Upper Yough (MD) Update

The Upper Youghiogheny River is a classic with a long and colorful history of whitewater boating. Predictable summer releases make this one of the main Class-IV+ playgrounds in the east. The rapids are continuous, technical, beautiful, and intoxicating. 

 

Access to the river has also been a long running issue. American Whitewater signed an agreement in June 2001 with the state of Maryland to manage the Sang Run put-in access on the Upper Yough. However, limited take-out parking overwhelmed the community during summer releases. Over the last few years, American Whitewater worked with the paddling community to raise $25,000 to go towards a take-out parking lot in the town of Friendsville, Maryland. This "seed money" was leveraged to attract over $200,000 in grants for the town to complete the take-out facility with additional parking.

 

American Whitewater has learned that Jess Whittemore was re-elected to the Friendsville, Maryland Town Council. Thanks to Jess's leadership, and support form Mayor Spencer Schlosnagle, the town partnered with the whitewater community to welcome hundreds of river runners to the area for summer releases on the Upper Youghiogheny River. The new whitewater take-out parking area is now complete and ready for action, and American Whitewater volunteers are already planning to help the town maintain the site. 

 

Remember: access doesn't just happen! Be respectful in town and be sure to donate at Sang Run to help AW maintain that site, too!