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Maryland | St. Mary’s County / Southern Maryland

St. Mary’s County Water TrailsSt. Inigoes Landing Smith Creek loop

A same-launch Smith Creek loop from St. Inigoes Landing through shallow creek water, DNR-managed forest shoreline, coves, and a Leave No Trace rest area.

Route location

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Plan this route

DistanceApproximately 4.75 miles round trip
DifficultyModerate
Typical time2–5 hours depending on shallow water
ShuttleNo shuttle
Two paddlers move downstream on the Monocacy River beneath wooded banks in Maryland.
Route photoMonocacy River Water Trail paddling contextPhoto by Saki / National Park Service

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 4.75 miles round tripSt. Inigoes Landing Smith Creek loop
DifficultymoderateThe source describes recreational moving water, but shallow rock, current, cold water, debris, and bridge or access hazards remain material.
ShuttleNo shuttleNo shuttle is required; launch and return at St. Inigoes Landing, using the sandy beach beside the ramp and the 10-space paved lot after confirming current hours.
PermitsCheck posted rulesFollow current St. Mary’s County public-landing hours, sunset-to-sunrise closure, no-overnight-parking/camping/open-fire rules, Maryland boating/PFD requirements, tide, marine-weather, and posted closure notices.
CampingOptions nearbyCounty public-landing rules prohibit overnight parking and camping. The Leave No Trace rest area is not an overnight authorization; arrange separate lodging or campground.
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 same-launch Smith Creek loop from St. Inigoes Landing through shallow creek water, DNR-managed forest shoreline, coves, and a Leave No Trace rest area.

Access map

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Start

Put-in

St. Inigoes public landing sandy launch
Open mapDirections to put-in

Canoes and kayaks should use the sandy beach beside the ramp; verify the carry and current parking capacity.

Finish

Take-out

St. Inigoes public landing sandy launch return
Open mapDirections to take-out

The guide’s shoreline is managed in part as state forest, but shoreline access outside the public landing is not assumed.

Road shuttle

Driving shuttle routeShuttle in Apple MapsOpenStreetMap
Access notes and hazards

Access caveats

  • Canoes and kayaks should use the sandy beach beside the ramp; verify the carry and current parking capacity.
  • The guide’s shoreline is managed in part as state forest, but shoreline access outside the public landing is not assumed.
  • This is a same-launch loop; do not extend into open lower St. Mary’s River in unsuitable wind or current.

Watch for

  • USGS 01594440 Patuxent proxy and current tide/marine forecast
  • shallow water, sand/portage, strainers after rain, wind, waves, current, wakes, cold water, marina traffic, and private shoreline
  • sunrise/sunset landing hours, parking/carry, small public beaches, limited lots, and hard same-launch returns
  • St. Inigoes sandy launch, shallow Smith Creek, DNR forest shoreline, coves, rest area, tide, wind, and same-launch daylight return

Plan this paddle

Choose your trip times

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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

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.

Two paddlers move downstream on the Monocacy River beneath wooded banks in Maryland.
Monocacy River Water Trail paddling contextPhoto by Saki / National Park Service
National Park Service public-agency image

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 corridorSt. Mary’s County/DNR Smith Creek Loop Trail, Approximately 4.75 miles round trip

    The official county water-trail guide names the route, public endpoints, distance or bounded option, and route-specific tide/wind/shallow-water guidance.

    Source

  • Authoritative public accessSt. Inigoes public landing sandy launch and St. Inigoes public landing sandy launch return

    St. Mary’s County public-landing records and the water-trail guide identify the endpoint facilities. Coordinates are on/near-water access anchors and current operations must be verified.

    Source

  • Proxy flow and tidal evidenceUSGS 01594440 Patuxent River near Bowie, clearly labeled regional proxy

    The station is not local to these routes and supplies no safe-depth or tide cutoff. Use current tide/marine conditions and observed water.

    Source

  • Camping postureCounty public-landing rules prohibit overnight parking and camping. The Leave No Trace rest area is not an overnight authorization; arrange separate lodging or campground.

    County landing rules prohibit overnight parking/camping/open fires; camping requires a separate legal site or campground.

    Source

  • Live gaugeUSGS 01594440, Patuxent River near Bowie, 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

    Rights-cleared Maryland public-river image used as regional context; it does not certify St. Mary’s tide, wind, access, or route hazards.

    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

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Maryland route guideBrowse every tracked Maryland route.St. Mary’s County / Southern MarylandJump to routes in this region.

More on St. Mary’s County Water Trails

All 8
Great Mills Launch to St. Mary’s CitySt. Mary’s County / Southern MarylandModerate · Approximately 7 miles one way along the shoreline; guide describes route choices from approximately 1 to 10 milesPiney Point Lighthouse and Museum Creek loopSt. Mary’s County / Southern MarylandModerate · Approximately 5.5 miles round trip within Piney Point Creek; the 4-mile Piney Point Landing extension is excludedPort of Leonardtown Park to Abell’s WharfSt. Mary’s County / Southern MarylandModerate · Approximately 6 miles one way; the guide also identifies Leonardtown Wharf and Camp Calvert as intermediate public access pointsSt. Inigoes Landing Jutland Creek loopSt. Mary’s County / Southern MarylandModerate · Approximately 6.75 miles round trip

Nearby routes within 75 miles

Point Lookout State Park Water TrailsPoint Lookout Creek loop · about 6 straight-line mi awayHard · Bounded Point Lookout Creek water-trail route; confirm current park map distancePoint Lookout State Park Water TrailsLake Conoy water trail · about 6 straight-line mi awayHard · Bounded Lake Conoy water-trail route; confirm current park map distancePoint Lookout State Park Water TrailsPoint Lookout Chesapeake Bay and Potomac Point route · about 6 straight-line mi awayHard · Bounded around-the-Point route; confirm current park map distance and marine conditionsCalvert County Water TrailsSolomons Island Patuxent River loop · about 15 straight-line mi awayModerate · Approximately 2 miles round trip to Point Patience or Sandy Point, with optional coves and Back Creek extensions excluded

Quick answers

St. Mary’s County Water Trails paddling FAQ

What water level is best for the St. Inigoes Landing Smith Creek loop route on the St. Mary’s County Water Trails?

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 St. Inigoes Landing Smith Creek loop route on the St. Mary’s County Water Trails start and end?

This route starts at St. Inigoes public landing sandy launch and ends at St. Inigoes public landing sandy launch return, Approximately 4.75 miles round trip on the water.

Is the St. Inigoes Landing Smith Creek loop route on the St. Mary’s County Water Trails 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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