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

Potomac RiverEdwards Ferry Boat Ramp to Violettes Lock Canoe/Kayak Ramp

A Middle Potomac moving-water reach from the Edwards Ferry ramp through the Sycamore and Seneca access chain to the Violettes Lock ramp, bounded immediately above the Dam 2/diversion-dam hazard.

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Plan this route

DistanceApproximately 8.7 river miles downstream from Edwards Ferry at canal mile 30.8 to Violettes at mile 22.1
DifficultyModerate
Typical time4–8 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 8.7 river miles downstream from Edwards Ferry at canal mile 30.8 to Violettes at mile 22.1Edwards Ferry Boat Ramp to Violettes Lock Canoe/Kayak Ramp
DifficultymoderateThe source describes recreational moving water, but shallow rock, current, cold water, debris, and bridge or access hazards remain material.
ShuttleCar shuttleStage at Violettes Lock, then shuttle to Edwards Ferry via current River Road and C&O access roads. Confirm the small Violettes lot, Edwards road/bridge, intermediate access, and a hard daylight cutoff before launching.
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 nearbyHorsepen Branch hiker-biker camping lies near the Sycamore portion of the corridor, while the endpoint towns and C&O facilities provide separate lodging context. Confirm current NPS campsite status and vehicle logistics; no riverbank or ramp camping is claimed.
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 Middle Potomac moving-water reach from the Edwards Ferry ramp through the Sycamore and Seneca access chain to the Violettes Lock ramp, bounded immediately above the Dam 2/diversion-dam hazard.

Access map

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Start

Put-in

Lock 25 Edwards Ferry Boat Ramp
Open mapDirections to put-in

Edwards Ferry, Sycamore Landing, Rileys/Seneca, and Violettes are C&O/NPS access areas, with different ramp types, parking sizes, carries, and current closure conditions.

Finish

Take-out

Lock 23 Violettes Lock Canoe/Kayak Ramp
Open mapDirections to take-out

Violettes is a small-vessel gravel/soft-launch setting with a diversion dam at the canal entrance; it is an upstream hard take-out, not a continuation point.

Road shuttle

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This changes launch and take-out logistics, not today's river score.

On-water distance8.7 miMixed access
On-water time4–8 hours depending on stageFull route option
ShuttleCar shuttleChoose a shorter in/out pair for a shorter day.

Lock 25 Edwards Ferry Boat Ramp to Lock 23 Violettes Lock Canoe/Kayak Ramp is about 8.7 mi. Use the planner to compare shorter access pairs.

Access notes and hazards

Access caveats

  • Edwards Ferry, Sycamore Landing, Rileys/Seneca, and Violettes are C&O/NPS access areas, with different ramp types, parking sizes, carries, and current closure conditions.
  • Violettes is a small-vessel gravel/soft-launch setting with a diversion dam at the canal entrance; it is an upstream hard take-out, not a continuation point.
  • The Point of Rocks gauge is upstream and direct for the river, but it cannot certify local water depth, dam hydraulics, wind, or landing safety.

Watch for

  • USGS 01638500 stage, discharge, and trend
  • American Whitewater 1.25 ft low-runnable context, NWS 2.0 ft caution/5.5 ft danger screens, fast rise, wind, cold water, floating wood, strainers, and private banks
  • Sycamore/Rileys bailout carries, Violettes gravel access, Dam No. 2/diversion works, Great Falls boundary, parking, and daylight

Plan this paddle

Choose your trip times

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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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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 corridorEdwards Ferry to Violettes Lock, approximately 8.7 Potomac river miles

    The NPS/C&O guide and Trust ramp inventory identify the endpoint chain and the route remains bounded above Dam No. 2.

    Source

  • Authoritative public accessEdwards Ferry, Sycamore Landing, Rileys/Seneca, and Violettes C&O/NPS ramps

    The C&O Canal Trust documents the named public ramps, canal miles, parking/carry context, and coordinates; Maryland DNR identifies Violettes as non-motorized access and warns of the diversion dam.

    Source

  • Direct flow evidenceUSGS 01638500 Point of Rocks plus NWS/MARFC boating stages

    The gauge is direct same-river route context; the NWS 2.0/5.5 ft stages and American Whitewater 1.25 ft nearby low-runnable value are conservative screens, not depth guarantees.

    Source

  • Dam boundaryViolettes/Dam No. 2 is a mandatory upstream take-out boundary

    Maryland DNR and NPS materials identify the diversion/dam setting; do not continue toward the structure or Great Falls.

    Source

  • Camping postureNearby C&O hiker-biker camping; no route camping

    Horsepen Branch is a separate campsite near the corridor, not a promised river landing or overnight bank.

    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.

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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 legBrunswick 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 48.2

Nearby routes within 75 miles

Monocacy RiverGambrill Mill at Monocacy National Battlefield to Monocacy Boat Ramp / Dickerson · about 19 straight-line mi awayEasy · Approximately 17.6 river miles, official Monocacy Scenic Water Trail Section 3Catoctin CreekCatoctin Creek Park & Nature Center to C&O Lander Boat Ramp / Potomac · about 21 straight-line mi awayModerate · Approximately 10.1 moving-water miles from Catoctin Creek Park to the C&O Lander Boat Ramp at the PotomacCatoctin CreekDoub's Meadow Park to Catoctin Creek Park & Nature Center · about 28 straight-line mi awayModerate · Approximately 16.2 river miles from Doub’s Meadow Park to Catoctin Creek Park & Nature CenterMonocacy RiverDevilbiss Bridge to Gambrill Mill at Monocacy National Battlefield · about 28 straight-line mi awayEasy · Approximately 12.7 river miles, official Monocacy Scenic Water Trail Section 2

Quick answers

Potomac River paddling FAQ

What water level is best for the Edwards Ferry Boat Ramp to Violettes Lock Canoe/Kayak 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 Edwards Ferry Boat Ramp to Violettes Lock Canoe/Kayak Ramp route on the Potomac River start and end?

This route starts at Lock 25 Edwards Ferry Boat Ramp and ends at Lock 23 Violettes Lock Canoe/Kayak Ramp, Approximately 8.7 river miles downstream from Edwards Ferry at canal mile 30.8 to Violettes at mile 22.1 on the water.

Is the Edwards Ferry Boat Ramp to Violettes Lock Canoe/Kayak 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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