Paddle TodayFind the best paddle near you today

Live score, water level, and weather.

Maryland | Worcester County / Eastern Maryland

Pocomoke RiverByrd Park, Snow Hill to Shad Landing Area

A short upper Pocomoke moving-water route from the public Byrd Park launch in Snow Hill to the Maryland DNR Shad Landing state-park launch. It transitions from town waterfront to the cypress-and-park corridor and has a separately confirmed campground at the endpoint.

Route location

Loading the route map.

Open access map

Plan this route

DistanceApproximately 3.1 river miles from Byrd Park to Shad Landing
DifficultyEasy
Typical time1.5–4 hours depending on 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 3.1 river miles from Byrd Park to Shad LandingByrd Park, Snow Hill to Shad Landing Area
DifficultyeasyThe source describes recreational moving water, but shallow rock, current, cold water, debris, and bridge or access hazards remain material.
ShuttleCar shuttleStage at Shad Landing, then shuttle to Byrd Park. Verify town-park events, DNR park hours, parking, launch surfaces, and the return carry before launching.
PermitsCheck posted rulesFollow current Maryland DNR Pocomoke River State Park and Pocomoke State Forest hours, seasonal operations, launch rules, Maryland boating/PFD requirements, weather advisories, and posted closures. No route-specific paddling permit is claimed beyond named park or town requirements.
CampingOptions nearbyShad Landing has year-round state-park camping; Byrd Park is a town day-use launch. Confirm a reservation and overnight parking arrangement rather than assuming the river access permits camping.
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 short upper Pocomoke moving-water route from the public Byrd Park launch in Snow Hill to the Maryland DNR Shad Landing state-park launch. It transitions from town waterfront to the cypress-and-park corridor and has a separately confirmed campground at the endpoint.

Access map

Skip map

Pulling access map tiles. Usually under 5 seconds.

End of map
Start

Put-in

Byrd Park floating canoe/kayak launch, Snow Hill
Open mapDirections to put-in

Byrd Park is a public town waterfront with dawn-to-dusk access, but launch capacity, events, and shoreline conditions can change.

Finish

Take-out

Shad Landing Area public boat ramp and soft launch
Open mapDirections to take-out

Shad Landing is a public state-park launch with camping and soft-launch context; verify current fees, closures, parking, and carry.

Road shuttle

Driving shuttle routeShuttle in Apple MapsOpenStreetMap
Access notes and hazards

Access caveats

  • Byrd Park is a public town waterfront with dawn-to-dusk access, but launch capacity, events, and shoreline conditions can change.
  • Shad Landing is a public state-park launch with camping and soft-launch context; verify current fees, closures, parking, and carry.
  • The Willards gauge is a same-river upstream proxy and is not a local safe-depth cutoff.

Watch for

  • USGS 01485000 upstream proxy discharge and trend
  • actual depth, recent rain, dark-water visibility, submerged vegetation, strainers, cold water, thunderstorms, and water-quality advisories
  • sunrise/sunset, seasonal park operations, launch fees/parking, carry distance, camping reservations, and private-bank boundaries
  • Snow Hill event/park hours, Shad Landing day-use and campground status, and hard Shad Landing take-out

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 corridorByrd Park to Shad Landing, approximately 3.1 miles

    The Town of Snow Hill and Maryland DNR place the two public launches on the upper Pocomoke corridor.

    Source

  • Authoritative public accessSnow Hill Byrd Park floating launch and DNR Shad Landing ramp/soft launch

    The town documents Byrd Park canoe/kayak launching; DNR documents the Shad launch, hours, camping, and park facilities.

    Source

  • Proxy flow evidenceUSGS 01485000 near Willards; actual depth and trend required

    The station is on the same river but upstream of the route; no route-specific numeric safe cutoff is claimed.

    Source

  • Live gaugeUSGS 01485000, Pocomoke River near Willards, 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 Pocomoke flow, vegetation, 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

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.Worcester County / Eastern MarylandJump to routes in this region.

Nearby routes within 75 miles

Nassawango Creek Canoe TrailRed House Road to Pocomoke River confluence · about 3 straight-line mi awayEasy · Approximately 2.5 miles from the Red House Road launch to the Pocomoke RiverNassawango Creek Canoe TrailRed House Road to Nassawango Road · about 3 straight-line mi awayEasy · Approximately 1.5 miles from the Red House Road launch to the Nassawango Road short take-outCorker’s Creek Blackwater Canoe TrailShad Landing Corker’s Creek loop · about 3 straight-line mi awayEasy · Approximately 2 miles round trip on the self-guided Corker’s Creek Blackwater Canoe TrailE.A. Vaughn Kayak and Canoe TrailTaylor Landing E.A. Vaughn short route · about 7 straight-line mi awayModerate · Approximately 3 miles, the shortest official E.A. Vaughn paddling option

Quick answers

Pocomoke River paddling FAQ

What water level is best for the Byrd Park, Snow Hill to Shad Landing Area route on the Pocomoke 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 Byrd Park, Snow Hill to Shad Landing Area route on the Pocomoke River start and end?

This route starts at Byrd Park floating canoe/kayak launch, Snow Hill and ends at Shad Landing Area public boat ramp and soft launch, Approximately 3.1 river miles from Byrd Park to Shad Landing on the water.

Is the Byrd Park, Snow Hill to Shad Landing Area route on the Pocomoke 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.

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