Gunpowder Falls

This is my favorite stretch of the gunpowder. Many thanks to the stewards who care for these trails and river, particularly for whoever chainsawed the downed tree blocking the river in June 2025. Props to anyone hiking hardshell boats down to the water from these parking lots, that's some good exercise.

This is generally a wonderful stretch to tube for a group looking for more adventure than other tubing stretches from 75-150cfs. The water is very chilly of course, and a 90 degree day may be 70 degrees at the base of the dam. But the rapids are great fun. At 180 CFS yesterday it was an exciting trip that involved a tube stuck in a hydraulic that I had to swim from and also having to scout every rapid stretch, feeling very adventurous. If I were to do that range again I would make sure the whole group is equipped with life jackets (as technically requiered), helmets, and possibly even paddles!