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Access Site MD

Brunswick Riverside Park

Potomac River

Source: u_s__geological_survey Updated 1 year ago

City: Brunswick, MD
County: Frederick County
Type: Boat Ramp
Location: 39.30668742, -77.61488030
Air Temp: --
Location
Live Webcam
Live webcam view
Nearby Gauge Conditions
Whitewater Runs on Potomac River
21 runs (20 nearby)
Difficulty Classes
I Easy II Novice III Intermediate IV Advanced V Expert/Extreme VI Unrunnable
Position relative to this access site: Put-in at this location This location is on the run Take-out at this location
Downstream from here Upstream from here
I-II This location is on this run 0.8 Potoma Wayside, VA or Weverton, MD to Point of Rocks MD
12.0 mi
I Downstream from here (5.5 mi to put-in) 0.9 Point of Rocks to Mouth of Monocacy
6.2 mi
V+ Downstream from here (32.9 mi to put-in) 3. Great Falls (Center Lines)
0.4 mi 100 ft/mi
IV-V(V+) Downstream from here (32.9 mi to put-in) 3. Great Falls (Fish Ladder)
0.4 mi 100 ft/mi
V+ Downstream from here (32.9 mi to put-in) 3. Great Falls (MD Lines)
0.4 mi 100 ft/mi
V Downstream from here (32.9 mi to put-in) 3. Great Falls (VA Lines)
0.4 mi 100 ft/mi
V+ Downstream from here (32.9 mi to put-in) 3. Through Great Falls (several runs)
0.4 mi
II-III(IV) Downstream from here (33.2 mi to put-in) 4. Sandy Beach/O-Deck to Anglers Inn
2.2 mi 8 ft/mi
V Downstream from here (33.0 mi to put-in) Clara Barton Parkway to C&O Canal
0.1 mi
II Downstream from here (34.9 mi to put-in) 5. Anglers Inn to Lock 10
4.2 mi
I Downstream from here (38.5 mi to put-in) 6. Lock 10 to Sycamore Island
2.3 mi
III+(IV) Downstream from here (42.0 mi to put-in) 7. Little Falls
2.4 mi 15 ft/mi
IV(V) Downstream from here (43.1 mi to put-in) 2. Glebe Road to the Potomac
0.1 mi
II+ Upstream from here (6.5 mi from take-out) 0.7 Dargans Bend Boat Ramp to Potoma Wayside, VA or Weverton, MD
5.5 mi 5 ft/mi
I Upstream from here (9.6 mi from take-out) 0.6 Shepherdstown, WV to Dargans Bend Boat Ramp
8.0 mi
I Upstream from here (15.6 mi from take-out) 0.5 Dam # 4 to Shepherdstown WV
12.0 mi
I Upstream from here (20.8 mi from take-out) 0.45 Williamsport to Dam #4
14.0 mi
I Upstream from here (25.1 mi from take-out) 0.4 Big Pool/Fort Frederick Campground to Williamsport MD
16.7 mi
I Upstream from here (34.3 mi from take-out) 0.35 Hancock, MD to Big Pool/Fort Frederick Campground
12.0 mi
I Upstream from here (47.5 mi from take-out) 0.3 Fifteen Mile Creek Boat Ramp to Hancock, MD
16.8 mi
These whitewater runs are on the same river but located more than 50 miles from this access site.
Whitewater data from American Whitewater
About This Access Site
Brunswick Riverside Park offers boat ramp access to the Potomac River in downtown Brunswick, Maryland, with 15 parking spaces available off Maple Avenue. The facility is located near the Brunswick Visitor Center and C&O Canal towpath (mile 55), making it convenient for paddlers interested in combining river and canal exploration. To reach the ramp, take US Route 340 Exit 2 (Burkittsville Road), follow signs to Petersville Road and A Street, then proceed to Maple Avenue. Note that the access route crosses two sets of train tracks at the Brunswick MARC Train Station; turn right immediately after the final crossing to reach the parking area. For more information, contact the Brunswick Visitor Center at (301) 834-7100.

The Potomac River at this location is a major waterway with significant flow—averaging over 23,400 cubic feet per second—and a moderate gradient of 1.7 feet per mile. Paddlers should be prepared for a large river with strong current and expect faster water velocity (averaging 4.55 feet/second). The area also offers excellent historical context, with Harpers Ferry National Historical Park and Antietam National Battlefield nearby, plus several hiker-biker campsites along the C&O Canal corridor for multi-day trips. This access point works well for both trailered motorboats and hand-launched kayaks and canoes.
Federal Facility Information
(301) 834-7100 Free Access

The Brunswick Visitor Center is located just off the C&O Canal towpath at mile 55 in Frederick County, MD. The visitor center shares a building with the Brunswick Heritage Museum. For over a century Brunswick has been a railroad town. This once bustling company town is now a quiet place since the decline of the railroads. The remains of the rail yard are still visible from the canal towpath.

Nearby Campgrounds (4 within 10 miles)
Bald Eagle Island Hiker-Biker Campsite
On-site
Calico Rocks Hiker-Biker Overnight (HBO) Campsite
On-site
Indian Flats Hiker-Biker Campsite
On-site
Huckleberry Hill Hiker-Biker Campsite
On-site
Nearby Recreation Areas
Harpers Ferry National Historical Park Located within
Antietam National Battlefield Located within
Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail Located within
Monocacy National Battlefield Located within