Monocacy River in Maryland

Trip Overview

Wanted to try something different in the area and we had done the Monocacy River above Frederick, so we headed to where it emptied into the Potomac to see if we could paddle upstream and then back to the car.

It was a fantastic day for paddling and on Google Earth we found the location of a parking area and launch near the Monocacy Aqueduct park (which is a part of the C&O bike trail, we will bring bikes too next time) just a short distance from where the river empties into the Potomac. We paddled out into the Potomac for a ways and then back into the Monocacy. Very quiet, except for the occasional train, and there are plenty of birds to see. The current in both the Monocacy and Potomac is strong, but not unreasonable.

The lower Monocacy also has a number of good boat launches well-spaced (we checked out a nice one at the Park Mills Road bridge), so a downstream paddle should be easy to do. The part we were on had no rapids, but some mild white water can be seen from the Route 28 bridge not far upstream from where we were.

All in all, a great day, and we plan to use this ramp at the mouth of the Monocacy for a short paddle on the Potomac, putting in at the great new ramp at Point of Rocks and paddling downstream. We could even use a bike to go back and get the car, if we left one at the Monocacy Aqueduct. That will be the subject of a future review...

Accommodations:

Primitive, but clean, bathroom at the Monocacy Aqueduct Park, lot's of parking.

Fees:

None

Directions:

Check Google maps or Google Earth for the locations of the bridges and ramps on the lower Monocacy