Catoctin Creek, Virginia, US
|
|
SR 663 to Potomac Confluence
| Usual Difficulty |
II (for normal flows) |
| Length |
4.5 Miles |
| Avg. Gradient |
10 fpm |
| Max Gradient |
10 fpm |
View from bridge at putin
View from bridge at putinPhoto by RC Forney taken 06/15/02
Gauge Information
River Description
This is a pleasant mild whitewater run located near the DC metropolitan area. The spice is provided
by a couple of fun rock gardens and ledges which even include a surfable wave or two. There are
probably 15 rapids of one sort or another interspersed by moving flatwater sections that never
exceed a quarter mile or so.
The water is full of sediment at runnable levels but reasonably clean, and the scenery is quite
good. There are rock formations, the usual herons, ducks and turtles, and stupendous river birches,
some of which have fallen and create challenging strainers. I never had to get out of my boat, but
some maneuvering was required. Some were river wide "limbo strainers" that could be trouble at
higher levels.
The putin is at 663 bridge in Taylorstown, VA. There is somewhat of parking lot here and easy
access to the river across the road from the gauge. The takeout is just down stream of the Potomac
confluence at a public boat landing located at the foot of the Rte. 15 bridge.
I was surprised by this river. I thought it would be smaller and less interesting. I found it
comparable to other more well known nearby reaches, such as the Rappahannock above Rte. 211.
StreamTeam Status: Verified
Last Updated: 2002-07-25 02:38:30
No rapids entered. If you know names, and locations of the rapids please contact and advise the StreamTeam member for this run. 
User Comments
had to work our way creek left to get around the trees blocking the down stream side of the bridge.
The run from the bridge was great at 3.86 feet to the Potomac with no strainers. Edit
Point of Rocks at 2.68 water depth, in 1 hour. The water was deep enough to have fun in the rapids
in this section of the creek. Several trees down in the creek but plenty of room to get around the
strainers. Edit
minutes. The creek was open without any strainers until the bridge at Taylorstown, where a large
tree spans the creek blocking downstream access. Edit
We rally race the gravel roads in this area at speed and for a out of towner they can be confusing
if you don't know them.....esiest way to get to the put in is from Lovettsville rd in Lovettsville.
From north side of town you should bear right after the community center on the left onto Milltown
road...go about five miles and take a left on Featherbed lane....this is the road that takes you to
theold one lane bridge thats the put in.....Overall nice calm stream but potentiall for alot of
strainers.....close to my house so I always went....very secluded with only agriculture to surround
you.
hawks and blue herons. I did it three days after reading it was at medium H2O, and was somewhat low
but worth it. unlike many rivers, a road didn't parallel along side it. Try to have a good
detailed, local road map because it is hard to find the little local roads but the locals helped
us.Locals told me this river goes up after a good rain.