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

Potomac RiverMouth of Monocacy / Monocacy Aqueduct to Edwards Ferry Boat Ramp via Whites Ferry

A bounded Class I Potomac Islands WMA reach from the public Monocacy Aqueduct ramp to Edwards Ferry, with Whites Ferry as a documented intermediate access. The route follows moving water around islands and shoals and ends before the separately reviewed Edwards-to-Violettes corridor.

Route location

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Plan this route

DistanceApproximately 11.7 river miles downstream from the Monocacy mouth through the Potomac Islands WMA to Edwards Ferry
DifficultyEasy
Typical time5–9 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 11.7 river miles downstream from the Monocacy mouth through the Potomac Islands WMA to Edwards FerryMouth of Monocacy / Monocacy Aqueduct to Edwards Ferry Boat Ramp via Whites Ferry
DifficultyeasyThe source describes recreational moving water, but shallow rock, current, cold water, debris, and bridge or access hazards remain material.
ShuttleCar shuttleStage at Edwards Ferry, then shuttle to the Monocacy Aqueduct ramp using current C&O and local roads. Confirm the Mouth of Monocacy lot, Whites Ferry/railroad crossings, Edwards Ferry road and parking, all current NPS conditions, and a daylight margin for the long island reach.
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 nearbyMarble Quarry, Turtle Run, and Chisel Branch hiker-biker campsites lie near the American Whitewater corridor. Confirm current NPS status, reservations/fees, potable-water posture, vehicle staging, and whether any campsite supports the planned shuttle; 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 Class I Potomac Islands WMA reach from the public Monocacy Aqueduct ramp to Edwards Ferry, with Whites Ferry as a documented intermediate access. The route follows moving water around islands and shoals and ends before the separately reviewed Edwards-to-Violettes corridor.

Access map

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Start

Put-in

Monocacy Aqueduct Boat Ramp / Mouth of Monocacy
Open mapDirections to put-in

Monocacy Aqueduct, Whites Ferry, and Edwards Ferry are public C&O/NPS ramp areas with separate parking, carry, road, channel, and current-closure conditions.

Finish

Take-out

Edwards Ferry Boat Ramp
Open mapDirections to take-out

Whites Ferry’s ramp is public river access, but the ferry itself is documented as closed; do not plan on ferry transport or an opposite-bank bailout.

Road shuttle

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Access planner

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

On-water distance11.7 miMixed access
On-water time5–9 hours depending on stageFull route option
ShuttleCar shuttleChoose a shorter in/out pair for a shorter day.

Monocacy Aqueduct Boat Ramp / Mouth of Monocacy to Edwards Ferry Boat Ramp is about 11.7 mi. Use the planner to compare shorter access pairs.

Access notes and hazards

Access caveats

  • Monocacy Aqueduct, Whites Ferry, and Edwards Ferry are public C&O/NPS ramp areas with separate parking, carry, road, channel, and current-closure conditions.
  • Whites Ferry’s ramp is public river access, but the ferry itself is documented as closed; do not plan on ferry transport or an opposite-bank bailout.
  • The route ends at Edwards Ferry before the reviewed Edwards-to-Violettes reach. USGS 01646500 is downstream proxy evidence and cannot certify local depth, islands, debris, wind, ramp flooding, or take-out safety.

Watch for

  • USGS 01646500 Little Falls Pump Station downstream proxy stage, discharge, and trend
  • American Whitewater 3.01 ft low-runnable context, shallow shoals, island-channel selection, fast rise, flood products, wind, cold water, floating wood, strainers, and private-bank boundaries
  • Monocacy Aqueduct, Whites Ferry, and Edwards Ferry ramp/parking/road status, the closed-ferry limitation, nearby C&O campsites, daylight, and the hard Edwards take-out

Plan this paddle

Choose your trip times

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Conditions

Water levels, gauge history, and hourly forecast

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Gauge detail

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Gauge

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Weather

Hourly forecast

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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 corridorMouth of Monocacy to Edwards Ferry, approximately 11.7 miles, Class I

    American Whitewater names the Potomac Islands WMA route family, the endpoint relationship, Whites Ferry intermediate access, Class I moving water, and the route-specific island/shoal warning.

    Source

  • Authoritative public accessMonocacy Aqueduct, Whites Ferry, and Edwards Ferry public C&O/NPS boat ramps

    NPS and the C&O Canal Trust document the named ramps, canal miles, parking, and Potomac access. Whites Ferry’s ferry service is closed and is not treated as transport.

    Source

  • Proxy flow evidenceUSGS 01646500 Little Falls Pump Station downstream proxy with American Whitewater 3.01 ft low-runnable context

    The gauge is clearly labeled proxy because it is downstream of this reach; local channel, depth, wind, debris, and access conditions remain controlling.

    Source

  • Intermediate bailoutWhites Ferry public river access at approximately 6.4 miles

    American Whitewater names Whites Ferry as a possible short take-out; the route preserves it as conditional river-left access with no ferry-crossing assumption.

    Source

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

    Marble Quarry, Turtle Run, and Chisel Branch are separate C&O campsites near the corridor and do not imply water landings or vehicle access.

    Source

  • Live gaugeUSGS 01646500, Potomac River Near Washington, DC Little Falls Pump Sta, MD

    This is a clearly labeled proxy or route-context station; local water, tributaries, releases, and weather can differ materially.

    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

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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 11 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 13 straight-line mi awayModerate · Approximately 10.1 moving-water miles from Catoctin Creek Park to the C&O Lander Boat Ramp at the PotomacMonocacy RiverDevilbiss Bridge to Gambrill Mill at Monocacy National Battlefield · about 20 straight-line mi awayEasy · Approximately 12.7 river miles, official Monocacy Scenic Water Trail Section 2Catoctin CreekDoub's Meadow Park to Catoctin Creek Park & Nature Center · about 20 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 Mouth of Monocacy / Monocacy Aqueduct to Edwards Ferry Boat Ramp via Whites Ferry 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 Mouth of Monocacy / Monocacy Aqueduct to Edwards Ferry Boat Ramp via Whites Ferry route on the Potomac River start and end?

This route starts at Monocacy Aqueduct Boat Ramp / Mouth of Monocacy and ends at Edwards Ferry Boat Ramp, Approximately 11.7 river miles downstream from the Monocacy mouth through the Potomac Islands WMA to Edwards Ferry on the water.

Is the Mouth of Monocacy / Monocacy Aqueduct to Edwards Ferry Boat Ramp via Whites Ferry 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.

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