Gunpowder Falls
3 - Masemore Road to Monkton Road(Upper Gunpowder - Hereford Section)
| Difficulty | I-II |
| Length | 7.8 mi |
| Avg Gradient | n/a |
| Gauge | Gunpowder Falls Near Parkton, Md |
| Flow Rate as of 50 minutes | 161 cfsmedium runnable |
| Reach Info Last Updated | June 26, 2025 |
There are a number of access points on this run. Starting from the top (Access - river miles) they are: Masemore Road - 0.0, Bunker Hill Road - 1.3, York Road - 2.1, Big Falls Road - 4.4, Blue Mount Road - 5.4, Monkton Road - 7.5. This river length is not necessarily what might be a usual run. Usual runs might be from Masemore Road to Big Falls Road (a total of 4.4 miles), or Blue Mount Road (a total of 5.4 miles) or Monkton Road (a total of 7.8 miles). Summer Parking can be an issue at many of the accesses. As of Summer 2020, Baltimore County has eliminated all potential parking anywhere near the river at Blue Mount Road and while there is parking at Monkton Road, either the County or State has reduced the amount of parking that once was there. In any case, it's wise to get a spot early. Big Falls Road access has plenty of roadside parking, and Quarry Rapid (II-) -- the run's only rapid is immediately downstream from the Big Falls Road access.
Tom Resch shared:
Paddled from Masemore Road to Blue Mount Road on May 10, 2004. Level was right around 2' (~100-120 cfs). Lots of dead wood down but everything was passable. Thanks to the kind soul or souls who cleared paths through the strainers that previously had to be portaged. For those who have never paddled this stretch, it's a very scenic PN run...most of your trouble will come from the dead wood but anyone with good boat control should have no problems. Quarry Rapid, at the end of the run, will delight the novice paddler.
Ed Evangelidi testifies:
No question that the short whitewater stretch [Below Prettyboy to Falls Rd.] is also the prettiest part of the run. However, on a hot summer day, it is hard to beat the rest of the run [running down to Big Falls, Blue Mont or Monkton Rds.]. It takes less water to negotiate the shallow spots here and it is in a pretty state park from Falls Road to Big Falls Road. Then comes a stretch through an active quarry with man made Class 2 rapids and finally
...Bunker Hill Road Access. The Bunker Hill Road access to the Gunpowder has been changed by the MD DNR. They have cleared an area uphill from the river and old parking lot. This is the parking lot to leave cars, while the old lot by the bridge abutment will become a no parking area used for dropping off and picking up. Nothing has changed on the North side of Bunker Hill Road.
York Road Access - A limited amount of parking here, river right, on both sides of York Road.
Big Falls Road access has plenty of roadside parking, going up the hill.
Blue Mount Rd. Crosses the Gunpowder and once was an active take-out. Due to landowner pressure, as of Summer 2020, Baltimore County has eliminated all potential parking anywhere near the river at Blue Mount Road so at this point in time, it has little use as a river access.
While parking is available at Monkton Road (particularly during the week), either the County or State has reduced the amount of parking that once was there, so finding available parking on weekends can be a challenge - you need to get there early.
Sep 13, 2025
This summer we've done this full section once and the lower half of it twice (level: low runnnable both times). The whole stretch is beautiful, but full of strainers. You are going to be climbing out of your boat A LOT to lift your boat over a tree. Some of these are in class I rapids. I had my dog, who is a good swimmer, but I was definitely happy he had a life jacket on and I don't think I would bring him to do this if the water was above 'low runnable'. The Quarry Rapid (Class II) is a solid run though and very clean.
My recommendation: if you want to do the Quarry Rapid but skip the bulk of the stainers, then put in at Big Falls Rd. (immediately above the rapid) and ride down past Monkton into the following river stretch, 'Monkton Road to Phoenix (Upper Gunpowder - Glencoe Section)'. Lots of potential take outs enable you to scale how long of a float you want to do.
Stay quiet on the river and you should see some bald eagles (saw 3 yesterday).
Mar 23, 2014
Almost fucking died here today,not the only one either, there all over fuck this river !!!
