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Maryland | Montgomery, Frederick, and Washington Counties / Central Maryland

Potomac RiverBrunswick Boat Ramp to Point of Rocks Boat Ramp

A bounded lower Middle Potomac moving-water reach between the public Brunswick and Point of Rocks C&O Canal ramps, using the American Whitewater Middle Potomac corridor and the direct Point of Rocks gauge.

Route location

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Plan this route

DistanceApproximately 6.8 river miles downstream from C&O Canal mile 55.0 to mile 48.2
DifficultyModerate
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.
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Route overview

Trip details

Access rules, camping, seasonal conditions and trip length.

Distance, difficulty, rules and camping
On-water distanceApproximately 6.8 river miles downstream from C&O Canal mile 55.0 to mile 48.2Brunswick Boat Ramp to Point of Rocks Boat Ramp
DifficultymoderateThe source describes recreational moving water, but shallow rock, current, cold water, debris, and bridge or access hazards remain material.
ShuttleCar shuttleStage at Point of Rocks, then shuttle to Brunswick using current C&O and local roads. Confirm the small Point of Rocks parking area, town/railroad crossings, ramp access, and a hard daylight take-out margin.
PermitsCheck posted rulesFollow current Maryland boating/PFD rules, C&O Canal National Historical Park ramp and parking rules, NPS closures, NWS flood products, local launch restrictions, and all posted dam, wildlife, and private-shoreline boundaries. No route-specific paddling permit is claimed.
CampingOptions nearbyBrunswick provides a nearby family-campground context, and Calico Rocks hiker-biker camping lies near the Point of Rocks end. Confirm current campground status, reservations/fees, vehicle staging, and park access; no riverbank 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

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Plan

Plan your trip

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

Route logistics

Access and shuttle

A bounded lower Middle Potomac moving-water reach between the public Brunswick and Point of Rocks C&O Canal ramps, using the American Whitewater Middle Potomac corridor and the direct Point of Rocks gauge.

Access map

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Start

Put-in

Brunswick Boat Ramp
Open mapDirections to put-in

Brunswick and Point of Rocks are public C&O/NPS boat ramps, but both are flood-sensitive and may have current road, parking, railroad, bridge, or ramp restrictions.

Finish

Take-out

Point of Rocks Boat Ramp
Open mapDirections to take-out

Point of Rocks is a hard take-out before the downstream Monocacy/Great Falls decision boundary; do not continue into a new reach after a missed landing.

Road shuttle

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Access notes and hazards

Access caveats

  • Brunswick and Point of Rocks are public C&O/NPS boat ramps, but both are flood-sensitive and may have current road, parking, railroad, bridge, or ramp restrictions.
  • Point of Rocks is a hard take-out before the downstream Monocacy/Great Falls decision boundary; do not continue into a new reach after a missed landing.
  • USGS 01638500 is located at Point of Rocks and is direct for this route, but stage cannot certify local wind, debris, wake, landing, or shoreline conditions.

Watch for

  • USGS 01638500 stage, discharge, and trend
  • American Whitewater 1.25 ft low-runnable context and NWS 2.0 ft caution/5.5 ft danger screens
  • wind, wakes, cold water, strainers, bridge/railroad traffic, flood-sensitive ramps, private/industrial shoreline, parking, and the Point of Rocks take-out

Plan this paddle

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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

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Weather

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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 corridorBrunswick to Point of Rocks, approximately 6.8 Potomac river miles

    American Whitewater names both access points within the Middle Potomac reach; the C&O Canal Trust documents both public ramps and canal-mile positions.

    Source

  • Authoritative public accessBrunswick and Point of Rocks public C&O/NPS boat ramps

    The C&O Canal Trust documents each ramp, parking/facility context, and coordinates; current NPS conditions control on launch day.

    Source

  • Direct flow evidenceUSGS 01638500 Point of Rocks; American Whitewater 1.25 ft context; NWS 2.0/5.5 ft screens

    USGS supplies direct same-site conditions and NWS/MARFC supplies official caution/danger stages. American Whitewater adds the route-specific low-runnable context.

    Source

  • Camping postureNearby Brunswick campground and Calico Rocks hiker-biker campsite

    Nearby camping is separately managed and does not imply riverbank or ramp camping.

    Source

  • Live gaugeUSGS 01638500, Potomac River at Point of Rocks, MD

    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 route context; it does not certify current flow, ramp, weather, dam, or take-out conditions.

    Source

Verify it yourselfCheck the source links

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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.Montgomery, Frederick, and Washington Counties / Central 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 portageBond's Landing to Fifteen Mile Creek Boat Ramp / Little OrleansAllegany County / Western MarylandEasy · Approximately 9 river miles, Maryland DNR Green Ridge State Forest Bond’s Landing to Fifteen Mile Creek legDam 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

Catoctin CreekCatoctin Creek Park & Nature Center to C&O Lander Boat Ramp / Potomac · about 7 straight-line mi awayModerate · Approximately 10.1 moving-water miles from Catoctin Creek Park to the C&O Lander Boat Ramp at the PotomacAntietam CreekMD 34 / Porterstown Bridge to Antietam Creek C&O Campground and Potomac confluence · about 12 straight-line mi awayModerate · Approximately 5.8 river miles, American Whitewater Lower Antietam/Burnside Bridge SectionMonocacy RiverGambrill Mill at Monocacy National Battlefield to Monocacy Boat Ramp / Dickerson · about 14 straight-line mi awayEasy · Approximately 17.6 river miles, official Monocacy Scenic Water Trail Section 3Catoctin CreekDoub's Meadow Park to Catoctin Creek Park & Nature Center · about 14 straight-line mi awayModerate · Approximately 16.2 river miles from Doub’s Meadow Park to Catoctin Creek Park & Nature Center

Quick answers

Potomac River paddling FAQ

What water level is best for the Brunswick Boat Ramp to Point of Rocks Boat Ramp 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 Brunswick Boat Ramp to Point of Rocks Boat Ramp route on the Potomac River start and end?

This route starts at Brunswick Boat Ramp and ends at Point of Rocks Boat Ramp, Approximately 6.8 river miles downstream from C&O Canal mile 55.0 to mile 48.2 on the water.

Is the Brunswick Boat Ramp to Point of Rocks Boat Ramp route on the Potomac 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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