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Maryland | Allegany and Washington Counties / Western Maryland
Potomac River
Fifteen Mile Creek Boat Ramp / Little Orleans to Little Tonoloway Boat Ramp / Hancock
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 Class I moving-water Potomac reach from the public Fifteen Mile Creek launch near Little Orleans to the Little Tonoloway ramp in Hancock. The C&O Canal corridor supplies multiple hiker/biker camping options and emergency road context, but the route remains a long boundary-river commitment with changing current and limited shore exits.
Prepare this trip
Take the plan with you
Download the canonical route, add a calendar hold, or send a simple float plan to your group.
Put-in
Fifteen Mile Creek Boat Ramp / Little OrleansThe Fifteen Mile Creek coordinate is the public ramp/water-entry anchor documented by American Whitewater and the NPS C&O launch list; confirm the final carry, bridge, parking, and campground status on launch day.
Take-out
Little Tonoloway Boat Ramp / HancockLittle Tonoloway is an NPS-designated ramp with trailer parking and a vault toilet, but the water entry and Berm Road approach remain subject to current conditions and closures.
Plan this segment
Pulling access map tiles. Usually under 5 seconds.
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- The Fifteen Mile Creek coordinate is the public ramp/water-entry anchor documented by American Whitewater and the NPS C&O launch list; confirm the final carry, bridge, parking, and campground status on launch day.
- Little Tonoloway is an NPS-designated ramp with trailer parking and a vault toilet, but the water entry and Berm Road approach remain subject to current conditions and closures.
- The gauge is at Hancock downstream of Little Tonoloway Creek and is direct for this Potomac reach, but local rain, tributary inflows, wind, and access flooding can differ materially from the instantaneous station reading.
Watch for
- USGS 01613000 stage, discharge, and trend
- NWS flood products, recent rain, cold water, wind, floating wood, strainers, bridge hydraulics, and private-bank boundaries
- C&O road/towpath/bridge status, campground access, parking, and the Little Tonoloway take-out boundary
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 Hancock, MD |
| 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 | 3.20 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 Fifteen Mile Creek to Hancock 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 corridorFifteen Mile Creek Boat Ramp to Hancock, 16.8 miles, Class I
American Whitewater names the reach, intermediate access/camping context, Hancock gauge, public endpoints, and low-runnable stage context.
- Federal public accessFifteenmile Creek and Little Tonoloway are C&O/NPS river-launch sites
The NPS boating compendium lists Fifteenmile Creek as a designated trailer launch, and the NPS Little Tonoloway place page documents the Hancock ramp, parking, toilet, and Potomac access.
- Direct flow evidenceUSGS 01613000 Potomac River at Hancock; American Whitewater low-runnable context around 3.2 ft
USGS identifies the direct station and its live stage/discharge parameters; American Whitewater supplies the route-specific planning context.
- Camping postureFifteen Mile Creek endpoint campground plus C&O hiker/biker sites along the reach
American Whitewater names the corridor camping sequence; NPS status, fees, and access must be reconfirmed before an overnight plan.
- Live gaugeUSGS 01613000, Potomac River at Hancock, MD
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 corridor image used as Potomac context; it does not certify current water level or access.
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
See recent photos and notes from people on the route.
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More routes to check next
Compare another stretch on this river, or jump to nearby options before you pick a plan.
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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 Hancock, MD and uses 3.20 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 Fifteen Mile Creek Boat Ramp / Little Orleans and ends at Little Tonoloway Boat Ramp / Hancock, about 16.8 river miles, American Whitewater Potomac reach 0.3 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
See something outdated?
Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.