Paddle TodayFind the best paddle near you today
RequestRequest

Live score, water level, and weather.

See all 15 routes on Potomac River

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

Potomac River

Point of Rocks Boat Ramp to Monocacy Aqueduct Boat Ramp via Nolands Ferry

Check current paddling conditions for this Potomac River route, including water level, recent gauge trend, weather, and route details.

Route location

Loading the route snapshot. This usually takes a few seconds.

Open access map
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

Need to know

Why this call
Pulling the latest gauge and weather. This usually takes a few seconds.
View Primary Source

Route alerts

Email me when this route improves

We'll email you when this route climbs into Good or Strong. Every email includes an unsubscribe link.

We only email on a new threshold crossing.

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.

------------

Weather

Hourly forecast

Checking weather.

Loading today's forecast.

Next 8 hours

Short-route forecast

Checking the next several hours.

Checking the best short-route window.
----Loading--

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

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.

Plan ahead

Upcoming outlook

These are early planning reads. Re-check live conditions before you commit to the drive.

TomorrowChecking

Waiting on forecast.

WeekendChecking

Waiting on forecast.

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.

DirectionsApple MapsOpenStreetMap
Plan a shorter segmentOptional

Access planner

Pick a shorter segment

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

On-water distanceApproximately 6.2 river miles downstream from Point of Rocks through Nolands Ferry to the Monocacy AqueductLake to creek
On-water timeAbout 5 to 7 hrFull route option
ShuttleSelf-shuttleChoose a shorter in/out pair for a shorter day.

Peltier Lake to Long Lake is the full route. Shorter access pairs are useful when wind, time, or group energy changes the plan.

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.

Download GPXAdd to calendar

Start

Put-in

Point of Rocks Boat Ramp
Open map

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 map

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.

Plan this segment

Pulling access map tiles. Usually under 5 seconds.

Access caveats and watch for

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

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.

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

Score & sources

Why this score

See the gauge, weather, and source notes behind today's call.

Read quality
Checking live inputs.

Pulling the latest gauge and weather. Usually under 10 seconds.

Gauge inputChecking

Waiting on the gauge read.

Weather inputChecking

Waiting on weather.

Next stepChecking

Waiting on enough data to give the next step.

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.

Why
  • Checking evidence-strength notes.
Data behind the scoreGauge, thresholds, and timing

These are the live readings and threshold notes behind today's score.

Gauge sitePotomac River at Point of Rocks, MD
Gauge heightChecking
DischargeChecking
24h trendChecking
24h changeChecking
Current bandChecking
Rain last 24hChecking
Rain last 72hChecking
Air tempChecking
Water tempChecking
WindChecking
GustsChecking
Rain timingChecking
Ideal rangeNeeds paddler reports
Known low-water floor1.25 ft
High thresholdNot calibrated yet
Evidence strength behind the rangeOfficial data source
Gauge observedChecking
Paddle Today updatedChecking
Main source behind this scoreNWS/MARFC Point of Rocks boating stages and C&O/NPS moving-water access guidance
Gauge sourceChecking
Weather sourceChecking
Rainfall sourceChecking
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

Use these links to double-check the gauge, route details, and access notes before you head out.

Reports

Paddler reports

See recent photos and notes from people on the route.

Share your trip

Help build the route page

Add photos or send a quick condition report.

Photos

Upload route photos

Add access, hazard, or on-water photos.

No files selected yet.

Keep exploring

More routes to check next

Compare another stretch on this river, or jump to nearby options before you pick a plan.

More in Maryland

All 140 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 15
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 MarylandAdvanced · 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 by distance

Catoctin CreekCatoctin Creek Park & Nature Center to C&O Lander Boat Ramp / Potomac · about 8 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 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 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 mi awayModerate · Approximately 5.8 river miles, American Whitewater Lower Antietam/Burnside Bridge Section

Quick answers

Potomac River paddling FAQ

What water level is good for paddling Potomac River?

Paddle Today watches Potomac River at Point of Rocks, MD and uses 1.25 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 Point of Rocks Boat Ramp and ends at Monocacy Aqueduct Boat Ramp / Mouth of Monocacy, about Approximately 6.2 river miles downstream from Point of Rocks through Nolands Ferry to the Monocacy Aqueduct 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.

Report a changeEmail update