canoeing question

budman93 · Jun 30, 2013

Me and some buddies of mine are planning on taking a short canoe trip this coming weekend from Harpers Ferry to Point of Rocks. I have canoed from near brunswick to Point of rocks many times but have never started from Harpers Ferry. If any of you have done some canoeing or kayaking on this stretch I'm just wondering where you go to put in at Harpers ferry and if there is anything in that stretch of river I should be aware of. thanks.

budman93 · Jun 30, 2013

It looks like the Sandy hook rd access point right underneath the 340 bridge on the maryland shore would be the best place to start.

budman93 · Jun 30, 2013

Come on guys dont we have any canoers?

Squaregrouper · Jun 30, 2013

I have a canoe, but don't know the areas.
Did you realize how impatient you were? Three posts in under an hour.

hvymax · Jun 30, 2013

If you hear banjo's paddle faster.

boatbiologist · Jun 30, 2013

Potomac running a little above summer base flow now - 6000 cfs @ Point of Rocks. I was talked into running a squirt boat thru there last month. Calling it Class I-II is almost an exaggeration. If you know the difference between a sweep and a brace, you'll have no issues.

http://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/River/detail/id/738/

budman93 · Jun 30, 2013

squaregrouper said:
I have a canoe, but don't know the areas.
Did you realize how impatient you were? Three posts in under an hour.

Lol sorry. Only the third one was being impatient.

budman93 · Jun 30, 2013

boatbiologist said:
Potomac running a little above summer base flow now - 6000 cfs @ Point of Rocks. I was talked into running a squirt boat thru there last month. Calling it Class I-II is almost an exaggeration. If you know the difference between a sweep and a brace, you'll have no issues.

http://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/River/detail/id/738/

Yeah i was just trying to find where the access points are in that area. Thanks!

boatbiologist · Jun 30, 2013

Nothing once you pass the R&T campground at the Brunswick MARC. The C&O is always on your left if you need to hike out.

Probably 5 hours easy paddling to Point of Rocks. You will see motorboats past Brunswick.

budman93 · Jun 30, 2013

boatbiologist said:
Nothing once you pass the R&T campground at the Brunswick MARC. The C&O is always on your left if you need to hike out.

Probably 5 hours easy paddling to Point of Rocks. You will see motorboats past Brunswick.

Thanks. We've done a lot of short trips from brunswick to Point of rocks. I was just trying to find out access points near Harpers Ferry. Sounds like the access point off the sandy hook road is what I'm looking for.

boatbiologist · Jun 30, 2013

There's also a put in/ take out on the right just after you cross the Potomac on 340 but there aren't many parking spaces. I would try there first.

The pace is a little quicker to Brunswick than after, though only slightly so.

budman93 · Jul 1, 2013

boatbiologist said:
There's also a put in/ take out on the right just after you cross the Potomac on 340 but there aren't many parking spaces. I would try there first.

The pace is a little quicker to Brunswick than after, though only slightly so.

Are you talking about that wide spot in the road right after you cross out of Md?

boatbiologist · Jul 1, 2013

It's a small public lot with river access. Raft/tube companies use it for Shenandoah take out. Lots of competition for the spaces.

rwbow1969 · Jul 1, 2013

We'll be waitin'

marko · Jul 1, 2013

Question: How competent of a canoer are you and your crew?
The access at Sandy Point is terrible - not to mention Hit or miss-
I did it once - and never again.
If you have one good canoeist per craft, I'd consider going up the Shenandoah and put in at Millville. You go towards Charlestown, hang a left on Bloomery Road,
then sniff out the obvious parking area.
You have a mile of flatwater followed by a quickening class II then one class III -
Bull Falls- followed by class II down to the Shenandoah Staircase ( there is all excellent fishing throughout this trip) below the 340 bridge, finish the Staircase at Harpers' Ferry,
then onto the Potomac. Cross to the far side to catch Whitehorse (II- III)
and then onto Brunswick, Lander, Point of Rocks, Mouth Of Monacacy - all excellent take - outs. I know the rivers quite well from Millville down to Great falls.

marko · Jul 1, 2013

Are you talking about that wide spot in the road right after you cross out of Md?

Yup I think he was - gotta get there early to get a spot. Across from the gas station.
And above the steep take out (or put in).

marko · Jul 1, 2013

Raft/tube companies use it for Shenandoah take out

I'm against that.

budman93 · Jul 2, 2013

marko said:
Yup I think he was - gotta get there early to get a spot. Across from the gas station.
And above the steep take out (or put in).

Yup went to check it out yesterday. looks like a great spot to start. Parking wont be a problem. We recruited some extra drivers to take the cars to our ending point.

budman93 · Jul 2, 2013

marko said:
Question: How competent of a canoer are you and your crew?
The access at Sandy Point is terrible - not to mention Hit or miss-
I did it once - and never again.
If you have one good canoeist per craft, I'd consider going up the Shenandoah and put in at Millville. You go towards Charlestown, hang a left on Bloomery Road,
then sniff out the obvious parking area.
You have a mile of flatwater followed by a quickening class II then one class III -
Bull Falls- followed by class II down to the Shenandoah Staircase ( there is all excellent fishing throughout this trip) below the 340 bridge, finish the Staircase at Harpers' Ferry,
then onto the Potomac. Cross to the far side to catch Whitehorse (II- III)
and then onto Brunswick, Lander, Point of Rocks, Mouth Of Monacacy - all excellent take - outs. I know the rivers quite well from Millville down to Great falls.

Yeah i looked at the sandy hook access point and I agree.It's not really an acess point at all. we'll be putting in across the river. I have canoed a fair bit on the potomac and on some fairly challenging rivers in Canada, but a few of the guys going with me are pretty inexperienced so I just want to take them on a pretty easy strech for now. We have two canoes, i'm piloting one but the guy piloting the other i'm not sure of his level. He has some experience but not a lot so we're keeping it simple. Not that I'm an expert myself or anything, far from it

marko · Jul 2, 2013

we'll be putting in across the river.

That is so hit or miss I would plan something else.
I'd hit Millville, lots of parking.

canoeing question

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