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

Potomac RiverTaylors Landing Boat Ramp to Snyders Landing Boat Ramp

A bounded Middle Potomac moving-water reach between two public C&O Canal boat ramps, with hiker-biker camping context near both endpoints and no dam passage inside the selected ramp-to-ramp boundary.

Route location

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Plan this route

DistanceApproximately 4.3 river miles downstream from C&O Canal mile 80.9 to mile 76.6
DifficultyModerate
Typical time2–5 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 4.3 river miles downstream from C&O Canal mile 80.9 to mile 76.6Taylors Landing Boat Ramp to Snyders Landing Boat Ramp
DifficultymoderateThe source describes recreational moving water, but shallow rock, current, cold water, debris, and bridge or access hazards remain material.
ShuttleCar shuttleStage at Snyders Landing, then shuttle to Taylors Landing using current C&O access roads. Confirm both ramp/parking conditions, leave daylight for a wind-affected river day, and do not block berm-side access or campground operations.
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 nearbyC&O Canal Trust identifies Horseshoe Bend hiker-biker camping near Taylors Landing and Killiansburg Cave camping near Snyders Landing. Confirm current NPS status, reservations/fees, water, vehicle staging, and whether the campsite logistics fit the launch plan; 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 Middle Potomac moving-water reach between two public C&O Canal boat ramps, with hiker-biker camping context near both endpoints and no dam passage inside the selected ramp-to-ramp boundary.

Access map

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Start

Put-in

Taylors Landing Boat Ramp
Open mapDirections to put-in

Both ramps are federal C&O Canal access points with current park, parking, road, and water-entry conditions that must be verified on launch day.

Finish

Take-out

Snyders Landing Boat Ramp
Open mapDirections to take-out

The Point of Rocks gauge is direct same-river context but is upstream of this reach; local tributary inflow, wind, debris, and ramp flooding can differ materially.

Road shuttle

Driving shuttle routeShuttle in Apple MapsOpenStreetMap
Access notes and hazards

Access caveats

  • Both ramps are federal C&O Canal access points with current park, parking, road, and water-entry conditions that must be verified on launch day.
  • The Point of Rocks gauge is direct same-river context but is upstream of this reach; local tributary inflow, wind, debris, and ramp flooding can differ materially.
  • Do not continue below Snyders toward Dam 3, Harpers Ferry, or other reaches without a new route and hazard review.

Watch for

  • USGS 01638500 stage, discharge, and trend
  • NWS 2.0 ft caution and 5.5 ft danger screens, flood products, wind, cold water, wakes, floating wood, strainers, and private-bank boundaries
  • C&O road, parking, ramp, restroom, campground, and hard Snyders take-out status

Plan this paddle

Choose your trip times

No account needed. Check the selected access points above, then choose both dates and times. For an overnight paddle, set take-out to the following date.

Trip schedule

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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

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 corridorTaylors Landing to Snyders Landing, approximately 4.3 Potomac river miles

    The NPS/C&O ramp inventory names both public river ramps and the canal-mile sequence; the route is conservatively bounded between them.

    Source

  • Authoritative public accessTaylors Landing and Snyders Landing public C&O/NPS boat ramps

    The C&O Canal Trust documents both ramps, their canal miles, parking, and nearby facilities. Coordinates are water-entry anchors requiring current field verification.

    Source

  • Direct flow and safety evidenceUSGS 01638500 Point of Rocks; NWS 2.0 ft caution and 5.5 ft danger stages

    USGS supplies live direct same-river data; NWS/MARFC supplies route-context boating thresholds. Neither replaces visual inspection at the ramp or on the river.

    Source

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

    The C&O Trust identifies Horseshoe Bend and Killiansburg Cave camping near the endpoints; current NPS status and access must be confirmed.

    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.

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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.

More on Potomac River

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

Antietam CreekMD 34 / Porterstown Bridge to Antietam Creek C&O Campground and Potomac confluence · about 3 straight-line mi awayModerate · Approximately 5.8 river miles, American Whitewater Lower Antietam/Burnside Bridge SectionAntietam CreekDevil’s Backbone Park to MD 34 / Porterstown Bridge · about 4 straight-line mi awayModerate · Approximately 7.9 Antietam Creek miles from Devil’s Backbone Park to MD 34Conococheague CreekKemps Mill Park to Williamsport River Bottom Park · about 9 straight-line mi awayEasy · Approximately 4.5 miles from Kemps Mill Park to Williamsport River Bottom ParkCatoctin CreekDoub's Meadow Park to Catoctin Creek Park & Nature Center · about 11 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 Taylors Landing Boat Ramp to Snyders Landing Boat 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 Taylors Landing Boat Ramp to Snyders Landing Boat Ramp route on the Potomac River start and end?

This route starts at Taylors Landing Boat Ramp and ends at Snyders Landing Boat Ramp, Approximately 4.3 river miles downstream from C&O Canal mile 80.9 to mile 76.6 on the water.

Is the Taylors Landing Boat Ramp to Snyders Landing Boat 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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