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A 103 day old warning about this river was added. Click on comments below to read it.

Savage, MD

Dam to North Branch Potomac River (Site of World Championships)

Class III-IV

4.5 Miles

Avg Gradient 75 fpm

Max Gradient 115 fpm

Savage!

Savage!
Photo of Al Button by Ken Strickland

Gauge Information

Savage

Dam to North Branch Potomac River III-IV

low

12/2 20:15

[detail]

Min Sug. Level:

349 cfs

Max Sug. Level:

2000 cfs

River Description

SOURCE FOR THE FOLLOWING TEXT: William Nealy's Whitewater Home Companion, Southern Rivers Volume I, which has more on this run. Text used with permission.

The Savage is THE whitewater rocket ride! With an average gradient of 75 feet per mile (with sections exceeding 100 fpm) the action is fast and continuous. The Savage's overall difficulty rating below 800 cfs is Class III-IV. At 800 - 1,200 cfs it is Class IV. Above 1,200 cfs the Savage is the longest Class IV-V rapid in Maryland!! Due to the steep, narrow and unrelenting nature of this run paddlers should be: 1) Well insulated (water temp 46), 2) Adept at fast self-rescue and wave-crest scouting, and 3) In possession of paddling skills commensurate with water levels... below 800 cfs - intermediate to advanced, 800 - 1,200 cfs - advanced to expert, above 1,200 cfs - expert only.

Savage River Road follows along the entire 4.5 mile run. At approx. mile 1.5 and just before the swinging bridge that marks the end of the slalom course there is a large undercut rock (House Rock) on river left.

The takeout is on the North Branch of the Potomac just upstream of the confluence. Please respect the locals and refrain from drinking or changing clothes in the open, here. The putin is just minutes up the road and its relative remoteness lends itself to these activities.

Another good source of information about this run is Ed Gertler's Maryland and Delaware Canoe Trails.

StreamTeam Status: verified

Last Updated: 2004-08-16 17:47:57