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

Potomac RiverPoint of Rocks Boat Ramp to Monocacy Aqueduct Boat Ramp via Nolands Ferry

A bounded Class I Point-of-Rocks-to-Monocacy moving-water reach with a public C&O/NPS ramp at each endpoint and the Nolands Ferry ramp as a documented intermediate bailout. The route ends at the Monocacy Aqueduct ramp before an unreviewed extension into the Monocacy River.

Route location

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Plan this route

DistanceApproximately 6.2 river miles downstream from Point of Rocks through Nolands Ferry to the Monocacy Aqueduct
DifficultyEasy
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

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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 6.2 river miles downstream from Point of Rocks through Nolands Ferry to the Monocacy AqueductPoint of Rocks Boat Ramp to Monocacy Aqueduct Boat Ramp via Nolands Ferry
DifficultyeasyThe source describes recreational moving water, but shallow rock, current, cold water, debris, and bridge or access hazards remain material.
ShuttleCar shuttleStage at the Monocacy Aqueduct ramp, then shuttle to Point of Rocks via current C&O and local roads. Confirm the small/flood-sensitive endpoint lots, New Design Road, railroad crossings, Nolands channel approach, and a daylight margin for the long 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 nearbyCalico Rocks and Indian Flats are nearby C&O hiker-biker campsites along the corridor, but neither is promised as a river landing or vehicle-access bailout. Confirm current NPS status, reservations/fees, water, vehicle staging, and the Monocacy endpoint’s park conditions; 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.

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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 Point-of-Rocks-to-Monocacy moving-water reach with a public C&O/NPS ramp at each endpoint and the Nolands Ferry ramp as a documented intermediate bailout. The route ends at the Monocacy Aqueduct ramp before an unreviewed extension into the Monocacy River.

Access map

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Start

Put-in

Point of Rocks Boat Ramp
Open mapDirections to put-in

Point of Rocks, Nolands Ferry, and Monocacy Aqueduct are public C&O/NPS boat ramps, but current flood, road, parking, railroad, carry, channel, and water-entry conditions control on launch day.

Finish

Take-out

Monocacy Aqueduct Boat Ramp / Mouth of Monocacy
Open mapDirections to take-out

Nolands Ferry is a hard optional take-out if the group cannot safely commit to the Monocacy Aqueduct; a missed landing can extend the trip into a separate and unreviewed reach.

Road shuttle

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Access planner

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On-water distance6.2 miMixed access
On-water time3–6 hours depending on stageFull route option
ShuttleCar shuttleChoose a shorter in/out pair for a shorter day.

Point of Rocks Boat Ramp to Monocacy Aqueduct Boat Ramp / Mouth of Monocacy is about 6.2 mi. Use the planner to compare shorter access pairs.

Access notes and hazards

Access caveats

  • Point of Rocks, Nolands Ferry, and Monocacy Aqueduct are public C&O/NPS boat ramps, but current flood, road, parking, railroad, carry, channel, and water-entry conditions control on launch day.
  • Nolands Ferry is a hard optional take-out if the group cannot safely commit to the Monocacy Aqueduct; a missed landing can extend the trip into a separate and unreviewed reach.
  • The Point of Rocks gauge is direct for the upstream end and route context, but stage cannot certify local depth, channel selection, wind, debris, ramp flooding, or the Monocacy landing.

Watch for

  • USGS 01638500 Point of Rocks stage, discharge, and trend
  • American Whitewater 1.25 ft low-runnable context, shallow submerged rocks, changing channel, fast rise, flood products, wind, cold water, floating wood, strainers, and private-bank boundaries
  • Point of Rocks, Nolands Ferry, and Monocacy Aqueduct ramp/parking status, the Nolands left-channel approach, Calico Rocks/Indian Flats camping context, and the hard Monocacy endpoint

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

Water-level history and forecastDetailed view

Gauge

Recent trend

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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 corridorPoint of Rocks to Mouth of Monocacy / Monocacy Aqueduct, 6.2 miles, Class I

    American Whitewater names the route, difficulty, distance, direct gauge, Nolands Ferry intermediate access, and Monocacy Aqueduct take-out.

    Source

  • Authoritative public accessPoint of Rocks, Nolands Ferry, and Monocacy Aqueduct public C&O/NPS boat ramps

    NPS and the C&O Canal Trust document the endpoint and intermediate ramps, canal miles, parking, and Potomac access. Coordinates are near-water anchors requiring current field verification.

    Source

  • Direct flow evidenceUSGS 01638500 Point of Rocks with American Whitewater 1.25 ft low-runnable context

    The station is at the upstream endpoint and supplies direct route-context stage/trend evidence; local channel, depth, wind, debris, and landing conditions remain controlling.

    Source

  • Intermediate bailoutNolands Ferry at approximately 3.8 river miles

    American Whitewater documents the intermediate ramp and the left-channel/downstream-angled take-out approach; scout it before committing to the Monocacy end.

    Source

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

    Calico Rocks and Indian Flats are separate campsites near the corridor and do not imply water landings or drive-to access.

    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

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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
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Nearby routes within 75 miles

Catoctin CreekCatoctin Creek Park & Nature Center to C&O Lander Boat Ramp / Potomac · about 8 straight-line mi awayModerate · Approximately 10.1 moving-water miles from Catoctin Creek Park to the C&O Lander Boat Ramp at the PotomacMonocacy 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 CreekDoub's Meadow Park to Catoctin Creek Park & Nature Center · about 16 straight-line mi awayModerate · Approximately 16.2 river miles from Doub’s Meadow Park to Catoctin Creek Park & Nature CenterAntietam CreekMD 34 / Porterstown Bridge to Antietam Creek C&O Campground and Potomac confluence · about 17 straight-line mi awayModerate · Approximately 5.8 river miles, American Whitewater Lower Antietam/Burnside Bridge Section

Quick answers

Potomac River paddling FAQ

What water level is best for the Point of Rocks Boat Ramp to Monocacy Aqueduct Boat Ramp via Nolands 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 Point of Rocks Boat Ramp to Monocacy Aqueduct Boat Ramp via Nolands Ferry route on the Potomac River start and end?

This route starts at Point of Rocks Boat Ramp and ends at Monocacy Aqueduct Boat Ramp / Mouth of Monocacy, Approximately 6.2 river miles downstream from Point of Rocks through Nolands Ferry to the Monocacy Aqueduct on the water.

Is the Point of Rocks Boat Ramp to Monocacy Aqueduct Boat Ramp via Nolands 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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