Laurel Run - From Potomac State Forest to N. Branch of the Potomac below Rattlesnake



1.6 miles 360 feet of drop



7 major rapids/drops



Rating: IV/IV+ ( IV+ in high water)



How to get there:





From Loch Lynn, MD (just east of Oakland) Turn at light go across RR and turn Left at the stop sign going South toward Gormania. A few miles down the Road turn left onto White Church Road (there is a sign for a Methodist Church camp) go back until the road makes two sharp 90 degree turns at the second go straight on the turn. Follow this road (still paved but not as nice as the road you just left) until you pass a sign saying end county road maintenance stay to the left as the road turns to gravel. Continue down hill (that little stream on the left is Laurel Run) stay to the left at the next Y as you travel down hill you will see the stream get bigger on your left. When you get to the bridge your at the put-in (you can put in hire if you like). Follow the road until it ends and you at Think-Twice, this is where you park the car for the take out.



Overview of Run



Laurel Run is a small micro creek tributary to the N. Branch of the Potomac. This seldom run creek is located in Potomac State Forest with the unique benefit of roadside access that was established by the replacement of a bridge in 2002. The last three rapids/drops where run prior to 2000 by at least a few paddlers who had seen the drops from the N. Branch of the Potomac at high water and walked up to run them. However the full first decent was completed in May of 2000, by Shannon Mullen and Nathan Blatchley. Since then it has been run only a couple other times but some observations of water levels has resulted in a rough correlation to predict when it would be runnable when the N. Branch is over 5 ft and rising or over 6.5 ft regardless of direction.



The run is very small, so groups of more than 4 boats are strongly discouraged (three is better). Also there is frequently wood on the run so take the time to drive along river and identify potential problems. It is a good time to look at some of the major drops including Slip-and-Slide (IV+), Hole (IV), Amphitheatre (III+), Appletree Falls (IV), Rooster Tail (IV), and Bear Left (IV+).