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Piney Run - Arrington Road to Marriottsville
Piney Run, Maryland, US |
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Arrington Road to Marriottsville
| Usual Difficulty | I-III(IV) (for normal flows) |
|---|---|
| Length | 1.3 Miles |
| Avg. Gradient | 70 fpm |
| Max Gradient | 200 fpm |
Dan running the Piney
Dan running the Piney
Photo of Dan Anderson by John Pramik taken 05/12/06 @ Min
Gauge Information
| Name | Range | Difficulty | Updated | Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BEAVER RUN NEAR FINKSBURG, MD | ||||
| usgs-01586210 | 50 - 300 cfs | I-III(IV) | 02h06m | 507 cfs (too high) |
River Description
This is, without doubt, the hardest run in the Patapsco basin. Suddenly, as Piney Run crosses Arrington Road and begins to follow Marriottsville Road No. 2, with just a mile and a third left to its life, it becomes a whitewater terror, dropping 60 feet in a third of a mile. Scout this section carefully from alongside the road before putting on, looking especially at the first quarter mile, down to the second gravel parking area. It accelerates quickly from class II to class II+, and then has a short class III drop followed by a complex class IV+ (probably best entered through the second chute from the left, and finished on the far left, but I have not seen anyone run it). Many paddlers will want to eddy out on the left above the main drop, for a brief portage, or even to skip the class III just above (as we did) to be on the safe side.After the big drop come several more class III rapids in quick succession. The second of these is very tricky on the right side (down to the drop right next to the huge boulder on the bank), but may not have enough water to run the left side. Then the gradient eases up, to class II+, II and then I. There tend to be strainers above the confluence with the South Branch, by the intersection of Marriottsville Road and Marriottsville Road No. 2, so you might want to take out alongside the road higher up.
StreamTeam Status: Not Verified
Last Updated: 2006-05-13 16:33:36
Editors
Rapid Descriptions
No rapids entered. If you know names, and locations of the rapids please contact and advise the StreamTeam member for this run.
February 14 2017 (553 days ago)
andrewfroom (158854)
I finally got Piney Run at a descent level the week after the January 2016 Blizzard that dropped
28". Piney Run was reading about 100 CFS with 6" of snow on the ground and all day of rain.
Certainly could have had more water but it was still fun. Put in just below the Arrington bridge on
Marriottsville Rd. 2. Slid into the creek down a snow bank. Several small eddies and boof rocks are
available until you come to the first drop. The first drop is a 2' pourover best run in the center
just right of the rock with a left boof stroke placed. Its easiest to head left right after the
drop but it can also but cut hard right. The next 1/4 mile is class II/III boogie water with some
cool features. The best part of the run is only .3 miles long MAX but can be extended to 0.8 miles
if desired. Easy to park and run by walking back up Marriottsville Rd 2. Currently strainer free.
28". Piney Run was reading about 100 CFS with 6" of snow on the ground and all day of rain.
Certainly could have had more water but it was still fun. Put in just below the Arrington bridge on
Marriottsville Rd. 2. Slid into the creek down a snow bank. Several small eddies and boof rocks are
available until you come to the first drop. The first drop is a 2' pourover best run in the center
just right of the rock with a left boof stroke placed. Its easiest to head left right after the
drop but it can also but cut hard right. The next 1/4 mile is class II/III boogie water with some
cool features. The best part of the run is only .3 miles long MAX but can be extended to 0.8 miles
if desired. Easy to park and run by walking back up Marriottsville Rd 2. Currently strainer free.
June 28 2006 (4437 days ago)
Robert Farmer
Well, I managed to catch this in the early morning of 6/26, after it dropped sharply from what must
have been righteous water in the middle of the night. The gauge was @2.0 and 80-90 cfs, although I
might be reading it optimistically. The second drop below Arrington Rd is the hardest, with an
unrunnable main line--I snuck it easily on the left. The level was a bit too low, but minimally
adequate---bounce, bounce, crash, scrape. I pushed with my hands 2 or 3 times. I had one log
portage. I wrestled under one more log that would have been in the way with good water. Below where
I would have taken out, with more water, just above Marriotsville Road, there were three more log
jams that I went over, through, and under, respectively, if I recall correctly. Taking out above
these would have been no great sacrifice, but I continued because I could. I had fun. It's a nice
little run.
Because the directions above are kind of nonexistent (for nonlocals), here: From I-695, take I-70
west to just past Route 29. Take Marriotsville Rd exit. Go North.
After 5 miles or so (my odometer is broken), you'll cross the Patapsco. Subsequently, the second
left is Marriotsville Road #2. The creek runs along this. Arrington Road is at the obvious bridge
on your left.
have been righteous water in the middle of the night. The gauge was @2.0 and 80-90 cfs, although I
might be reading it optimistically. The second drop below Arrington Rd is the hardest, with an
unrunnable main line--I snuck it easily on the left. The level was a bit too low, but minimally
adequate---bounce, bounce, crash, scrape. I pushed with my hands 2 or 3 times. I had one log
portage. I wrestled under one more log that would have been in the way with good water. Below where
I would have taken out, with more water, just above Marriotsville Road, there were three more log
jams that I went over, through, and under, respectively, if I recall correctly. Taking out above
these would have been no great sacrifice, but I continued because I could. I had fun. It's a nice
little run.
Because the directions above are kind of nonexistent (for nonlocals), here: From I-695, take I-70
west to just past Route 29. Take Marriotsville Rd exit. Go North.
After 5 miles or so (my odometer is broken), you'll cross the Patapsco. Subsequently, the second
left is Marriotsville Road #2. The creek runs along this. Arrington Road is at the obvious bridge
on your left.
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Arrington Road to Marriottsville, Piney Run Maryland, US (mobile)
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