne Arundel Counties / Central MarylandJump to routes in this region.

More on Patuxent River

All 5
Governor Bridge Natural Area to Queen Anne Canoe LaunchPrince George’s and Anne Arundel Counties / Central MarylandEasy · Approximately 8.5 river miles from Governor Bridge to Queen Anne, following the Patuxent Water Trail mid-river access sequenceQueen Anne Canoe Launch to Wootons LandingPrince George’s and Anne Arundel Counties / Central MarylandEasy · Approximately 5.2 river miles from Queen Anne to Wootons LandingSelby’s Landing to Clyde Watson Boating AreaPrince George’s and Anne Arundel Counties / Central MarylandEasy · Approximately 13.5 river miles from Selby’s Landing to Clyde WatsonWootons Landing to Jackson’s LandingPrince George’s and Anne Arundel Counties / Central MarylandEasy · Approximately 9.5 river miles from Wootons Landing to Jackson’s Landing

Nearby routes within 75 miles

Calvert County Water TrailsKings Landing Park to Cocktown Creek loop · about 10 straight-line mi awayModerate · Approximately 3 miles round trip, shorter turnarounds permittedCalvert County Water TrailsMarina West at Kellam’s Park Fishing Creek loop · about 11 straight-line mi awayModerate · Approximately 5.5 miles round trip along Fishing Creek, shorter turnarounds permittedAnacostia River Water TrailBladensburg Waterfront Park to Anacostia Park boat ramp · about 17 straight-line mi awayModerate · Approximately 9 miles one way from Bladensburg to Anacostia ParkCalvert County Water TrailsHallowing Point to Caney Creek and Benedict Community Park · about 18 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

Patuxent River paddling FAQ

What water level is best for the Jackson’s Landing to Selby’s Landing route on the Patuxent 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 Jackson’s Landing to Selby’s Landing route on the Patuxent River start and end?

This route starts at Jackson’s Landing, Patuxent River Park and ends at Selby’s Landing, Patuxent River Park, Approximately 2.7 river miles from Jackson’s Landing to Selby’s Landing on the water.

Is the Jackson’s Landing to Selby’s Landing route on the Patuxent River suitable for beginners?

This is listed as a easy 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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