The Youghiogheny River, called the “Yough” by most people, is a very popular river for paddlers of all skill levels and is most sought out for its whitewater challenge on this trip from Sang Run Road to Friendsville. This section is referred to as Upper Yough and has the whitewater that made this river famous, specifically its four miles of unrelenting boulder piles, ledges, blocked views, cryptic passages, menacing undercuts, and technical difficulties. After a couple miles of riffles and flat water, you will be faced with Gap Falls, a sloping five-foot ledge and from here it is all downhill through many too many rapids to describe. The rough stuff ends at Kendall and allow a soothing coast to the take out at Friendsville Community Park. Though you may not notice on your first run, this is a very beautiful section of the river with cliffs, graceful hemlocks, falls on side streams, rhododendrons, and beautifully sculpted boulders.

The Savage is probably Maryland’s most famous whitewater river and is the site of national championships in the 1972 Olympic Trials, international races, and the 1989 World Whitewater Championships. This section is very rarely runnable but is as beautiful a whitewater run as you will find in Maryland. The creek winds through a tight little gorge in complete isolation with rock cliffs and formations all around with lichens and ferns accenting. The rapids are almost continuous on this section and are formed by cobble bars, lots of ledges, and some boulders and there are many sharp turns requiring technical paddling to navigate. One difficult rapid, about four miles into the run on a straightaway is steep and clogged by jagged rocks and undercut boulders, may be carried on the right. Because the stream is so narrow, trees are an occasional problem and there is a strand of barbed wire by the camps above the take-out.

This is one beautiful creek, not to be missed! Initially passing through a very narrow corridor, the upper portion travels through hardwoods, especially red maples. Soon marsh appears with small islands of cedar trees. The downstream trip opens into the breathtaking spectacle of wide open marshlands. In the fall, red maples fill the scenery with rich colors.

The Potomac is the longest and most diverse river system in Maryland, reaching from the cold, high plateau of the Alleghenys to the broad waters of the Chesapeake Bay and tidewater. This section is the Potomac’s finest. It has the best whitewater and the most dramatic scenery. You will begin below Great Falls and run through Wet Bottom Chute and Mather Gorge, then find a mellow stretch to enjoy the views of 80-foot jagged cliffs. Next you will reach Difficult Run, a rocky, plunging course after which the Potomac gradually calms down to a large, lazy river. Islands begin to split the river and more rapids appear over Yellow Falls, a three-foot double ledge, then a long rock garden brings you to Stubblefield Falls, a short easy, bouncy rapid, and from here on to Brookmont is mostly smooth water gliding through rock gardens and dozens of small islands. At Brookmont, take caution running over Brookmont Dam, then expect more turbulent water and a rocky plunge to tidewater. Approaching the Chain Bridge, Little Falls appears and is very steep and split by jagged, rocky islands. Take out at Fletchers Cove.

Slaughter Creek flows through vast, unspoiled salt marshes backed by a curtain of forest. It is in the Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge which is a sanctuary for migratory birds and lies along the western shore of Delaware Bay. The refuge contains a variety of habitats, including freshwater and salt marshes, woodlands, grasslands, ponds, and forested areas. It supports 267 species of birds and a variety of reptiles, amphibians, and mammals. The scenery is intriguing and changes between different, untamed outdoor neighborhoods.

The Potomac is the longest and most diverse river system in Maryland, reaching from the cold, high plateau of the Alleghenys to the broad waters of the Chesapeake Bay and tidewater. For this section, the Potomac cuts through the ancient Blue Ridge and its foothills and forms the first whitewater since its headwaters. To begin, you will navigate through The Needles, and intricate ledgy staircase that is a perfect novice whitewater run except when the water is high, novices should skip this section as the river runs stronger than it looks. Just after the Shenandoah River joins, the river tumbles over a series of jagged ledges and runs over two distinct drops named Whitehorse Rapids. Below this the river glides through a beautiful maze of rocks and islets to another gap through South Mountain and Short Hill. A smooth and swift section allows time to relax before a gap in Catoctin Mountain to the take out at the Route 15 bridge.

This section of Gunpowder Falls includes the exciting descent over the Fall Line. The Fall Line begins just below Route 1 and soon after put-in is where the whitewater starts and the river tumbles down a boulder and ledgy bed. The entire trip runs within the confines of a shallow, wooded gorge, protected by a state park. Take out at Route 7 for best convenience or at Route 40 if you want to catch every last rapid. Route 40, however, has “no parking” signs, but there is a park access just upstream on the left off Jones Road. It is about a 200-yard walk up from the river.

The Shenandoah River is a tributary of the Potomac River. This is a beautiful river and passes islands, cliffs, and travels to the historic Harpers Ferry. This section of the river begins with easy flat water and then the first rapid begins against high cliffs as the river bends right. The biggest rapid on this run is Bull Falls. It is A large ledge rapid that has many slots and channels depending on water levels.

The Youghiogheny River, called the “Yough” by most people, is a very popular river for paddlers of all skill levels and is most sought out for its whitewater challenge from Sang Run to Friendsville. This section is perfect for beginners with lots of flat water and quick water with only a short section of small, Class I waves. It is a really pleasant place to paddle as the reservoir is relatively narrow and fringed by high slopes and thick forests. This area gets very busy so it is best to go early in the morning when it is still calm. Hazards on this route are limited to that of the heavy crowds and power boats. Take out point is across the border into Pennsylvania on the right hand side just after floating under the Route 40 bridge.

The Stony River is a tributary of the North Branch Potomac River in Grant County. This is a small technical creek with some fairly complex rapids scattered throughout the run. This river requires maneuvering among boulders, over ledges, and through complicated drops. Mining and timbering activity has pushed trees into the river be very cautious of hazards.