Liberty Reservoir in Maryland

Trip Overview

Liberty Reservoir is one of my favorite places to go for a day paddle. The watershed is undeveloped, the shore is lined with trees all the way around, no gasoline motors are allowed, and there is a lot of water for the relatively small number of boaters (mostly fishermen) who use it. There is enough shoreline that even a determined paddler would need two or three days to cover all of it, and there are enough arms going off of the main body of the reservoir that it would be a while before you run out of places to explore.

The reservoir is day use only, and (as of 2010) they allow boats, canoes, kayaks, and shells between 12' and 20', though other restrictions apply for boats and canoes.

Accommodations:

Day use only. One portapotty at each launch area. No other facilities.

Fees:

The fee for the Liberty Reservoir boat permit is $60 (as of 2010).

Boats must be used exclusively at either Liberty, Prettyboy, or Loch Raven reservoirs (though Loch Raven requires a separate permit, available through the Loch Raven Boating & Fishing Center).

For more information, contact the City of Baltimore Department of Public Works at (410) 795-6150.

Directions:

From Baltimore, take route 26 off of the Baltimore Beltway. After you cross the bridge over the reservoir, take the first right (Oakland Mills Road - it will be the first stoplight). The two launch areas are the first two roads leading off to the right.

Launches:

There are two launch areas located just off of route 26. The first is to the right immediately after you turn off of route 26, and the turn is not marked by a sign. The second one is just up the road - I think the next right - and does have a sign where you turn into it. Both areas have paved ramps plus plenty of shoreline that is well suited for launching canoes.

Contact:

Recorded message with the relevant information can be heard
at (410) 795-6150.

The official site for Liberty Reservoir (owned and operated by the City of Baltimore) is here:
www.baltimorecity.gov/Government/AgenciesDepartments/PublicWorks/DepartmentBureaus/BureauofWaterWastewater/ReservoirNaturalResources.aspx
There you can find guides and more rules and regulations about recreational boating.