Monocacy River
🏔 Scenic River
Frederick Co. · 58 mi · Class I
555CFS/ 2.62 ft
Optimal
→Stable
Optimal: 200–800 CFS · USGS #01643000
⚡Flow data is live from USGS·Rapid classifications and CFS ranges need community verification·Know this river?
58 mi
Length
Class I
Difficulty
200–800 cfs
Optimal
480 cfs
Avg Flow
432 cfs
Hist. Median
#01643000
USGS Gauge
Monocacy National Battlefield · Maryland Scenic River

A scenic Potomac tributary flowing through Frederick County with Civil War history at every bend. The Monocacy offers gentle Class I paddling past Monocacy National Battlefield, where the 1864 battle delayed a Confederate advance on Washington, DC.

Trip sections
Ceresville to Buckeystown — 15 mi, upper river, piedmont meanders
Monocacy Battlefield section — 10 mi, Civil War corridor
Buckeystown to Potomac confluence — 12 mi, wider lower river
Outfitters
Monocacy Canoe Club
Community-based paddling trips on the Monocacy
72-Hour Flow Forecast
NOAA NWPS
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10-Year Flow Patterns
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Data Quality

River conditions are community-verified. CFS ranges, difficulty ratings, and trip sections may not reflect every flow level or seasonal change. Always check current conditions, scout unfamiliar rapids, and paddle within your skill level. If you spot an error, use the Improve This River button at the top of the page — your local knowledge is what makes this atlas accurate.