Boating on the Gunpowder River
The Gunpowder River is a 6.8-mile-long tidal inlet on the western side of Chesapeake Bay in Maryland, United States. It is formed by the joining of two freshwater rivers, Gunpowder Falls (often referred to locally as "Big Gunpowder Falls") and Little Gunpowder Falls. By the time the Gunpowder reaches the Bay, however, it is no longer a rural river, but a suburban river that passes under Interstate 95 and many bedroom communities for Baltimore. Nonetheless, Gunpowder State Park on the Chesapeake Bay may give one the impression that this is still a somewhat remote river.
Hammerman Beach at Gunpowder Falls State Park has a swimming beach and an area for launching non-motorized boat. The small boat launch is extremely shallow and is only appropriate for unpowered boats such as canoes, kayaks, and row boats. Amenities include swimming, picnic shelters, grills, playground, and a concession stand.
Those seeking to launch powerboats should launch at Dundee Creek Marina. Hours of operation are 8 am to sunset. Open year-round except Christmas and Thanksgiving. There is a day-use service charge that varies, please go on line for information about specific dates and fees: www.dnr.maryland.gov/publiclands/oc.asp
Dundee Creek Marina is located on Dundee Creek, near the mouth of the Gunpowder River. The marina's services include slip leases, boat rentals, and a marina store.
Ultimate Watersports is a locally owned and operated business established in 1985 which rents kayaks, Hobie Cat sailboats, windsurfers, and stand-up paddle boards at Hammerman Beach and Dundee Creek Marian. Operated by nationally certified ACA Kayak and U.S.Sailing Instructors, their Kayak and Sailing schools offer instruction at all levels for ages 8 and up.
http://www.ultimatewatersports.com
HAMMERMAN BEACHFRONT: GUNPOWDER FALLS STATE PARK, HAMMERMAN AREA, 7200 GRACES QUARTERS RD.
Sailboats, Windsurfers, Kayaks, Stand Up Paddle Boards
May (weekends only): 10am - 6pm
June - Aug. (open daily): 10am - 6pm
September (weekends only): 10am - 6pm
THERE IS A $10 BOAT LAUNCH FEE AT GUNPOWDER STATE PARK AND DUNDEE CREEK MARNIA
THERE IS A STATE PARK GATE FEE AT THE HAMMERMAN ENTRANCE:
-
Day Use Service Charges:
Memorial Day-Labor Day Weekends: $5/person; out-of-state residents $7/person
Memorial Day-Labor Day Weekdays: $3/person; out-of-state residents $5/person
Labor Day-Memorial Day: $3/vehicle; out-of-state residents $5/vehicle - Boat launch: $10/vehicle; out-of-state residents $12/vehicle. Marina launch closed January and February.
- Hours of Operation: 8 a.m. to Sunset. Lifeguards on duty Thursday through Sunday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Memorial Day through Labor Day.
- For more information, visit the Hammerman Beach website.
DUNDEE CREEK: DUNDEE CREEK MARINA, 7400 GRACES QUARTERS RD.
Kayaks & Stand Up Paddle Boards ONLY
May: Friday, Saturday, and Sunday 10pm-6pm
June-August (open daily): 10am-6pm
September: Friday, Saturday, and Sunday 10am-6pm
YOU CAN AVOID THE LAUNCH FEES AND ENTRANCE FEES BY LAUNCHING YOUR BOAT FROM AREAS OUTSIDE OF GUNPOWDER STATE PARK
From paddling.net
Falls Rd, near Parkton, MD. There is a small gravel parking lot a hundred yards West of the river on the North side of the road.Longitude: -76.69056
Latitude: 39.61931
Also From paddling.net
Gunpowder River - Kayak Trip / Canoe Trip
Report Type: Day Trip Report
Trip Dates: June 2, 2012
Nearest City: White Marsh, MD
Difficulty: Moderate
Submitted by: James K
Description:
Gunpowder River - between Harford Rd. and Belair Rd.The painted bridge gauge at Belair rd. read 4ft. A normally quiet and slow moving river turned into a steady, fast and fun ride with the help from thunderstorms and an unusual series of tornadoes. My buddy in a 9' Old Town and myself in an 11' Perception dropped in from the Harford rd. bridge at 5pm. Navigating the fast flow was easy as there weren't many strainers and the water was well over the majority of the large river rocks.
Being new to the sport, the first few wave sections were pretty scary, but by the end I had wanted to do it all again. More than not you were able to go one side or the other for a wilder or calmer ride. A spray skirt would have been helpful as I had to empty the boat from excessive wave splash twice on the 2 hour float, but my buddy only had to once.
Coming up on the Belair rd. bridge, I opted to pull out upstream and walk under the bridge while my buddy opted to ride, or swim, even though I warned him he might not be able to safely land on the other side!
Getting out of the water around 7, it was a fast run, compared to the 4 hours it took to do that section in tubes last year after a hurricane. So just understand for time sake, the water was moving really fast.
If we would have had an earlier start, we could of taken the river down to the rt. 7 bridge(not a very good portage, plus little parking) where the water also gets a little rockier, or the rt. 40 bridge, an easy portage but no parking, where there is a full rapid section. Or all the way to Mariner Point, a county park and boat ramp that is on a channel right near the mouth of the Gunpowder.
Overall, I had a blast and wanted to share my experience since there wasn’t another story on this section of the river.
Accommodations:
10(?) car lot at Harford rd. trailhead no gateGenerous parking at the Belair rd. trailhead, 2 sections, one with gate, one without.
Directions:
695 to Belair Rd. north, park is a few miles up on your right, you cross the gunpowder right before you get to the lot is the take-out so leave a car here, take a right out of the park and a left at the first light, ride that road to the stop sign and bang a left. Ride a few miles and enjoy the scenery, the parking is directly after a series of hairpin turns, the last being the sharpest where you ride back over the gunpowder right before the lot on the left. The trip is 10 to 20 min depending on how you like to drive on country roads.Resources:
Google Maps: find the Gunpowder river in the Perry Hall area, and see where it intersects roads!From HartfordCountyMD.gov
Boat Launching in Hartford County:
MARINER POINT PARK BOAT LAUNCHING ON GUNPOWDER RIVER
Flintville & Paddrick Roads
511 Kennard Avenue
Ostego & Water Streets
100 Kearney Drive
600 Otter Point Road
6.)
Swan Meadows
East Bel Air Avenue & Ryland Drive
Commerce Street
Willoughby Beach Road
MARINER POINT PARK BOAT LAUNCHING ON GUNPOWDER RIVER
100 Kearney Drive
Joppa, 21085
Location
1 3/4 miles south of Pulaski Highway (US 40) to Kearney DrivePark Features
1/2 mile south on Kearney Drive to the park
This 37.7-acre waterfront park is on a penninsula located between Taylors and Foster Branch Creeks, and consists of undeveloped woodland, wooded areas, and developed areas for passive activities, including boat launching into the Gunpowder RiverFacilities Available
Boat trailer and car parking, pavilions, new comfort station/information center, picnicking, grills, nature trails, port-a-pots, playground equipment, volleyball, walking paths, fishing piers, boat launching rampsPavilion Reservation Information - Pavilion Capacity: 100
CHECK AVAILABILITY
$120 - 1-100 peopleWeekday Pavilion Use--First-come, First-serve-reservations not accepted.
Weekend Pavilion Use--Reservations Required (Please confirm reservation a minimum of 4 weeks prior to event).
2015 MARINER POINT PARK POLICIES
Note: Alcohol beverages, glass containers, swimming, amplified music & kite flying prohibited. Reservations accepted between Memorial Day through the end of October.
Information - Mariner Point Park
Telephone: 410-612-1608
Office hours: 9:00 a.m. to Noon; 12:30 to 4:00 p.m.
Monday through Friday
Office hours: 9:00 a.m. to Noon; 12:30 to 4:00 p.m.
Monday through Friday
Memorial Day through the end of October; evening hours
4:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.; weekend hours 7:00 a.m. to
8:00 p.m. Pavilion reservations - 410-612-1608
4:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.; weekend hours 7:00 a.m. to
8:00 p.m. Pavilion reservations - 410-612-1608
Boat Launching-Parking
Boat ramp & park open from dawn to dusk.
Total Park Parking:Programs
Lot A - Handicapped - 2; Vehicle - 14; Vehicle with Trailer - 28Lot B - Vehicle - 1; Vehicle with Trailer - 31Lot C - Vehicle - 67
Organized, sponsored and coordinated by the Joppatowne Recreation Council
From Sail-the-Net.com
General - Marine Max Gunpowder Cove sits in a residential community at the head of Gunpowder River. It can only be used by powerboats as navigation is restricted by an 11' clearance under the railroad bridge. To get to the marina it is necessary to pass through the Aberdeen Proving Ground Military Reservation's restricted area. Guidelines prohibit being outside any vessel within the area, no beaching boats or swimming, at any time. Mariner Point Park is an easy stroll away from the marina. It has a fishing pier, boat launch, picnic tables, playgrounds, volleyball courts, hiking trails and horseshoe pits.Open - All year round
Position - 39° 24.4' N 76° 21' W
Charts, Pilots & Cruising Guides - See the following link for Maryland Charts
Approach and Entrance - From Chesapeake Bay make for the Gunpowder River. Then follow the marked channel right to its head and Marine Max Gunpowder Cove.
Berths & Moorings - 290 slips with reserved for 10 transients. Reservations cannot be made.
Maximum length- 45'
Formalities- Not known
Contact ;
Tel -
Fax -
Web
VHF Ch -
Call sign -
Water - On the pontoons.
Electric - On the pontoons.
Fuel - On the fuel dock.
Weather forecast - Not known.
Security - Not known.
Internet Access - Not known.
Other Facilities & Services - Toilets. Showers. Pump out. Docking Assistance. Dock Carts. Phone Messages. Fax. Ice. Ships' Store. Travelift (15T). Forklift. Launching Ramp. Engine Mechanic. Electrical Repairs. Hull Repairs. Bottom Cleaning. Propeller Repairs. Compound. Wash & Wax. Interior Cleaning.
Public water access sites in Maryland: http://dnr2.maryland.gov/Boating/Pages/water-access/boatramps.aspx
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