Catoctin Creek,

SR 663 to Potomac Confluence

Usual Difficulty	II (may vary with level)
Length	4.5 Miles
Avg. Gradient	10 fpm
Max Gradient	10 fpm

Gauge Information

Name	Range	Difficulty	Updated	Level
S F CATOCTIN CREEK AT RT 698 NEAR WATERFORD, VA
usgs-01638350	4.00 - 12.00 ft	II	01h20m	2.41 ft (rc= -0.2 )

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.