Deer Creek
5. Sandy Hook Rd./Deer Creek Conservation area to MD 136
| Difficulty | I-II |
| Length | 5.6 mi |
| Avg Gradient | n/a |
| Gauge | Deer Creek at Rocks, Md |
| Flow Rate as of 54 minutes | 2.16 ftbelow recommended |
| Reach Info Last Updated | April 18, 2024 |
River Description
To get to the Sandy Hook Rd./Deer Creek Conservation Area parking put-in, going North on US 1, look for Sandy Hook Rd on the left about a half mile after you cross Deer Creek on US1 northeast of Belair MD. Follow Sandy Hook Rd a mile or so until you come to a stop sign. Turn left at the stop sign (still on Sandy Hook Rd.) and follow Sandy Hook Rd down to Deer Creek. Immediately after you cross the Deer Creek bridge, turn right into the parking area. From this put-in to the MD 136 bridge is about 5.3 miles
To get to the Benjamin Bridge put-in (about 1.8 miles downstream), cross Deer Creek on US1 northeast of Belair MD. Going North, Immediately after the bridge, look for a river access on left called Benjamin Bridge River Access. From this put-in to the MD 136 bridge is about 3.5 miles.
Shortly after crossing under the US 1 bridge, a series of rocky Class II rapids occur which require eddying and choosing slots and routes ending in a tongue under the Forge Hill Rd. Bridge. If you look carefully, about half a mile below the Forge Hill Rd bridge, you may notice the remains of on old iron furnace on river left which is a good place to have lunch. The rest of the run returns to Class I moving water and large eddys down to MD 136 - Priestford Rd.
River Features
Put In - Sandy Hook Rd./Deer Creek Conservation Area
To get to the Sandy Hook Rd./Deer Creek Conservation Area parking put-in, going North on US 1, look for Sandy Hook Rd on the left about a half mile after you cross Deer Creek on US1 northeast of Belair MD. Follow Sandy Hook Rd a mile or so until you come to a stop sign. Turn left at the stop sign (still on Sandy Hook Rd.) and follow Sandy Hook Rd down to Deer Creek. Immediately after you cross the Deer Creek bridge, turn right into the parking area. From this put-in to the MD 136 bridge is about 5.3 miles
Put In - Benjamin Bridge/US 1
To get to the Benjamin Bridge put-in (about 1.8 miles downstream from the Sandy Hook Rd/Conservation Area), cross Deer Creek on US1 northeast of Belair MD. Going North, Immediately after the bridge, look for a river access on left called Benjamin Bridge River Access. From this put-in to the MD 136 bridge is about 3.5 miles.
Take Out - MD 136/Priestford Rd.
Take-out: MD 136 - Priestford Rd. Large gravel parking area on the river right, downstream side of the MD 136 bridge across Deer Creek.