Written from an article by Saki, abridged and published by the National Park Service.
The Monocacy River Water Trail in Maryland runs 41.4 miles (some sources say 41.8), so seeing all of it may take a few trips. Unlike most of the Chesapeake Bay watershed, it isn't tidal: there is almost always a downstream current, of varying speed, so planning is a big part of the trip.
Launch sites, upstream to downstream
The Frederick County Parks & Recreation water trail map answers most questions. What the map doesn't tell you:
| Launch | Good to know |
|---|---|
| Maryland Route 77 – Rocky Ridge | can get muddy and slippery after rain |
| Creagerstown Park | a shooting range nearby — hard on pets that fear loud noises; a small gravel beach about 12 feet wide east of the ramp; no restroom |
| Devilbiss Bridge | the launch is on the west side, whatever some maps say |
| Riverside Park | just east of the paved ramp, Rivermist Park has a 1.7-mile paved trail along the north bank |
| Pinecliff Park | a good paved ramp |
| Gambrill Mill, Monocacy National Battlefield | maps may send you to a lot by the Corporal Kirk J. Bosselmann Bridge on Urbana Pike (Route 355); instead turn off 0.2 mile south, on the east side, at the "Gambrill Mill Tour Stop 4" sign, and park by the boardwalk trailhead |
| Buckeystown Community Park | a 160-foot carry to a steep, rocky soft launch — or 250 feet to a very steep ramp (no vehicles) with a heavy eyebolt at the top and narrow stairs on each side |
| Park Mills Road Bridge | a small sign reads "Monocacy River Boat Ramp" — confusingly, the name of the next launch; little else marks this Natural Resource Management Area |
| Monocacy Boat Ramp | at the signed fork, right for the ramp, left for the aqueduct; if ramp parking is full, drop the boat and park near the aqueduct |
Accessibility: apart from ADA parking, none of these suit people with serious mobility needs well; the sites with paved ramps are the better choice.
How much water?
Signs at the launches give readings for the USGS gauge at Jug Bridge in Frederick:
| Starting from | Needs at least |
|---|---|
| the MD 77 bridge | 350 cubic feet per second or a level of 2.1 feet |
| Devilbiss Bridge and below | 215 cfs or 1.7 feet |
Too much: five feet or more is hazardous — don't go.
When to go
- Mid-July to late fall: often too low unless it has rained — not a safety issue, but you may end up dragging your boat through shallows.
- Other seasons: usually fine, but the river runs colder than the Bay — refreshing in summer; in early spring or late fall, wear at least a wetsuit.
- Autumn and winter: waterfowl hunting season, including "sneak boating" — hunting from small, low-profile boats — is allowed on the river.
Which boat
Most kinds work; the question is how you feel about scrapes. In low water, rocks will touch your hull.
- Plastic takes the most abuse.
- Fiberglass, carbon fiber and Kevlar won't likely be damaged, but may get scratched.
- Stand-up paddleboards: not recommended — too many shallow, fast stretches with rocks just under the surface.
Why it stands out
For accessibility, length, a wide range of skill levels and paddling most of the year, the author found nothing to match it. Edward "Boulderbuster" Gertler, a canoeing guidebook author with over 60 years of paddling, calls it "one of the most reliably floatable streams…in this state of small creeks…a good retreat for a quiet day in the outdoors."
Sources
Based on "Plan Your Own Adventure on the Monocacy River Water Trail," an abridged article originally written by Saki, published by the National Park Service and in the public domain; rewritten in hubnx's own words. The author's photograph is not reproduced.
In these publicationsChesapeake BayMonocacy National Battlefield
Licence: CC0 1.0 (public domain) · Adapted from www.nps.gov
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