Paddle TodayFind the best paddle near you today

Live score, water level, and weather.

See all 14 routes on Potomac River

Maryland | Allegany County / Western Maryland

Potomac RiverBond's Landing to Fifteen Mile Creek Boat Ramp / Little Orleans

A bounded Class I Paw Paw Bends Potomac leg from Maryland DNR's Bond's Landing through the remote Green Ridge/ C&O corridor to the Fifteen Mile Creek public take-out near Little Orleans. It is the second day of the official Green Ridge two-day float.

Route location

Loading the route map.

Open access map

Plan this route

DistanceApproximately 9 river miles, Maryland DNR Green Ridge State Forest Bond’s Landing to Fifteen Mile Creek leg
DifficultyEasy
Typical time3–6 hours depending on stage
ShuttleCar shuttle
The historic Town Creek Aqueduct crosses the C&O Canal corridor beside the Potomac River in Maryland.
Route photoC&O Canal and Potomac River corridor at Town CreekPhoto by Wikimedia Commons

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 9 river miles, Maryland DNR Green Ridge State Forest Bond’s Landing to Fifteen Mile Creek legBond's Landing to Fifteen Mile Creek Boat Ramp / Little Orleans
DifficultyeasyThe source describes recreational moving water, but shallow rock, current, cold water, debris, and bridge or access hazards remain material.
ShuttleCar shuttleStage at Fifteen Mile Creek near Little Orleans, then shuttle to Bond’s Landing on the Green Ridge/Oldtown access roads. Verify current roads, stream crossings, parking, campground status, and the final ramp carry; leave daylight for the remote shuttle and long flat-water exposure.
PermitsCheck posted rulesFollow current NPS C&O Canal, Maryland DNR Green Ridge, boating/PFD, camping, hunting-season, road, flood, bridge, and access-closure rules. No route-specific paddling permit is claimed.
CampingOptions nearbyBond’s Landing has a first-come, first-served Maryland DNR canoe campsite at the put-in. Additional C&O hiker/biker camping is available in the broader corridor, including the Fifteen Mile Creek endpoint context; confirm current NPS status, fees, reservations, and river carry. No private-bank camping is included.
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 bounded Class I Paw Paw Bends Potomac leg from Maryland DNR's Bond's Landing through the remote Green Ridge/ C&O corridor to the Fifteen Mile Creek public take-out near Little Orleans. It is the second day of the official Green Ridge two-day float.

Access map

Skip map

Pulling access map tiles. Usually under 5 seconds.

End of map
Start

Put-in

Bond's Landing - Green Ridge State Forest
Open mapDirections to put-in

Bond’s Landing is a Maryland DNR state-forest access anchor and Fifteen Mile Creek is an NPS/C&O launch-area anchor; stored coordinates identify the named public facilities but do not guarantee current waterline, parking, or carry conditions.

Finish

Take-out

Fifteen Mile Creek Boat Ramp / Little Orleans
Open mapDirections to take-out

The Bond’s road approach can require 4x4 clearance and seasonal stream fords. Confirm current Green Ridge road and flood conditions; do not use an unsuitable shuttle vehicle or block the small landing lot.

Road shuttle

Driving shuttle routeShuttle in Apple MapsOpenStreetMap
Access notes and hazards

Access caveats

  • Bond’s Landing is a Maryland DNR state-forest access anchor and Fifteen Mile Creek is an NPS/C&O launch-area anchor; stored coordinates identify the named public facilities but do not guarantee current waterline, parking, or carry conditions.
  • The Bond’s road approach can require 4x4 clearance and seasonal stream fords. Confirm current Green Ridge road and flood conditions; do not use an unsuitable shuttle vehicle or block the small landing lot.
  • The Paw Paw gauge is direct same-river evidence for the route family, but local rain, tributary inflow, wind, debris, and access flooding may differ from the station reading.

Watch for

  • USGS 01610000 stage, discharge, trend, 4.62-ft American Whitewater low-runnable context, recent rain, and fast rise
  • strong/deceptive current, cold water, wind, strainers, floating wood, bridge traffic, private/opposite-bank property, and limited shore exits
  • Bond’s Landing road/stream fords, gravel carry, parking/campsite status, Fifteen Mile Creek bridge/ramp/parking, and hard Fifteen Mile Creek 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.

The historic Town Creek Aqueduct crosses the C&O Canal corridor beside the Potomac River in Maryland.
C&O Canal and Potomac River corridor at Town CreekPhoto by Wikimedia Commons
Wikimedia Commons: public domain

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 corridorBond’s Landing to Fifteen Mile Creek, approximately 9 miles, Class I

    Maryland DNR names the leg and its distance, duration, class, access sequence, and camping context; American Whitewater names the Paw Paw Bends family and gauge context.

    Source

  • Authoritative public accessMaryland DNR Bond's Landing to NPS Fifteen Mile Creek

    Maryland DNR documents Bond’s Landing and NPS/American Whitewater identify the Fifteen Mile Creek public C&O take-out context.

    Source

  • Direct flow evidenceUSGS 01610000 at Paw Paw; American Whitewater low-runnable context around 4.62 ft

    The station is direct same-river context for the Paw Paw Bends; the American Whitewater value is a route-specific planning screen, not a guaranteed safe-flow limit.

    Source

  • Camping postureBond's Landing first-come canoe campsite at the put-in plus C&O camping context

    Maryland DNR and NPS identify the camping sequence; current site status, fees, and river access must be reconfirmed.

    Source

  • Live gaugeUSGS 01610000, Potomac River at Paw Paw, WV

    This is a direct same-river station. Readings are provisional and must be combined with trend and visual conditions.

    Source

  • Approved route imageryRights-cleared public-agency or public-domain corridor image

    Wikimedia Commons public-domain C&O/Potomac corridor image used as same-river context; it does not certify current flow, access, or camping 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.Allegany County / Western MarylandJump to routes in this region.

More on Potomac River

All 14
Big Pool / Fort Frederick Campground to Williamsport River Bottom ParkWashington County / Western MarylandModerate · Approximately 16.7 river miles, American Whitewater Potomac reach 0.4Big Slackwater Boat Ramp to Taylors Landing Boat Ramp with Dam 4 portageMontgomery, Frederick, and Washington Counties / Central MarylandHard · Approximately 3.4 river miles downstream from C&O Canal mile 85.5 to mile 80.9, with a mandatory Dam 4 portageBrunswick Boat Ramp to Point of Rocks Boat RampMontgomery, Frederick, and Washington Counties / Central MarylandModerate · Approximately 6.8 river miles downstream from C&O Canal mile 55.0 to mile 48.2Dam 4 downstream access to Shepherdstown Princess Street Boat RampMontgomery, Frederick, and Washington Counties / Central MarylandModerate · Approximately 11.6 moving-water miles from below Dam 4 to Shepherdstown

Nearby routes within 75 miles

Cacapon RiverFishers Ford Bridge public access to Cacapon Power Plant public access · about 5 straight-line mi awayEasy · 8.5 miCacapon RiverCacapon Crossing public access to Fishers Ford Bridge public access · about 9 straight-line mi awayEasy · 18 miCacapon RiverWV 127 Bridge public access to Cacapon Crossing public access · about 12 straight-line mi awayEasy · 9 miNorth Branch Potomac RiverEugene Mason Sports Complex to Spring Gap Boat Ramp · about 19 straight-line mi awayEasy · Approximately 10.8 river miles from Mason to Spring Gap; American Whitewater Wiley’s Ford Section

Quick answers

Potomac River paddling FAQ

What water level is best for the Bond's Landing to Fifteen Mile Creek Boat Ramp / Little Orleans route on the Potomac 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 Bond's Landing to Fifteen Mile Creek Boat Ramp / Little Orleans route on the Potomac River start and end?

This route starts at Bond's Landing - Green Ridge State Forest and ends at Fifteen Mile Creek Boat Ramp / Little Orleans, Approximately 9 river miles, Maryland DNR Green Ridge State Forest Bond’s Landing to Fifteen Mile Creek leg on the water.

Is the Bond's Landing to Fifteen Mile Creek Boat Ramp / Little Orleans route on the Potomac 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