Beaver Creek,

Beaver Creek Park N Ride (I-70) to Alternate Rt. 40 (Upper Beaver)

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

Gauge Information

Name	Range	Difficulty	Updated	Level
ANTIETAM CREEK NEAR SHARPSBURG, MD
usgs-01619500	4.20 - 10.00 ft	I(II)	51h36m	2.52 ft (rc= -0.3 )

River Description

Beaver Creek flows placidly through a pretty wooded setting mixed with occassional farmland. Putin at an old abandoned bridge across the road from Beaver Creek Park N Ride. The creek is very small at the start but widens some when a major trib comes in after you pass the fish hatchery (just above I-70). The creek flows along pretty swiftly with fairly constant Class 1, meandering through the woods.

About 1.5 miles into the trip, you will come to Rt. 40 and a dam just upstream. It is easily portaged but there are several exciting options if you want to run it. The creek splits into 2 channels. The right channel goes off a straight forward 5 foot drop.

The left channel flows thru a 200 year old family residence. The family has requested that we do not boat thru their house.

Below here, you will need to get out and portage a low water bridge. You will pass under Rt. 40 and head into the prettiest stretch of the stream. The creek starts meandering majorly and flows past several beautiful pine trees that reminds one more of a stream in Canaan Valley than a local Hagerstown creek. You also get a good view of the mountains to your left in this section. As the creek continues, you will pass occassional farms and you will need to be on the lookout for wires. All of them are either duckable or can be paddled over but be careful.

About 1.5 miles below Rt. 40, you will come to a Class 2 rapid made of a series of ledges that is best run down the left. At Toms Road, there is a cattle fence under the bridge that you will need to pull apart to fit through. About 100 feet downstream, there is a very low hanging fence to be on the lookout for. Soon after, you will be at Alternate 40, the end of this fine stretch of creek.