Patapsco, South Branch
2. Marriottsville Rd to Patapsco, N. Branch confluence "McKeldin Falls"(McKeldin Falls)
| Difficulty | I-III(IV) |
| Length | 1.3 mi |
| Avg Gradient | 17 fpm |
| Gauge | Patapsco River at Hollofield, Md |
| Flow Rate as of 52 minutes | 55 cfsbelow recommended |
| Reach Info Last Updated | October 26, 2021 |
River Description
Note: read below and/or click the Map tab to see the multiple access points for this section.
The put in is at Marriottsville Road at the Carroll County-Howard County line. Proceed from here with caution, for just a few hundred yards downstream lies McKeldin Falls, the largest single rapid on the Patapsco River. It's a solid class 4, quadruple-ledge drop that falls a total of about 12 feet over 20 yards. When the hills on river left become high and canyonesque, listen for it, and get out (river left) to scout. The portage is a wickedly steep climb up the hill/cliff on the left, and then around to a large pool at the bottom. For the experienced, a variety of routes can be used depending on water level, but beware of small sieves against either shore, and a very wide, flat, mildly undercut rock (usually submerged and creating a strange looking hydraulic) at the dead center of the river near the bottom. It looks as if it would love to eat the nice flat bow of a playboat.
From here, the river calms again for the next 3/4 mile to the confluence with the N. Branch Patapsco. There is no road access here, so you'd either need to enter the McKeldin area of Patapsco State Park and just run McKeldin Falls or paddle enother 2 miles of mostly flatwater to the takeout at Woodstock Road (steep climb out on the right) to the parking lot across from a roadside bar. Don't miss this high overpass: Daniel's Dam is the next best takeout, after a further five miles (of mostly flat water) downstream.
If you'd like to run just the McKeldin Falls, for a charge of $2.00 weekdays or $3.00 weekends, you can enter the McKeldin area of Patapsco State Park and follow the signs to the McKeldin Falls parking area to park and have a short carry directly to the Falls.
BTW: McKeldin Falls was created sometime between 1830 (when the B&O Railroad was started) and 1851 (when Howard County was created from a portion of Anne Arundel County) when the B&O railroad decided
...River Features
McKeldin Falls
McKeldin Falls is the largest single rapid on the Patapsco River. It's a solid class 4, quadruple ledge drop that falls a total of about 12 feet over 20 yards. When the hills on river left become high and canyonesque, listen for it, and get out (river left) to scout. The portage is a wickedly steep climb up the hill/cliff on the left, and then around to a large pool at the bottom. For the experienced, a variety of routes can be used depending on water level, but beware of small sieves against either shore, and a very wide, flat, mildly undercut rock (usually submerged and creating a strange looking hydraulic) at the dead center of the river near the bottom. It looks as if it would love to eat the nice flat bow of a playboat.
Lat/longitude coords are approximate, from online maps.
Trip Reports
Log in to add a reportI've split the Gaither Gorge section from the McKendin Falls section, so some of the following comments may refer to the other Patapsco, S. Branch section.
Over 1200 CFS in the South Branch of the Patapsco makes for a beefy level. 6/1/15
For a minimum level, look at three gauges: Hollofield 500 cfs; Cedarhurst 150 cfs; Unity 90 cfs. Hollofield is well downstream on the Patapsco Mainstem, so it can still be up when water's drained out of the S. Br. Patapsco, but it is a good reflection of the watershed as a whole; Cedarhurst and Unity are on parallel watersheds about the same amount upstream, so they can give some idea of 'top of the watershed' conditions. Because the S.Br. Patapsco is so flashy, you need to be aware that water can run out from the night before to the morning of the run. I don't know what a maximum level might be, but I would suggest that you go to the downtown Sykesville bridge and look at the river. If your reaction is FUN!, run it; if your reaction is 'Oh My God' it's too high.
S. Br. Patapsco from Gaither Rd. to Henryton Rd. today with Tony during rain with snow melt, it was high and brown. Hollofield 2,130 cfs and 4.27, Cedarhurst 1,120 cfs, Unity 546 cfs. Least that's what it said when we got back, Gauges were 1/2 lower early morning before leaving home. No strainers to portage. A lot of play was washed out. 4-5 good rapids with 2/3 moves to miss holes, with no terminal holes. Intermediate run. Most of the rocks you would normally see around Sykesville were submerged.
Monday DEC 7 2009 1630hrs, after two day rain
We ran from Skyesville to McKeldin Falls on 25Oct09. It had poured the night before and the Cedarhurst NB Patapsco gauge peaked at 870 cfs. However, looking at it after the fact, it looks like that by the time we ran it that it had dropped to 108 cfs. The section was barely runnable but we still were happy to be out on a beautiful fall day. We never had to walk but we did get temporarily stuck on gravel bars several times. Mckeldin was runnable but boney. Given the same level again, if it was a choice between not paddling and doing this, I'd paddle this. But if there were anything else you could paddle I'd probably recommend that.
One of three Class II areas just before Sykesville
Ran this with about 180 cfs on the Little Patuxent guage, 60 on NB at Cedarhurst. Level was pretty low, but passable and still fun on the bigger rapids. The rapids below McKeldin Falls to the confluence are alot of fun too, making it worthwhile to go down to Woodstock. Aside from the class IV McKeldin Falls, the toughest rapids seem to be the three steep, bouldery drops past that barn.
Paddle from Gaither Rd. to Henryton Rd. on April 3, 2004, No river wide strainers, was a branch in the second part of No Way Out rapid no problem just keep to left of it. Level was around 3.50' on the Hollifield Gauge about 1300cfs
Ran Gaither Road to McKeldon, 4 hours, on 11/2/03 at 2.6. Scrapey but runnable. Another 6' - 1' on the guage would be ideal for passing through all the rock gardens. Whatever log jam used to be is no longer there. Had to portage 2 riverwide strainers, both in flat water, - 1 just below Gaither Rd and the other in the park.