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Maryland | St. Mary’s County / Southern Maryland

St. Mary’s County Water TrailsGreat Mills Launch to St. Mary’s City

The Upper St. Mary’s River Trail follows the river from the county’s canoe/kayak launch at Great Mills to the small St. Mary’s City soft landing.

Route location

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Plan this route

DistanceApproximately 7 miles one way along the shoreline; guide describes route choices from approximately 1 to 10 miles
DifficultyModerate
Typical time3–8 hours depending on shallow water
ShuttleCar 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 7 miles one way along the shoreline; guide describes route choices from approximately 1 to 10 milesGreat Mills Launch to St. Mary’s City
DifficultymoderateThe source describes recreational moving water, but shallow rock, current, cold water, debris, and bridge or access hazards remain material.
ShuttleCar shuttleStage at the St. Mary’s City soft landing and confirm college access/parking, then shuttle to Great Mills. Great Mills is a carry-down canoe/kayak launch with paved parking and sunrise-to-sunset 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-landings rules prohibit overnight parking/camping, and the St. Mary’s City soft landing is day use. Use separate lodging or campground; do not camp on Tippity Wichity Island or river banks.
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

Forecasts can change. Check current conditions again before leaving.

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Plan

Plan your trip

Launch points, shuttle details, distance, and access notes.

Route logistics

Access and shuttle

The Upper St. Mary’s River Trail follows the river from the county’s canoe/kayak launch at Great Mills to the small St. Mary’s City soft landing.

Access map

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Start

Put-in

Great Mills Canoe/Kayak Launch
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Great Mills is a canoe/kayak-only wooden ramp with a carry down steps; inspect the waterline before committing.

Finish

Take-out

St. Mary’s City Launch at college sailing center
Open mapDirections to take-out

The guide’s 7-mile shoreline figure is route context, not a fixed GPS line; route choices and water conditions alter distance.

Road shuttle

Driving shuttle routeShuttle in Apple MapsOpenStreetMap
Access notes and hazards

Access caveats

  • Great Mills is a canoe/kayak-only wooden ramp with a carry down steps; inspect the waterline before committing.
  • The guide’s 7-mile shoreline figure is route context, not a fixed GPS line; route choices and water conditions alter distance.
  • Tippity Wichity Island is private; the St. Mary’s College landing requires current access and parking compliance.

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
  • Great Mills steps/ramp, Route 5 bridge, shallow sand, strainers after rain, Tippity Wichity private island, marina crossings, St. Mary’s City soft landing, and daylight

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.

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 Upper St. Mary’s River Trail, Approximately 7 miles one way along the shoreline; guide describes route choices from approximately 1 to 10 miles

    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 accessGreat Mills Canoe/Kayak Launch and St. Mary’s City Launch at college sailing center

    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-landings rules prohibit overnight parking/camping, and the St. Mary’s City soft landing is day use. Use separate lodging or campground; do not camp on Tippity Wichity Island or river banks.

    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
Piney 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 tripSt. Inigoes Landing Kitts Point loopSt. Mary’s County / Southern MarylandModerate · Approximately 4.5 miles round trip

Nearby routes within 75 miles

Calvert County Water TrailsSolomons Island Patuxent River loop · about 6 straight-line mi awayModerate · Approximately 2 miles round trip to Point Patience or Sandy Point, with optional coves and Back Creek extensions excludedCalvert County Water TrailsJefferson Patterson Park to St. Leonard Creek bounded route · about 10 straight-line mi awayModerate · Bounded St. Leonard Creek route from the JPPM south access; confirm the current creek option distance on the park mapCalvert County Water TrailsNan’s Cove to Rock Creek and Broomes Island bounded loop · about 13 straight-line mi awayModerate · Approximately 1 mile for adjacent coves, 2 miles round trip to Rock Creek, or 5 miles round trip to the mouth of Island CreekPoint Lookout State Park Water TrailsPoint Lookout Creek loop · about 16 straight-line mi awayHard · Bounded Point Lookout Creek water-trail route; confirm current park map distance

Quick answers

St. Mary’s County Water Trails paddling FAQ

What water level is best for the Great Mills Launch to St. Mary’s City 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 Great Mills Launch to St. Mary’s City route on the St. Mary’s County Water Trails start and end?

This route starts at Great Mills Canoe/Kayak Launch and ends at St. Mary’s City Launch at college sailing center, Approximately 7 miles one way along the shoreline; guide describes route choices from approximately 1 to 10 miles on the water.

Is the Great Mills Launch to St. Mary’s City 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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