Beautiful day on the Potomac near Monocacy Aqueduct
Potomac River Water Trails
Beautiful day on the Potomac near Monocacy Aqueduct
The swift and mighty waters of the Potomac River await your exploration. The longest river in Maryland, the Potomac created a landscape and shaped a nation. Its corridor is rich in history and provided vital resources for people through the millennia. Today the river offers 300 miles of superb recreation and has the distinction of being a National Recreation Trail and American Heritage River.
The Potomac River Water Trails begin at Jennings Randolph Lake near Westernport, and flow to the mouth of the Potomac and merge with the Chesapeake Bay near Point Lookout. Try a single day trip or plan for a multi-day adventure, stopping at campsites along the way. Check out a variety of paddle trip itineraries on the Paddle the Potomac website. The trail is broken into four different sections. Each individual segment of the trail has its own map.
North Branch of the Potomac River
For an exciting trip weaving with the waterway’s course through mountainous landscapes, try the North Branch of the Potomac River. Beginning at Jennings Randolph Lake near Westernport, you can paddle downriver 32 miles to Cumberland and see the ways that previous residents used the river for their livelihoods, transportation, food and recreation. Restrooms, camping, fishing sites, picnic areas, parking areas, and multiple access sites are available along the way.
Potomac River Dam 4 near Sunset along the C & O Canal.
Pick up where the North Branch of the Potomac River Water Trail leaves off, and canoe or kayak the Upper Potomac River corridor - approximately 115 miles. This segment from Cumberland to Sharpsburg Maryland/Shepherdstown, West Virginia parallels the C & O Canal National Historical Park, offering camping opportunities, fishing spots, visitor centers and historic sites, like the famous Paw Paw Tunnel on the C & O Canal Towpath.
You’ll find unique canal structures, such as Conococheague Aqueduct, Lockhouse 44 and the canal’s only railroad lift bridge in Williamsport, home of the C & O Canal National Historical Park Williamsport Visitor Center. While the peaceful river scenery serves up rolling hills, farmland and the surrounding mountains that will urge you to paddle on, there are friendly towns ready to welcome you. Hancock, Big Pool, Williamsport, and Sharpsburg are great places to stop for a break and visit a restaurant, brewery or market.
Weverton Cliffs in Autumn.
The Middle Potomac River Water Trail extends 100 miles from Sharpsburg, MD to Washington, D.C. This segment follows the C & O Canal National Historical Park and passes by the historic town of Harpers Ferry, steeped in Civil War, African-American and 19th-century industrial history, and now the site of Harpers Ferry National Historical Park. The river threads through mountains surrounding this town and joins the Shenandoah River. A series of exciting rapids near Harpers Ferry add fun and variety to the trip. Tour this area with a whitewater rafting guide for the best experience and a memorable trip. Overnight stays are available at primitive campsites along the C & O Canal Towpath Trail, or you can lodge in unique accommodations: a former Canal lock tender’s home, available through the Canal Quarters Program. Be sure to reserve in advance.
From here the river passes Point of Rocks and the Seneca area. Just before Washington, D.C. in Potomac, MD, the river runs through the Great Falls of the Potomac, where it builds up speed and descends through a series of 20-foot waterfalls and Class VI rapids, navigable only by the most experienced whitewater kayakers. You can see the falls on land near the C & O Canal’s National Historical Park Great Falls Tavern Visitor Center. The Great Falls Overlook and the River Trail provide the best vantage point. After Great Falls, the river rushes through the narrow Mather Gorge and flows toward Georgetown, D.C. at the mouth of Rock Creek, where the C & O Canal starts.
Mallows Bay on the Potomac River
From Washington, D.C. the mighty Potomac River widens and flows into Southern Maryland, where it is impacted by the tides, and eventually empties into the Chesapeake Bay near the sandy shores of Point Lookout. With stunning spots along the way, from National Harbor to the quiet waters of Mallows Bay National Marine Sanctuary, with its famous ship graveyard, there are endless opportunities for paddling adventure along its 115-mile length. Paddle by Fort Washington, Washington’s Birthplace, the Leonardtown Arts & Entertainment District and beautiful natural spots like Newtowne Neck and St. Clement’s Island. You’ll see numerous lighthouses along the way too. Keep close to the shoreline on this section of the river to stay out of the way of boat traffic.
