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Maryland | Allegany County / Western Maryland
Potomac River
Bond's Landing to Fifteen Mile Creek Boat Ramp / Little Orleans
Check current paddling conditions for this Potomac River route, including water level, recent gauge trend, weather, and route details.
Route location
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Need to know
Why this call
Conditions
Gauge history and hourly forecast
The top card is the quick read. This lower section keeps the longer gauge trend, gauge context, and hourly forecast together.
Gauge detail
Gauge history & hourly forecastDetailed view
Gauge
Recent trend
Checking preferred range.
Checking trend.
Gauge source
--Checking timestampMN DNR provides the current paddling level here, but not chart-ready recent samples.
Weather
Hourly forecast
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Next 8 hours
Short-route forecast
Checking the next several hours.
Route overview
Quick facts and what's next
Distance, difficulty, shuttle basics, and the near-term outlook before you commit to the drive.
Quick facts
Plan ahead
Upcoming outlook
These are early planning reads. Re-check live conditions before you commit to the drive.
Waiting on forecast.
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.
Prepare this trip
Take the plan with you
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Put-in
Bond's Landing - Green Ridge State ForestBond’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.
Take-out
Fifteen Mile Creek Boat Ramp / Little OrleansThe 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.
Plan this segment
Pulling access map tiles. Usually under 5 seconds.
Access caveats and watch for
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
Route gallery
See this route on the water
Photos help show what the access looks like and what the route actually feels like on the water.
Score & sources
Why this score
See the gauge, weather, and source notes behind today's call.
Why this scoreToday's evidence strength is checking
Evidence strength mostly comes down to three things: how direct the active gauge is, how clear the range is, and how fresh the data is.
- Checking evidence-strength notes.
- Checking evidence cautions.
Data behind the scoreGauge, thresholds, and timing
These are the live readings and threshold notes behind today's score.
| Gauge site | Potomac River at Paw Paw, WV |
| Gauge height | Checking |
| Discharge | Checking |
| 24h trend | Checking |
| 24h change | Checking |
| Current band | Checking |
| Rain last 24h | Checking |
| Rain last 72h | Checking |
| Air temp | Checking |
| Water temp | Checking |
| Wind | Checking |
| Gusts | Checking |
| Rain timing | Checking |
| Ideal range | Needs paddler reports |
| Known low-water floor | 4.62 ft |
| High threshold | Not calibrated yet |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Official data source |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | American Whitewater Paw Paw Bends flow context |
| Gauge source | Checking |
| Weather source | Checking |
| Rainfall source | Checking |
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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
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
Potomac River paddling FAQ
What water level is good for paddling Potomac River?
Paddle Today watches Potomac River at Paw Paw, WV and uses 4.62 ft as the conservative low-water floor for this route. The ideal range still needs more paddler reports.
Where does this Potomac River route start and end?
This route starts at Bond's Landing - Green Ridge State Forest and ends at Fifteen Mile Creek Boat Ramp / Little Orleans, about Approximately 9 river miles, Maryland DNR Green Ridge State Forest Bond’s Landing to Fifteen Mile Creek leg on the water.
Is this Potomac River route good for beginners?
This is listed as an easy route, but conditions still matter. Check today's score, water level, weather, and access notes before you go.
Flag a change
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Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.