Whitewater Run MD Class II-III

2) Jerusalem Mill (Jerusalem Rd.) to U.S. Route 40

Little Gunpowder Falls

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Gauge Conditions
Little Gunpowder Falls at Laurel Brook, MD Upstream Primary
Runnable: 110.0 – 1,600.0 CFS
Winters Run near Benson, MD Upstream Primary
Runnable: 101.0 – 2,345.0 CFS

Upper limit for best boatability uncertain. Please help your fellow boaters with a comment or report.

Data from American Whitewater & USGS
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Description
This is the delightful, classic Little Gunpowder trip. The first mile is an almost continuous rock garden, starting out class I-II and then adding a few class II and II+ bits.  Then, in short succession, come a series of class III rapids. The first is a 3-4-foot ledge, easily boat scouted and best run in the middle at most levels. It is popular to carry back up and run it again. The next splits around an island, with the left side narrower and shallower. Then comes the Belko Factory Falls, a ragged 5-6-foot drop which can be scouted from the left and run on the right. The remaining class II+ rapids, above the Franklintown Rd. bridge, are twisty rock gardens. Class II water then resumes, down to I-95. The final mile and a half has only a pair of class II rapids on either side of Philadelphia Road, a half-mile above US 40. Early on, the trip features a covered bridge for the paddler to pass under.  The surrounding woodlands are full of deer and quite pretty, except where buildings are close to the creek. You can park at the shopping center alongside the take out. If you continue below there, it is two flat miles to the big Gunpowder Falls, and then another mile to the Gunpowder River inlet. Ed Evangelidi testifies: This creek is quite flashy, so don't dawdle, or it might come down on you while you are running shuttle. It has more continuous rapids than on the Big Gunpowder but they are not any harder. Also has a tamer section upstream. Lat/longitude coords are approximate, from TopoZone.
Difficulty
Class II-III
Length
3.7 mi
Gradient
33 ft/mi
max 75
Rapids
7
Access Points
Put-in
39.4622, -76.3914
Take-out
39.4215, -76.3731
Shuttle Info
To get to the put-in take the MD 152 (Mountain Rd.) exit north from I-95.  Turn left at Jerusalem Rd and follow it down to the Jerusalem Mill Gunpowder State Park area adjacent to the Little Gunpowder. To get to the take-out take MD 152 (Mountain Rd.) south and turn right onto either US 40 or MD 7 (depending upon which take-out you plan to use).  Take US 40 or MD 7 west to the Little Gunpowder.  There is a shopping center at US 40 on the east side of the river where there is plenty of parking.  At MD 7 and the river there is some parking at the shoulder on the downstream West side of the bridge. Shuttle from the put-in:  Take Jerusalem Rd east and turn right onto Old Joppa Rd.   Take Old Joppa Rd to MD 7 (Philadelphia Rd).  Turn right onto MD 7 and drive down to the Little Gunpowder.  To get to the US 40 take-out, before you get to the river on MD 7, turn left onto Joppa Farm Rd.  Go through the stoplight at US 40 and turn right into the shopping center on the south side of US 40.  It is more direct to take Jerusalem Rd. to Jericho Rd. to Vinegar Hill Rd which becomes Franklinville Rd. at the river and turn right onto Old Joppa Rd (then follow directions above from Old Joppa Rd), but there are load and height limits on the Jericho Covered Bridge and the Franklinville Road Bridge and most people find this more confusing.
Difficulty Classes
I Easy II Novice III Intermediate IV Advanced V Expert/Extreme VI Unrunnable
Current Conditions
5-Day Forecast
Whitewater data from
American Whitewater