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Trip Reports

Upper Antietam Creek Trip 9 February
Author Last Post
2/10/2020 1:21 PM
Lisa Laden, Peter Ryan, Hendrik von Oss and I paddled the upper Antietam from Wagaman Road to Devils Backbone Park. The level was 3.4' (487 cfs), still a good level for this section. I was surprised to find that an "official" put-in is under construction just up the road from the old put-in. It's next to the Wagaman Road bridge and has been completed to the extent it can be used. It includes a gravel parking lot and a path to a little ramp.
The first rapid is just above the Wagaman Road bridge. Last year a tree hung up on the left bank, with the trunk sticking out into the main flow of current. It's still there and can be avoided with a steady right angle. Also, there are now two strainers requiring moderately difficult portages. The first is about a 1/2 mile downstream from Wagaman Road (easiest portage is on the right). The other is just past the last "big" rapid (just above the Roxbury Road bridge). Looked to be easiest to portage on the left. If you walk far enough along the bank (still above the bridge) the bank is not as high, making it easier to get back in the river.
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